Animal Science

Adams County 4-H Poultry Project

The 4-H Poultry Project teaches youth how to raise, care for, and evaluate poultry while developing responsibility, setting goals, and keeping accurate records.

Beginners learn about poultry anatomy, nutrition, disease, and more. Intermediate members focus on bird care and exhibiting poultry. Advanced participants learn how to raise their own birds and build leadership skills.

Download Poultry tipsheet
View State 4-H Project Info
Two chickens and several small chicks peck at food on the ground

Project Info and Requirements

There are several poultry project to choose from, including:

  • Breeding & Market Chickens
    • Note: “Breeding” does not mean mating and reproducing in 4-H. It means the bird is a specific, known breed.
  • Breeding & Market Turkeys
  • Breeding & Market Duck
  • Geese
  • Pidgeons
  • Game Birds
  • Show Birds

We recommend buying or borrowing a copy of the Poultry Resource Handbook. You should also consider reading the General Rules, Livestock, Equine & Small Animal Rules, and 4-H Poultry sections of the Fair Premium Book.

Exhibition Requirements

Poultry project members who intend to exhibit their animal(s) at the Adams County Fair must
complete the following:

  • Enroll in the Poultry Project in 4-H Online
  • Complete and submit an Animal Care and Housing Form to the 4-H office by June 15
  • Identify all poultry in 4-H Online by June 15
    • Required in 4-H Online:
      • Animal name (or identifier)
      • Hatch date (or date of purchase)
      • Sex
      • Breed
      • Leg band (for production birds only; if bird doesn’t have a tag, enter “000”)
    • Optional in 4-H Online:
      • Photo
      • Tag number
      • Color and markings
      • Type of poultry
  • Attend the Meat Quality Assurance (MQA) training once per year and pass the MQA test
  • Keep record of your poultry project in the Livestock Record Book available for download on the Colorado 4-H website
  • Present an up-to-date Livestock Animal Record Book (also called e-record) with a green record book cover at Record Book Interviews
  • Enter fair classes on the Fair Entry website by July 1
    • Enter egg production breeds such as Sapphire Gems, Black/Red Stars, Whiting True Blues, Majestic Marans in Mixed Breed Division.
    • If you are unsure of what Division to enter your poultry in, please contact the Superintendent or 4-H office.
  • Complete and turn in the Livestock Record Book with a green cover and any necessary supplements for egg producers by Friday before Labor Day to the Extension Office.

Learning Opportunities

Poultry Workshops are held several times a year at the Fairgrounds.

View Upcoming Events

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