Chickenology: Explore genetics to breed the best brood

How do environment, heredity, and genetics affect living organisms?

G. gallus domesticus is ready for review! Take your students on a tour through the genetic history and potential future of our favorite fowl. This STEM-based poultry curriculum uses immersive learning experiences and real genetic samples for your students to dive deep in the future evolution of our food. See how environment influences heredity, and explore the evidence that suggests T. rex as our modern chicken’s and turkey’s ancestor.

Your young geneticists will learn to ask and answer questions like:

  • How did the modern chicken and turkey survive to today?
  • What role does the environment have on heredity?
  • How will consumer demands influence selective breeding?
  • How can we predict trait expression with phenotypic ratios?

Learn about all of this and more with Chickenology, a thrilling entry into the field of genetics and food production. If your student is familiar with ChickQuest, they will be excited for the next step in Chickenology. This curriculum focuses on 8th grade Life Science standards.

This GrowNextGen program provides immersive experiences and real-time learning through scientific theory and methodology, data collection, introductory genetics, research and exploration and evidence-based solutions. Teachers will receive a teacher workbook, foldscopes (student microscopes), prepared slide set, hygrometer/thermometer, and modeling and engineering materials, as well as .7 CEUs.

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Upcoming Chickenology workshops

Virtual field trip
Virtual field trip
May 3, 2024 at 10 am

Chickenology: Engineering a Hen House

From Farm to Classroom: take your middle and high school math, life science, biology, STEM, engineering, ag science, and environmental science students on a 45-minute virtual field trip to Valco Industries where they will see how housing systems for …
workshop
workshop
Jul 31, 2024 at 9 am EDT

Chickenology Workshop

Get equipped to teach middle grades life science standards with games, simulations, & problem-based engineering challenges based on chickens



Chickenology career videos

These videos will introduce your students to careers related to Ohio poultry.

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Animal Science

Learn about animal science and why it is important for egg production in Ohio. Animal science incorporates animal behavior, science, and data analysis to make egg production efficient and safe for hens and humans.
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Information technology

Take a look an information technology (IT) role at Weaver Eggs! See how Zach uses communication, problem solving, and technology across the entire production process to make egg processing more efficient. Learn what drew him into information …
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Mechanical Engineering

Take a look a mechanical engineer’s role at Trillium Farms! See how he uses problem solving and engineering to make the hen’s housing safe and their egg production more efficient. Learn what drew him into mechanical engineering and about his …
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Poultry processing

Take a look at a Machine Specialist that works in poultry processing at Cooper Farms! See how he uses anatomical knowledge, problem solving, and maintenance skills to oversee the harvesting machines and make processing turkeys more efficient. Learn …
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Quality Assurance

Learn how the poultry industry is keeping eggs safe for Ohio consumers. Safe Quality Food positions incorporate communication skills, data analysis, food science and management skills to ensure a safe, healthy product is delivered for food …
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Veterinary Science

Learn about veterinary science and why it is important for poultry and egg production in Ohio. Veterinary Science incorporates communication, nutrition, animal behavior, health and data analysis to make livestock and environments healthy and …

Virtual field trips

Ohio is the number 2 egg-producing state in the US, 9th for turkey farming, and we produce over 526 million pounds of chicken each year. These videos take you right inside the farms where it all happens.

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Virtual field trip: A turkey’s best life ever!

What’s the best environment to grow a turkey? Learn how an environment influences trait expression in poultry and maximizes growth. What can humans do to create a happy flock?
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Virtual field trip: Breeding the best flock

This virtual field trip for middle and high school students will show the work done at Cooper Farms to breed broad-breasted white turkeys for the marketplace. Information will also include Meyer Hatchery’s chicken breeding operations. Students will …
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Virtual field trip: Egg breaking and liquid eggs!

What are liquid eggs? Learn about egg breaking and liquid egg processing in Ohio! Take a look behind the scenes at Cooper Farms to see the technology used to create a quality liquid egg product. We will go live into an egg breaking plant to see egg …
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Virtual field trip: Happy homes for hens and their eggs

Visit three different egg production facilities in Ohio. Learn the differences between conventional, cage-free, and organic eggs. How do the different environments affect egg production? How do veterinarians keep the hens healthy and happy?
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Virtual field trip: How eggs get to the table

Learn how eggs get from the chicken to your table! Take a look behind the scenes at Hertzfeld Poultry Farms. Come along as we see how eggs are sorted, cleaned and packaged without being touched by human hands before you buy them at the store.
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Virtual field trip: Sustainable egg production

Learn about sustainable egg production in Ohio! Take a look behind the scenes at Trillium Farms to learn how science and technology has improved egg production, hen care, air quality, manure removal and composting, nutrition and feed waste, and more!