Chickens at the Library!

Here a Chick, There a Chick – 

at the Grayslake Library!

by Sharon Gaughan, PCLF Education Program Director

Last Saturday, Anya and I presented a kids program at the Grayslake Library (for grades K-4).  The library staff advertised the program as “Here a Chick, There a Chick!” – and, no surprise, our program was focused on chickens and their chicks!

We brought Rhubarb and Rutabaga, our Rhode Island Red and Buff Orpington backyard chickens (very much adults at 2.5 years, not chicks at all!) to the library to meet the kids.  I talked a bit at the beginning of the program about chickens – and the fact that there are many different breeds (types) of chickens of many different colors.  Not all adult chickens are white, and not all baby chicks are yellow. 

 

Anya read aloud one of my very favorite chicken books, I Bought a Baby Chicken by Kelly Milner Halls.  Then we taught the kids how to do a simple craft, making a chick of their own to take home with them after the program (many thanks to Kayla, a high-school age library volunteer who was a huge help to us, especially during the craft-making session!).

After the program was over, we hung out a bit longer so that some of the kids who didn't attend the program could still get to meet a friendly chicken during their Saturday visit to the library.

This is the second year we’ve done this spring chicken program at the Grayslake Library.  The kids certainly seemed to enjoy it, and so did we!  I think even Rhubarb and Rutabaga had a good time (can you actually tell when a chicken is having a good time?)!