Chickens Not Drugs Program

Chickens Not Drugs

6-Week Layer Ownership Program

Updated Program Model

Participants graduate into ownership by receiving 2–4 already-laying hens instead of pullets.

This allows youth to:

  • Experience immediate egg production
  • Learn real-world care from day one
  • Generate immediate food or income
  • Reinforce responsibility through daily rewards


Why Laying Hens?

Immediate Reinforcement

Feed the chickens today → collect eggs tomorrow.

This creates a fast feedback loop:
Effort = Reward

For at-risk youth, this is powerful because:

  • It builds trust in delayed gratification while still giving short-term wins.
  • It creates opportunities for pride and accomplishment.
  • It teaches stewardship with visible results.


Revised Week 5: Egg Economics & Ownership

Theme:

Your Birds, Your Product, Your Responsibility

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand laying cycles
  • Egg quality and grading
  • Cleaning and storing eggs
  • Selling or using eggs

Activities:

  • Collect eggs
  • Candle eggs
  • Wash and carton eggs
  • Calculate profit potential

Example:

4 hens × 5 eggs/week = 20 eggs weekly

At $5/dozen:
Potential monthly value = $30–40+

Discussion:
Food for family vs selling for income


Revised Week 6: Transition to Ownership

Graduation Requirements:

Participants must:
✔ Attend 5 of 6 sessions
✔ Pass poultry care test
✔ Demonstrate safe handling
✔ Show completed coop setup
✔ Present 30-day care plan


Graduation Package

Each youth receives:

  • 2–4 laying hens
  • Layer feed starter bag
  • Feeder
  • Waterer
  • Egg carton starter pack
  • Record keeping journal
  • Basic first aid supplies


New Measurable Goals

Goal 1: Poultry Care Competency

85% of participants will demonstrate the ability to independently perform daily care for laying hens.

Measured by:

  • Feeding
  • Watering
  • Egg collection
  • Coop maintenance
  • Health checks


Goal 2: Ownership Retention

70% of participants will maintain healthy laying hens for at least 90 days after graduation.

Measured by:

  • Weekly mentor check-ins
  • Egg production logs
  • Coop inspections
  • Photo documentation


Long-Term Opportunity

After 90 days, youth can:

  • Hatch chicks
  • Expand flock
  • Sell eggs
  • Breed specialty birds
  • Enter 4-H poultry projects
  • Build small agricultural businesses

Program principle:
Start with ownership. Grow into opportunity.