Baby Chicks Hatch at Poinsettia Elementary

About a month ago, Poinsettia Elementary teacher Libbi Swanson got eggs from a chicken farm in Ramona.

She brought the eggs into her second and third grade combo class where they started a 21-day incubation period. The eggs hatched on March 22.

The chicks are now over a week old and live in Swanson's class during the day and go home with a parent at night.

"Students have been holding them—most have never seen or held one before," she said. "We have been looking at the length of the chicks feathers to determine if it's a hen or a rooster."

The life cycle transformation is part of the second grade science curriculum while the third grade science curriculum includes animal adaptations. 

"Lately we've been talking about natural instincts like their ability to fly and peck," said Swanson who noted the most popular chicks are named Oreo and Fluffy. "The birds don't learn that from their parents."

Although the chicks will find a new home either in Fallbrook or Econdido next week, Swanson said it's a project she'll continue to do each year.