Adopt-a-Chick FAQs + Fun Facts
Do you have some questions or want to know more? We’ve gathered some egg-citing (yes, we went there) answers and facts that will make you love these little fluffballs even more! Did you know chicks start communicating with each other while still inside their eggs? Yep, they’re basically tiny telepaths!
Scroll down to crack open all the answers and find surprising tidbits about our Ground Ed chicks!
Scroll down to crack open all the answers and find surprising tidbits about our Ground Ed chicks!
How long does it take for a chick to hatch from its egg?
21 days
Are the chicks boys or girls?
We don’t have the expertise to determine a chick’s gender at this time. It is easier to tell if the chicks are boys or girls when they are 3-4 months old. Or, once the chick lays an egg, we know she is a girl!
Where do you source the fertilized eggs?
We partner with Wagon Train Feed and Pet, a farm-supply pet store in Orange County, that provides eggs to more than 1,000 educational groups. Eggs come from KMAR farm and a private business that provides a variety of egg types.
Do you keep the chicks? If not, where do they go?
They go back to Wagon Train! It's such a fun place to visit! You can buy a goat or a pig there and also do things like get your dog groomed. Once they have hatched, we take the chicks back before they are 2 weeks old. Wagon Train then sells them to local farmers. One time when were bringing back about 45 chicks, a woman came in and bought them ALL to run around on her 10,000 acre ranch in south Orange County! Lucky chicks!
Where is the mama hen?
Chickens are precocious young which means once they hatch they require little parental care. Their eyes are open, they are ready to move around, and they can find much of their own food. This frees up the parents from care.
What kind of chicken breeds do you guys have?
It just depends, but some of the breeds we hatch are Turken, Rhode Island Red and California White.
Where can I learn more about chicks?
You can learn more on our Youtube playlist where we have a short series about our school chick lessons.
Should I be concerned with bird flu (avian influenza) when coming in contact with your chicks?
No. A chick cannot be born with bird flu, because the virus doesn’t transfer from laying hen to egg. Since we keep our chicks indoors and separate from other birds, bird flu transmission is highly unlikely. And, of course, we always wash hands and/or use an approved hand sanitizer after holding the chicks.
Can I buy a chick from Ground Education?
No, we do not sell our chicks, but you can symbolically adopt and name one! Just follow the link below!
21 days
Are the chicks boys or girls?
We don’t have the expertise to determine a chick’s gender at this time. It is easier to tell if the chicks are boys or girls when they are 3-4 months old. Or, once the chick lays an egg, we know she is a girl!
Where do you source the fertilized eggs?
We partner with Wagon Train Feed and Pet, a farm-supply pet store in Orange County, that provides eggs to more than 1,000 educational groups. Eggs come from KMAR farm and a private business that provides a variety of egg types.
Do you keep the chicks? If not, where do they go?
They go back to Wagon Train! It's such a fun place to visit! You can buy a goat or a pig there and also do things like get your dog groomed. Once they have hatched, we take the chicks back before they are 2 weeks old. Wagon Train then sells them to local farmers. One time when were bringing back about 45 chicks, a woman came in and bought them ALL to run around on her 10,000 acre ranch in south Orange County! Lucky chicks!
Where is the mama hen?
Chickens are precocious young which means once they hatch they require little parental care. Their eyes are open, they are ready to move around, and they can find much of their own food. This frees up the parents from care.
What kind of chicken breeds do you guys have?
It just depends, but some of the breeds we hatch are Turken, Rhode Island Red and California White.
Where can I learn more about chicks?
You can learn more on our Youtube playlist where we have a short series about our school chick lessons.
Should I be concerned with bird flu (avian influenza) when coming in contact with your chicks?
No. A chick cannot be born with bird flu, because the virus doesn’t transfer from laying hen to egg. Since we keep our chicks indoors and separate from other birds, bird flu transmission is highly unlikely. And, of course, we always wash hands and/or use an approved hand sanitizer after holding the chicks.
Can I buy a chick from Ground Education?
No, we do not sell our chicks, but you can symbolically adopt and name one! Just follow the link below!
Fun Chicken Facts!
- Chickens form complex social structures known as “pecking order” and each chicken knows their place.
- Chickens have full color vision.
- Chickens are omnivores who eat seeds, grass and grains as well as insects, lizards and even field mice.
- Chickens can see and recognize faces! Chicks imprint on their caregivers and can remember over 100 different faces, including different animals such as dogs and cats - so don’t be surprised if they give you a little side-eye of recognition!
- Chickens have a sleep phase where half the brain is asleep while the other half is awake. This is an adaptation that allows them to watch for predators and rest at the same time.
- Chickens are the closest living relatives to the dinosaur T. Rex. Watch them move and see if they remind you of a Velociraptor!
- Chickens can fly but are best at “fluttering-up” and away from danger. They prefer to run and can reach up to 9mph in short bursts. Their real power is that they can turn on a dime which allows them agility to escape predators.
- Chicks have an egg tooth! A special temporary tooth on their beak helps them break out of their shell—talk about being born with built-in tools!
- Chicks recognize warmth right away! The first warm, cozy thing they feel (usually their mother… or an incubator!) becomes their safe space.
- Day-old chicks can run! As soon as they hatch, they’re ready to waddle, explore, and cause adorable chaos.
- Chickens are everywhere! With over 25 billion worldwide, they’re the most common bird species on the planet!
- Chicks have favorite sounds! They respond to music, soothing voices, and even gentle humming. So go ahead - serenade your fluffball!
Ground Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your donation is tax-deductible, and you will receive confirmation of your generous donation for your records.
Our tax ID is 82-2375504.
Our tax ID is 82-2375504.