In March, we brought you a story about Nicole Weight’s 1st grade class science project at Ririe Elementary and their quest for baby chickens. As the school year in eastern Idaho wound to a close, Mrs. Weight sent in an update on the success of the program.

We would like to introduce you to Midnight, Miracle, Lightbulb, Thunder, Sapphire and Fluffball – the six baby chickens that hatched between April 18 and April 20, 2023.

Midnight was the first to hatch, arriving at 1:00 pm on April 18. The Olive Egger breed chicken was very healthy and arrived with black and yellow feathers.

The next to arrive was Miracle, born at 9:25 pm on April 18. Miracle had to be helped out of the shell, very sick, with lots of bleeding. There was concern that Miracle might not make it. The Black Copper Maran chicken had bright yellow feathers and a note posted on April 19 showed that Miracle was “alive and well!!”

Lightbulb and Thunder both arrived on the morning of April 19. Lightbulb was an Olive Egger with gray and yellow feathers, and the lightest head colors. Lightbulb was healthy and moving. Thunder was doing very well and showed the darkest gray head colors. The Lavender Orpington chicken sported gray-black and yellow feathers.

Sapphire arrived on the afternoon of April 19, tired and with a little difficulty but doing well. Also, a Lavender Orpington chicken, Sapphire exhibited gray and yellow feathers and medium head colors.

The last baby chicken to arrive was Fluffball. Fluffball looked great upon arrival at 1:00 am in the morning! Of all the chickens, this Olive Egger was gray and the most solid of the gray birds in the class.

The students were eager learners and caretakers of their chickens, and then sent a heartfelt thank you to the Idaho Lottery’s Classroom Wishlist. At the end of the year, the baby chickens were given a good home at Mrs. Weight’s mother’s chicken coop on the family farm.

This is one lesson that these students will remember for a lifetime.