Jake Cantrell, a sophomore at Brewer High School, shows one of his Rhode Island Red pullets at the Morgan County 4-H Chick Chin Show and Auction Saturday. | Clif Knight

Eight of the 23 participants in the Morgan County 4-H Chick Chain Project showed their 12-week-old pullets for judging at the 4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction at Celebration Arena Saturday.

The chickens were examined for bird influenza by two Alabama Department of Agriculture inspectors and judged by Landon Marks of Cherokee County.

The growers had the option of keeping their chicks or selling them at auction. Most chose to keep them.

“We expected a greater number to bring their birds to the show,” said Myra Badger, Extension administrative assistant.  “However, most got really attached to their birds and apparently didn’t want to risk having to put them up for action. Actually, each participant had the option to keep their birds or sell them.”

Chick chain participants received 12 two-day-old chicks 12 week ago, paying $25 and assuming the responsibility of feeding and grooming them. The $25 was refunded at the end of 12 weeks. Each brood consisted of four breeds: Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, Americana and New Hampshire Red.

“I gained the knowledge of how to take care of baby chicks,” said Kane Hogan, a freshman at Danville High School. “It was also good fun.”

“They grew faster than I expected,” Hogan added. “They probably weigh 4-5 pounds each and one of them is already laying eggs.”

“This was a first-time experience for me,” said Abi Badger, a sophomore at Brewer High School. “I had 15 chicks at the start and14 of them survived. Taking care of them on my own helped me gain self-sufficiency, and it was also fun for the most part.”

“I got attached to them and won’t be putting them up for auction,” Badger added. “The Rhode Island Reds are gorgeous. One of them is a rooster. I named him Roger. He’s the bully of the roost.”

Andrea Cantrell said the chick chain project helped her son Jake, a sophomore at Brewer, learn how much time and work is involved in raising domestic animals.

“He had to rearrange his schedule and learn how to better manage his time,” Cantrell pointed out. “He raised 13 of the 14 chicks he started with and will sell them at auction. Now he wants to start a chicken club.”

Show winners are listed as follows:

Showmanship: Class I (ages 9-11) – Alison Melton, first; Caden Childers, second; Raven Johnson, third; and Emily Melton, fourth; Class II (ages 11-13) – Kane Hogan, first; and Haley Owens, second; Class III (ages 14-15) – Abi Badger, first; and Jake Cantrell, second

Breed: Rhode Island Red – Jake Cantrell, first; Haley Owens, second; and Abi Badger, third; Americana – Kane Hogan, first; Buff Orrington – Emily Melton, first; Barred Plymouth Rock – Alison Melon, first; Mixed Pen – Raven Johnson, first; Overall Pen – Jake Cantrell-Rhode Island Red; Reserve Overall Pen – Kane Hogan, Americana; and Champion Bird – Jake Cantrell – Rhode Island Red.