Every semester Auburn students majoring in Poultry Science get a hand -on chicken experience. As a part of research done in their class, the students are responsible for taking care of a large group of chickens to help them learn about the poultry industry.

Gretchen Nagel is a student is an Auburn University Graduate who majored in microbiology. She is now in the process of receiving a second degree in Poultry Science in hopes of working in the food safety industry. “I want to do something where I work in food safety and processing food up to the standards of the law regulations,” said Nagel.

As a part of her degree she has so take several classes that give her lots of experience with chickens. “I have to take a lot of classes that have to deal with poultry processing and food microbiology and that kind of stuff,” said Nagel. One class Nagel has to take is Commercial Poultry Production. “In this class we learn all about the parts of the poultry industry,” said Nagel. “We have lots of hands on experience with the chickens,” said Nagel.

Research for this project is done at the Poultry Research farm off of South College Street. Nagel, along with two other students is responsible for taking care of 120 chickens. “We are taking care of I guess its 120 chickens per three people and we are responsible for raising them,” said Nagel. They even have to make sure that the chicken houses are at the right temperature and the lighting is right. “There are thermometers outside the door and we have to record the temperature every time we visit to make sure the chickens do not get too cold,” said Nagel.

The students receive the chickens when they are small chicks and keep them until it is time to slaughter them. “We have raised the chickens from the age of one week and we keep them until slaughter which is in about 2 weeks, “said Nagel. While the chickens are in their care, the students are responsible for feeding and maintaining the chicken’s health. “We have to go and visit them twice a day and feed them and make sure they have enough feed and water and that sort of thing, “said Nagel.

Once the chickens have reached the right age, the students have to process the chickens. “We have to process and debone them,” said Nagel. But this doesn’t bother Nagel. “I don’t really feel bad for the chickens because they are used for a good use. The chicken industry is a really big industry. We are doing research about chicken and everybody eats chicken, so I don’t really feel bad for the chickens,” said Nagel.

All of this is a part of the students’ grades. “We have to sign in every time we go visit our chickens, if we don’t go visit them we get points taken off of our grade,” said Nagel.

So if you ever want to know what it’s like to take care of some chickens, this class will give you hands-on-chicken experience!