Project "Henne" crowned with success

Created: 05/23/2022, 12:00 p.m

Enthusiastic about the experiment: Leonhard (right) with his hen “Flocke” and (from right) Sophia, Benedikt, Mia and Vreni with one chick each.

Behind (from left) Leo, Max and Anna-Lena.

Dead chick makes children sad © Hans-Helmut Herold

It's an interesting question kids keep asking: who came first, the chicken or the egg?

In any case, the girls and boys of the Wildsteiger Kindergarten have had a lot of great experiences with eggs and hens in the "Henne" project.

Even chicks have hatched.

Wildsteig

- The hen drawn by children's hands immediately catches the eye of the visitor to the kindergarten.

Colorfully painted and with many questions, the picture hangs on the blackboard in a room.

Next to it on a table is a large cage where children can often be seen looking through the bars.

"Something's moving there," is the first thought that shoots through a visitor's mind.

Correctly observed, four little young chicks are busy pecking grains.

First of all informed in detail about the life of the hens

Susanne Dürr, a kindergarten mother, had the idea of ​​daring a very special experiment with the children in the kindergarten.

She had noticed that everything to do with the hen was discussed in the two groups before Easter.

Of course with many descriptive picture boards.

"The children were hooked on this 'Henne' project from the start," says the head of the kindergarten, Monika Rehm.

So Susanne Dürr suggests collecting fertilized eggs from farmers and "bringing them to life" using an incubator.

An idea that was enthusiastically received by everyone.

"First we visited two families in Wildsteig who keep chickens," says Monika Rehm, explaining the procedure.

Then knowledge books about chickens were read, all supported with a chicken finger game.

The enthusiasm of the children increases from day to day.

Of course, the development from egg to chick is also discussed.

Everything about the appearance of a hen, what such an animal eats, how many eggs the hen lays and, above all, how long a hen incubates is discussed with the children.

Children fully involved in caring for the hens

The "Henne" project is entering the practical phase.

Three stately hens graze in the garden of the kindergarten for about two weeks.

The children are of course fully involved.

In the morning the animals are let out of the barn, they are fed and, what increases the tension, the eggs can be collected.

These are then processed directly in the kitchen on site.

"There were either scrambled eggs or hard-boiled eggs," says Monika Rehm.

In the week before Easter, the big moment for everyone.

Susanne Dürr brings in the incubator.

40 fertilized eggs, which were obtained from various farmers in advance, are carefully laid by the children.

The small sensation for everyone: after 21 days, which couldn't pass quickly enough for the children, four healthy chicks hatched.

Children makes dead chicks sad

The girls and boys are over the moon.

Every morning they stand in front of the cage to observe changes in growth.

When the children realize that one morning there is a dead chick in the cage, they are very sad.

Of course, this topic is also dealt with, people talk about it.

"All the children suffered, but the joy that the four healthy chicks got a little bigger every day was more than a consolation," says manager Rehm.

also read

Carnival in spring is a hit

Heat exchanger damaged during transport: accident sealed The end of the bathing season in the Peitinger wave pool

Despite all the enthusiasm, all 43 children will eventually have to say goodbye to their chicks.

According to Monika Rehm, in a few days the chicks will be returned to the farmers from whom the eggs came.

Despite the farewell, one thing is certain: the children will always have fond memories of the “Henne” project by the entire kindergarten team.

Even in later years, when they decapitate an egg for breakfast.

You might also be interested in this:

There are already concrete plans for a village shop in Wildsteig

By

the way : everything from the region is now also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.