Chicken Coop Conundrum: Maintaining a Happy Healthy Flock
My students need help keeping the flock happy and healthy - devices such as a gravity water/feeder and motorized door to help automate some of the work would help out greatly.
The dirt is soft with the smell of determination and curiosity as small hands make tiny indents in the ground, these would be new homes for a variety of familiar vegetables.
Tending to the school garden helps a lot of the students with more than school lessons; they are also coping with loss, disability, and heartbreak.
The area that my students come from is a variety of high to low income with a population of 2,731. The population density is 1,230 per sq miles, which is 319% higher than the Florida average and 1257% higher than the national average. Making this a rather dense location, which creates a "food desert." Overall, the students and their families come from a wide array of other countries, states, and cities. Ranging from as far as Poland and Venezuela to as close as living three minutes and forty-five seconds away from the school.
My students love all things nature and are constantly amazed by the small wonders of growth and renewal.
My Project
Chickens and children go hand-in-hand during the year as they learn the engineering process and the hard work it takes to keep farm animals alive and happy. Last year, 2017, my 5th grade class worked on different coop designs to replace the current structures that were on campus. Before designing anything, they completed comprehensive research on everything the feathered farm animals needed; even going so far as sketching toy designs for the birds. After their research, students used TinkerCad to bring their hand-drawn designs onto a 3D platform. Not only did they create and design their own coops on a 3D model, they also wrote persuasive speeches to try and convince me which of their designs were going to give the animals the best quality of life, be under budget and practical for maintenance and daily cleaning. They also had to figure out a way to build around a water fountain, which is mandatory by the school for all students to have easy access.
The structure was completed over the summer and now my new 5th grade needs your help creating modifications to assist in the health and wellness of the flock.
Using the auto feeder and waterer, students will be able to track how much food/water is dispensed and how long it takes before it needs refilling. Other points of data will be examined, such as the time that the flock naturally wakes up/gets sleepy. Students will also be training the chickens to go into their coop at a specific time in order to use the automatic door efficiently. They are excited for the training to begin!
Coops & Feathers Wooden Asphalt Roof Chicken Coop, 35 x 74 x 57", Gray/White
• Amazon Business
$237.20
1
$237.20
Premium Automatic Chicken Coop Pop Door Opener Lifts up to 2 lbs, Timer/Light Sensor | Outdoor / Indoor Auto Door Opener, Chicken Coop Accessories by ChickenGuard
• Amazon Business
$199.99
1
$199.99
Royal Rooster Twin Cup Drinker & Feeder Set - 6.5lbs /1 gal
• Amazon Business
$109.99
1
$109.99
Safari Ltd Safariology the Life Cycle of a Chicken
• Amazon Business
$9.99
1
$9.99
Materials cost
$557.17
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$8.36
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$595.53
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$105.09
Total project goal
$700.62
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$700.62
12 Donors
-$543.56
Donations toward project cost
-$468.03
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$75.53
match offer
-$150.00
Match offer toward project cost
-$127.50
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Marinelli and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
