Things to Consider Before Taking a Poultry Project

Think about how much space is required to house the poultry projects you're considering.  Do you have enough physical space and the proper shelter?  Are you aware of feed costs and and have you budgeted for them?  Are you prepared to invest the money and time involved in caring for, grooming, learning about, and working with your poultry animals to be ready for project judging and the fair? Are the youth and parent(s), guardian(s), or other adult helper(s) prepared to make the time and financial commitment?  Poultry projects can be very rewarding for those who are prepared to house and work with their birds.

2025 Poultry Calendar of Events

• Market Geese - Hatch date any time after January 1 of current year
• Enroll in 4-H through 4-H Online by April 1st (note: clubs may set an earlier deadline)
• May 1 - All market poultry orders due into the Extension office. 
• Quality Assurance - See the Quality Assurance page for more details.
• May 23rd - May 30th - Market Turkey hatch dates 
• May 28th - Market Turkey Chick Pick up at Centerra * Estimated date could change
• June 1st - Obtain and care for your project animal(s) on or before June 1st. ALL POULTRY PROJECTS MUST BE ADDED INTO THE 4-HONLINE SYSTEM BY JUNE 1ST. 
• June 1st - Complete Animal ID for all possible animals (including family back-ups) that you could possibly enter in the fair through 4-HOnline on or before June 1st.  Help sheets are available at wayne.osu.edu/help
• June 10th Poultry Clinic  - 7:00 - 8:00pm Sheep & Goat Arena
• June 27th - Earliest hatch date for Market Ducks
• July 2nd - Centerra Market Duck Pick up * Estimated date could change
• July 8th - Outstanding Market Exhibitor Exam - 5:00 - 9:00 pm, Fairgrounds Event Center
• July 9th - Skillathon Interviews - check our Skillathon page for more information.
• July 11th - Earliest hatch date for Market Chickens
• July 16th - Pick up Market Chickens ordered from Centerra pick up at Centerra * Estimated date could change
• July 17th - Pick up Market Chickens ordered from Gerber Hatchery pick up at Junior Fair Board Office times TBA * Estimated date could change
• July 22nd Last Chance Quality Assurance (Fee Charged) Secrest Arboretum 
• July 23rd Quality Assurance MUST be completed. 
• August 1 - Jr. Fair Class Entries Due - Make all Junior Fair Class Entries at waynejrfair.fairentry.com Final date, no additions or corrections, after August 1^st.
• August 5th - Outstanding Market Exhibitor Exam - 5:00 - 9:00 pm, Fairgrounds Event Center
• August 6th - Skillathon Interviews - check our Skillathon page for more information.
• August 23rd - Poultry Barn Set Up Day - 9:00 am Event Center
• September 1st - Market Poultry Sale Photograph due, details announced in News & Notes/Facebook
• September 5th - Poultry Check-In - 12:00 - 9:00 pm Event Center
• *NEW SHOW DATES FOR 2025*
• September 8th - Market Poultry & Market Showmanship Show - 8:00 am Event Center
• September 9th - Exhibition/Fancy Poultry & Exhibition/Fancy Showmanship Show - 8:00 am Event Center
• September 10th - Poultry Auction - Event Center
• September 16th - Poultry Meat Pick Up *Tentative

Poultry Project Books

• The books listed below can be ordered through your 4-H club advisor, purchased directly from the Wayne County Extension Office, or ordered online at extensionpubs.osu.edu
• Poultry Project and Record Book (150) - Are you interested in raising chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, or guineas? This project can help you take better care of your birds through the experience of feeding, watering, and monitoring your animal's health. For reliable, resource-based online and print sources for information about poultry projects visit ohio4h.org/publications and download the free flyer.
• Wayne County 4-H Poultry Resource Book - compiled from other state's resources in 2020

• Old Poultry Project Books - For Reference ONLY

• Every 4-H member must purchase and utilize the new 150 Poultry record book. The old books are only to be used as a resource and reference in studying for the skillathon until the new 150 Poultry Resource Handbook is available.
• Raising Broilers
• Raising Pullets
• Fancy Poultry
• Duck and Goose
• Raising Turkeys

Poultry Project Guidelines and Forms

• 2025 Wayne County 4-H Poultry Project Guidelines - published annually, this document provides an overview of the most important things youth and parents should know about taking a dairy project including important dates, deadlines, animal ID and Junior Fair information.  This document is usally updated each November or December with information for the new year.
• Poultry Project Judging Form
• Questions about Poultry projects can be directed to your club advisor, Diane Johnson at the Extension Office, or by contacting the Poultry/Rabbit Committee Chair Hannah Becker

Poultry Animal ID Requirements

2025 Poultry Animal ID Help Sheet - overview of how to enter Poultry Animal ID in 4-HOnline and lists which fields and forms are required and which are optional.

POultry Orders

• New for 2025:
  • Exhibitors will need to find their own hatchery for Market Ducks and Market Turkeys, we apologize for any inconvience.  
  • Our office will still be ordering market chickens through Gerber Poultry click here to order, order DUE by May 1st.
  • Exhibitors can order any poultry through a NPIP hatchery of their choice. 
  • 2025 Hatch Dates;
    • Turkeys must be hatched between May 23-May 30
      • UPDATED Turkey INFORMATION: Hatched by May 23 or after of the current year.
    • Ducks hatched date June 27 or AFTER
    • Market Chickens hatched date hatched by July 11 or AFTER

Poultry Clinic and Educational Resources

• The Poultry / Rabbit Committee will be holding a poultry clinic on  June 10th from 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Goat/Sheep Arena at the fairgrounds.

POULTRY OUTSTANDING EXHIBITOR PROGRAM

• 2025 Outstanding Exhibitor Award Criteria
• 2025 Outstanding Exhibitor Approved Events

Poultry Outstanding Record Book

• The Outstanding Record Book Awards are designed to recognize youth that take time to thoroughly complete their records books adding in details and financial, feed, and health records from throughout the entire project including final market auction price and calculating their profit or loss for those taking market projects.  Youth wishing to have their record books judged should turn them in to the Extension Office by September 27th.  Awards are presented at the Fall 4-H Recognition Banquet.
• Poultry Outstanding Record Book Award Rubric

Poultry Junior Fair Information

• 2023 Pre-Fair Letter / Reminders
• 2023 Important Message to Poultry Exhibitors from Senior Fair Board Regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• 2023 Poultry/Rabbit Pen Assignments
• 2023 Show Book

Poultry / Rabbit Committee

• The Wayne County 4-H / FFA / Jr. Fair Poultry / Rabbit Action committee is responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out the horse program in consultation with and under the authority of OSU Extension and the Wayne County Agricultural Society (Senior Fair Board)
• Our 2025 Poultry/Rabbit Committee is made up of the following individuals: Hannah Becker (Chair), Erika Moore, Mark Dull, Michele Baker, Daniel Linden, Olivia Lang, Sarah Zimmerly, Tanner Herbert, Stephanie Roberts, Abby Rossiter, Michael Sherrick, Kelsey Bowers (FFA), Diane Johnson (OSU Extension), Mike Gerhart and Russ Johnson (Senior Fair Liaison) and Junior Fair Board members Kayleigh Molnar, Bella Nardecchia, Nickalus Roberts and Jenna Zimmerly.

State 4-H Poultry Webpage

• For more information about the Ohio 4-H Poultry Program be sure to visit https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/poultry

Wayne County 4-H Poultry Facebook Group

Be sure to join our Wayne County 4-H Poultry Facebook Group where we share reminders, announcements, and other educational content related to the 4-H Poultry program.  Check us out on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/waynecounty4hpoultry