By Harper Cuttino and Shepard Adamson

The chicken incubation tradition has returned for a third year as part of Earth Action Month. Since the first round of incubation in the spring of 2022, Upper School science teacher Sandra Marr, along with the help of some sustainability students, has helped hatch three chicks. This year, another three chicks hatched in the three-egg incubator that’s been used the past. The small incubator was upstairs in North Science 208, and there was even a livestream livestream channel for watching the chicks hatch. 

The main purpose of incubating the eggs, provided by groundskeeper Andrew Stanley, is to encourage curiosity on how students can reduce their ecological footprint. Students can learn about the process of raising chickens also, since backyard chickens help reduce food waste, which is a major contributing factor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Now that the chickens have hatched, students can stop by NS208 to interact with them. Marr reported that by playing with chickens, people get a boost of positivity and dopamine: “It’s a really special time of year, just to get all the positive dopamine serotonin boost and happy hormones from little baby things.” Students from the Middle and Lower Schools also have the opportunity during Earth Week, April 15-19, to visit and play with the chickens. 

Earth Society has reimagined Earth Week into Earth Action Month, with an emphasis on action. There have been various themed days that focus on different aspects of climate awareness: meatless Monday, trash talk Tuesday, food waste Wednesday, green thumb Thursday, and eco-friendly Friday. Marr and the rest of Earth Society are excited to welcome these chickens and bring joy to the Collegiate community! 

All photos by Vlastik Svab.