CASTLE ROCK – Back by popular demand, the Douglas County 4-H Program is hatching chicks in the County’s CSU Extension office! The public is invited to view the eggs as they develop, watch the hatching process, and visit the birds once they are born.

The incubation process begins March 3 with a projected hatch date of March 23. “We expect our little peepers to come into the world beginning the week of March 23, but as with all things in nature, this is only an estimate,” said Mary Baldwin, 4-H Outreach Agent.

Visitation hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The CSU Extension office is located on the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 410 Fairgrounds Road in Castle Rock, the first building on the right when entering the Fairgrounds.

In 2009, several home school associations brought children to view the hatching process and the new baby chicks. 4-H also had visit s from pre-schoolers, special education students, and other residents from around Douglas County.

Embryology is a popular school enrichment program offered by Douglas County 4-H.  Each spring, students witness the development of life through observation of incubated eggs.  They learn about embryonic development, look inside eggs during development by “candling,” and view the hatching process. “Embryology is one of our most requested enrichment programs.  Last year, we placed programs into 30 classrooms in Douglas County,” said Ms. Baldwin. “Our new temperature-controlled incubators increased our hatching success rate, and we had lots of positive feedback from teachers.”

For information on school enrichment programs available through the Douglas County 4-H Program, please view the website at www.douglascountyextension.org or call the office at 720-733-6940.