2026 CLASS CALENDAR

Learn something useful. Work with your hands. Build skills you can carry with you for life.

BlueJay Academy offers approachable, hands on classes designed to teach practical skills, traditional knowledge, and sustainable living.

ESA Approved Classes Available

New classes are added throughout the year, so check back often!

NOVEMBER 2026

BEGINNING CHICKEN KEEPING    Sign Up Here

5 Week Hands On Course

Tuesdays • November 2 – November 30, 2026
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Ages: 6+
Tuition: $125 per student for the complete 5 week course
ESA Funds Accepted

Have you ever wanted to raise chickens but weren't sure where to begin?

Beginning Chicken Keeping is a five week course designed to take students from the very beginning of chicken keeping through the practical skills needed to understand and care for a backyard flock.

Students will learn through age appropriate discussion, demonstrations, observation, and hands on activities.

No previous chicken experience is necessary.

COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK 1 — November 2

Meet the Chicken

Students will learn:

• Basic chicken anatomy
• Hen vs. rooster
• Common chicken terminology
• Chicken behavior and communication
• How chickens see and experience their environment
• Different chicken breeds and why breed matters
• Safe and respectful chicken handling
• Begin Egg Incubation

WEEK 2 — November 9

From Egg to Chick

Students will explore:

• Parts of an egg
• Fertile vs. non-fertile eggs
• How a chick develops
• Incubation basics - Check the eggs
• Brooder setup
• Heat requirements
• Chick feed and water
• Caring for baby chicks

WEEK 3 — November 16

Building a Happy & Safe Flock

Students will learn what chickens need to live safely and comfortably, including:

• Coop basics
• Nesting boxes
• Roosting
• Bedding
• Ventilation
• Space requirements
• Predator protection
• The chicken run
• Dust baths
• Enrichment and natural chicken behaviors

WEEK 4 — November 23

Feeding & Caring for Your Chickens

Students will learn about everyday flock care, including:

• What chickens eat
• Different types of chicken feed, grit, calcium, treats and snacks
• Foods chickens should not eat
• Fresh water
• Basic sanitation
• Recognizing normal chicken behavior
• EGGS HATCHING

WEEK 5 — NOVEMBER 30

Eggs, Flock Life & Becoming a Chicken Keeper

Our final class brings everything together.

Students will learn:

• Chicks can be adopted with parent approval
• How chickens make eggs
• Why egg colors differ
• Collecting and handling eggs
• Understanding the pecking order
• Introducing chickens to a flock
• Basic daily, weekly, and seasonal chicken chores
• Responsible chicken ownership
• Planning your own backyard flock

Students will review what they've learned throughout the five-week course and celebrate becoming Beginning Chicken Keepers!

COURSE INCLUDES

Five 90 minute classes, hands on learning opportunities, educational materials and activities, and a BlueJay Academy Certificate of Completion.

TUITION

$125 per student

Tuition covers the complete five-week course.

ESA Funds Accepted

Space is limited to provide students with opportunities to participate, ask questions, and learn hands on.

NOVEMBER 2026

ADVANCED CHICKEN KEEPING

5 Week Hands On Course

Tuesdays • November 10 – December 8, 2026
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Ages: 6+
Tuition: $125 per student for the complete 5-week course
ESA Funds Accepted

Ready to go beyond the basics?

Advanced Chicken Keeping builds upon the skills learned in Beginning Chicken Keeping and teaches students how to become better observers and caretakers of their flock.

Students will take a closer look at chicken behavior, flock communication, normal versus unusual behavior, seasonal care, nutrition, flock dynamics, and recognizing when a chicken may need additional attention.

The goal is to teach students not simply how to have chickens, but how to understand their chickens.

COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK 1 — NOVEMBER 10

Understanding Chicken Behavior

Chickens communicate constantly, you just have to learn how to watch them.

Students will explore:

• Normal chicken behavior
• Chicken body language
• Common chicken sounds and vocalizations
• Foraging behavior
• Scratching and pecking
• Dust bathing
• Sunbathing
• Preening
• Roosting behavior
• Nesting behavior
• Broody behavior
• How chickens communicate with one another
• How chickens communicate discomfort, excitement, fear, and contentment

Students will begin learning how observation can tell a chicken keeper a great deal about the flock.

WEEK 2 — NOVEMBER 17

Flock Dynamics & the Pecking Order

Every flock has its own social structure.

Students will learn:

• What the pecking order is
• How a pecking order develops
• Normal flock disagreements
• When pecking becomes excessive
• Bullying within a flock
• Introducing new chickens
• Separating chickens when necessary
• Rooster behavior
• Hen behavior
• Changes in behavior as chickens mature
• How space, food, boredom, and stress can affect behavior
• Ways to provide enrichment for a flock

Students will learn to distinguish between normal chicken social behavior and behavior that may require intervention.

WEEK 3 — NOVEMBER 24

Becoming a Chicken Detective

Recognizing When a Chicken Needs Additional Attention

One of the most valuable skills a chicken keeper can develop is noticing when something simply isn't right.

Students will learn how to observe:

• Changes in eating
• Changes in drinking
• Changes in activity
• Isolation from the flock
• Unusual posture
• Drooping wings
• Changes in walking
• Changes in vocalization
• Feather condition
• Comb and wattle appearance
• Eye and nostril appearance
• Changes in droppings
• Changes in egg production
• Changes in nesting behavior
• Signs of external parasites
• Signs of stress
• Changes in normal daily routines

Students will learn the importance of knowing what is normal for their own flock so they can recognize changes early.

We will also discuss when observation and supportive flock management are appropriate and when an adult should contact a veterinarian or other qualified poultry professional.

WEEK 4 — DECEMBER 1

Seasonal Chicken Care

Chicken care changes throughout the year.

Students will explore how flock needs change with the seasons, with special attention to keeping chickens in a hot climate.

Topics include:

Summer Care

• Heat stress awareness
• Shade
• Ventilation
• Fresh water
• Keeping water cooler
• Appropriate summer treats
• Recognizing behavior associated with excessive heat
• Adjusting daily routines during extreme temperatures

Winter Care

• Cold weather behavior
• Coop ventilation
• Drafts versus ventilation
• Water considerations
• Roosting
• Bedding
• Why overheating a coop can create problems

Seasonal Changes

• Molting
• Feather regrowth
• Seasonal changes in egg production
• Daylight and laying
• Changes in appetite
• Seasonal predator concerns
• Preparing the coop for weather changes

Students will create a basic year round flock care plan.

WEEK 5 — DECEMBER 8

Advanced Flock Care & Putting It All Together

Our final class brings the advanced chicken keeping skills together.

Students will explore:

• Establishing a daily flock routine
• Performing a basic visual chicken check
• Checking feet, feathers, combs, eyes, and overall appearance
• Monitoring food and water
• Observing droppings
• Monitoring egg production
• Keeping simple flock records
• Recognizing changes over time
• Coop cleanliness and sanitation
• Parasite awareness
• Predator awareness
• Enrichment
• Preparing for emergencies
• Basic chicken first-aid kit concepts
• Knowing when to ask an adult or professional for help

THE 5-MINUTE FLOCK CHECK

Students will practice developing a simple observation routine:

LOOK — LISTEN — COUNT — CHECK — NOTICE

Are all of the chickens present?

Are they moving and behaving normally?

Are they eating and drinking?

Do their eyes, feathers, combs, feet, and posture look normal?

Is anyone separating themselves from the flock?

Has anything changed since yesterday?

The goal is to teach students one of the most important lessons in animal care:

Know what normal looks like, so you notice when something changes.

COURSE INCLUDES

The Advanced Chicken Keeping course includes:

• Five 90 minute classes
• Hands on learning and demonstrations
• Chicken behavior education
• Flock observation skills
• Seasonal flock care education
• Educational worksheets and activities
• Flock observation checklist
• Seasonal chicken care checklist
• Basic flock record sheet
• BlueJay Academy Advanced Chicken Keeping Certificate of Completion

TUITION

$125 per student

Tuition covers the complete five week course.

Ages 6+

ESA Funds Accepted

Space is limited to allow students opportunities for hands on learning, participation, observation, and questions.

 

 

Recommended Prerequisite

Beginning Chicken Keeping or equivalent basic chicken keeping knowledge is recommended.

Students should already have a basic understanding of chicken housing, feeding, water, coops, chick care, and everyday flock needs.

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Chicken Processing

A hands-on class that teaches the basics of processing a chicken from start to finish. Learn humane processing, cleaning, food safety, and how to prepare a chicken for the freezer.  

Class Learning Objectives:

• Understand humane chicken processing
• Thanking them for providing food for our families
• Learn proper scalding and feather removal
• Learn safe cleaning and evisceration
• Understand basic food safety and sanitation
• Learn proper chilling, packaging, and freezer storage
• Understand how to use more of the bird and reduce waste

Date: November 21, 2026
Time: 10am
Ages: 12+
Price: $25 per student

 VIEWER DISCRETION / IMPORTANT CLASS NOTICE

This class involves the humane dispatch and processing of live chickens for food. Students will see blood, internal organs, raw meat, and the complete processing of an animal. This class is intended for individuals and families who eat meat and want to learn where their food comes from and how to process poultry responsibly. It may not be appropriate for individuals who are uncomfortable with animal processing or who are opposed to raising and processing animals for food. Parents are responsible for determining whether this class is appropriate for their child.

 

2027

MORE CLASSES ARE COMING

BlueJay Academy classes may include:

Chicken Keeping • Beekeeping • Herbal Skills • Tea Blending • Gardening • Micro-Gardening • Canning • Jam Making • Food Preservation • Traditional Household Skills • Etiquette • Life Skills • Creative Arts • Sustainable Living, Teen Esn

Classes may be offered as individual workshops or multi week courses that allow students to explore a subject in greater depth.

ESA FAMILIES

BlueJay Academy offers ESA approved educational classes designed around practical learning, traditional skills, and hands on experiences.

Course descriptions, tuition information, age requirements, dates, and registration information will be provided for each class.

Please contact BlueJay Academy if you need documentation related to an ESA purchase or enrollment.

PRIVATE & SMALL-GROUP CLASSES

Interested in a class for your:

Homeschool Group • Family • Co-op • Scout Group • Community Organization • Small Group

Select BlueJay Academy classes may be available for private groups.

Contact us to discuss class options and availability.

BLUEJAY ACADEMY

Practical knowledge shouldn't disappear.

We believe there is value in knowing how to grow something, make something, preserve something, care for something, and confidently do things for yourself.

BlueJay Academy brings traditional knowledge together with practical modern living through approachable, hands-on education.

Learn it. Practice it. Pass it on.

BlueJay Academy
A DBA of BlueJay Companies LLC
Arizona

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