Rent-a-Chick™ is an educational program that provides families, schools, and community organizations with a hands-on opportunity to learn about chicks, poultry care, agriculture, and farm life through a short-term chick care experience.
Participants receive chicks and the necessary supplies for a temporary educational experience, along with age-appropriate educational materials designed to support learning about animal care, agriculture, and life sciences. At the conclusion of the program, the chicks are returned to the farm, where they continue to be raised and cared for.
The Rent-a-Chick™ program was created in 2011 by Mariel Kessenich. The program was developed to provide an educational alternative to the seasonal purchase of baby chicks around Easter and to promote responsible animal stewardship through structured learning experiences.
Since its creation in 2011, the Rent-a-Chick™ program has been offered in partnership with farms, educational organizations, and community groups to provide agricultural education through direct interaction with live chicks.
Mariel Kessenich is the founder and owner of the Rent-a-Chick™ program and the related educational materials and services provided under the Rent-a-Chick™ and Rent-a-Chick Educational Program names.