Teamworks Chicken Camp
Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend “Operant Conditioning Camp” with Bob Bailey and Marian Breland-Bailey in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I attended four levels of week-long camps, including an “Instructor’s Camp” as the last camp. When Bob stopped offering regular camps, I asked him permission to offer an abridged weekend version of “Chicken Camp” for my staff members. Bob was a great help and mentor. My staff loved the camps so much that I opened the camps up to others. Over the years, I have had three flocks of chickens and held many weekend Chicken Camps. The goal of the camps is to help animal trainers of all kinds to become better trainers. We focus on three behaviors: a color target discrimination exercise, an “action” behavior (like navigating agility equipment), and a cooperative care exercise (like learning to accept wearable gear). These chickens are conditioned before camp to be comfortable being picked up, and placed on tables for training sessions. They are also pre-conditioned to the clicker cup.
JOIN US AT OUR NEXT CHICKEN CAMP!
June 20-22, 2025
Note: Our chickens are purchased from Little Birdie, a local hatchery that is an NPIP certified hatchery. The hatchery vaccinates the chicks before sending them home. They are brought to our home when they are 2-7 days old and raised as a flock, without any other birds being introduced. The chicks are hand-raised and handled daily, to ensure they are as comfortable being held by people as possible. We take many precautions during camp, including providing hand sanitizer, masks, and not allowing food in the training room. Here are CDC recommendations regarding avian flu, in case you have concerns. Our chicks are fed organic food, but they are treated with medication as baby chicks and given diatomaceous earth as a parasite preventative as adults.
January 2019 Chicken Camp Pictures
February Camp Pictures
February 2020 Chicken Camp
