A bill being discussed in the Minnesota Legislature first aimed to ban hatching of all birds within Minnesota schools now aims to specifically ban the hatching of waterfowl.

HF 4655, which seeks to prohibit waterfowl hatching in schools — both public and charter, went through a hearing of the Minnesota House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee on March 12. The bill is authored by the chair of that committee, Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Center.

Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Park, is chair of the Agriculture Finance and Policy committee and the author of a bill being discussed in the Minnesota Legislature in March 2024 to ban hatching of all birds within Minnesota schools. The bill has been amended to specifically ban the hatching of waterfowl. (Forum News Service).

Vang indicated that the move to a ban on waterfowl hatching and away from all bird hatching came after she heard “loud and clear” from the agriculture and education communities about the importance of such an activity in their schools.

The amendment to ban waterfowl hatching was a small win for those preparing to hatch chickens this spring, but others expressed opposition to the idea.

The Minnesota Game Breeders offered opposition to the bill in a document shared with the committee.

“By taking away bird hatching in schools you are removing the opportunity to further open kids/students’ eyes to the natural world. The benefits of hatching birds in schools far outweighs any sort of negatives. Any health-related risks associated could easily be curtailed by following proper sanitation protocols,” wrote the Minnesota Game Breeders Club’s Board of Directors.

Minnesota resident Alex Fredin said a hatching program at Sibley East High School directly influenced his decision to enter a career in waterfowl conservation and become an aviculturist.

“Classroom hatching programs can also be integrated into lessons about agriculture, introducing students to fundamental concepts such as breeding, reproduction and genetic diversity,” Fredin wrote in opposition. “This knowledge is foundational for understanding how these processes impact food production and sustainability. Connecting hatching programs to broader agricultural themes allows students to grasp the concept of ‘seed to table.’”

Vang explained that the reasoning behind the bill was multifaceted, that hatching eggs in schools was “cute and educational,” but that the best incubator is a mama bird, not an incubator.

“Fluctuations cause birds to hatch sickly, dehydrated and/or deformed,” Vang said in her briefing.

She added that hatchings can happen outside of school hours — a concern for the health of the chicks. She brought up health risks such as salmonella that could sicken school children. Concerns were also brought forth that hatched birds, especially ducks, were often released or escaped and can cause health concerns for both birds and humans.

Minnesota veterinarian Dr. Jamie Nalezny testified in support of the bill, saying that escaped birds can introduce diseases that are harmful to humans, wildlife and domestic animals. Nalezny advocated for using a brooder hen or offering egg candling lessons rather than taking on the incubation lesson in a classroom.

A chick has hatched in the incubator at Sarah Bendson’s kindergarten class in Verndale, Minn. A bill being discussed in the Minnesota Legislature in March 2024 first aimed to ban hatching of all birds within Minnesota schools but has been amended to specifically ban the hatching of waterfowl. (Forum News Service)

Rep. Paul Anderson, the Republican lead in the committee, asked, if there are such risks with hatching waterfowl, why not ban all birds? Nalezny responded that the urgency in banning waterfowl is because they can fly and are more likely to be released into the wild due to their nature of being messy birds that can’t easily be confined to a fenced area.

The practice of hatching chickens in particular is an annual part of many teachers’ education programs in the state each spring as they teach on the common occurrence of new life. The original language of the bill had teachers concerned about their ability to continue an important part of their lesson plans.

That’s the case for Verndale kindergarten teacher Sarah Bendson, who has been teaching kindergarten and incubating eggs in the classroom for 13 years. Hatching has always been a major focus for at least 21 days every April.

“For the whole month of April, they get to see, basically beginning to end, the whole life cycle,” she said. “To give them that experience, hands-on, is the most beneficial part of this.”

Bendson said teachers are required to teach about life cycles, and this lesson is one that students talk to her about years after their time in the classroom as something they enjoyed.

The amended version of this bill would not inhibit her from hatching chicken eggs next month, and if it becomes law, it would not be in effect until July 2024 for those looking to hatch waterfowl. Bendson said there is no concern of their chickens not finding a home each year because they go back to the farmer who provides the eggs and are utilized as intended.

Sarah Bendson, kindergarten teacher at Verndale Public School in Verndale, Minn. A bill being discussed in the Minnesota Legislature in March 2024 first aimed to ban hatching of all birds within Minnesota schools but has been amended to specifically ban the hatching of waterfowl. (Forum News Service)

“It’s so rewarding for kids to see life happen before their eyes,” she said. “It’s just a different level of excitement. It’s a different level of engagement.”

Bendson is not alone in the desire to continue this education piece, as Tom Appel, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators, surveyed agriculture teachers across the state before the hearing, and 210 out of 217 respondents hatched eggs in the classroom.

He said the association takes a neutral stance on the amended bill, as educators can proceed with hatching chickens if it passes. However, he expressed concern about losing bird-hatching lessons in the classroom.

The committee moved to have the bill laid over, meaning action is postponed until another day.

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