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Joel Browne Connors Food Security Initiative · USVI
A Joel Browne Connors Senate Initiative · USVI

Food Independence
Begins Right Here.

The Chick To Egg Initiative is part of Joel’s broader commitment to building a self-sufficient, resilient, and thriving Virgin Islands where no family should go without access to fresh, affordable food. It starts with three chicks and a backyard.

Apply for Your Flock → Participant Portal
3 Layer Hen Chicks
6 Mo. To First Egg
3/day Eggs at Maturity
5 Yrs Food Security
K–12 All Grade Levels
About Connors Farms

Building Food Security,
One Family at a Time.

Connors Farms is committed to building food security and agricultural literacy in our community. The Chick to Egg initiative puts real, productive farming tools directly into the hands of families, starting with the most important teachers of all: children.

Rooted in the values of hard work, sustainability, and community responsibility, Connors Farms serves as both a working agricultural space and a place for education, mentorship, and hands on learning. Through programs like Chick to Egg, the farm aims to reconnect families with the land while inspiring a new generation to value self sufficiency and local food production.

This program is proudly sponsored by Friends of Joel Browne Connors for Senate, whose mission includes strengthening community resilience, local food systems, and hands on education for the next generation.

Eligibility Requirements

  • At least one child currently enrolled in school (Pre-K through 12th Grade)
  • Access to outdoor space or yard suitable for a small coop
  • Commitment to weekly progress documentation for 6 months
  • Ability to provide basic care: feed, water, and shelter for 3 hens
Apply for Your Flock →
Connors Farms - Chick to Egg Initiative
Connors Farms · USVI · 2026 Active Program
How It Works

Simple Steps to
Food Independence.

From the day your chicks arrive to your first egg, our program walks families through every stage with resources, documentation support, and a community of growers behind you. Six steps. Six months. A lifetime of fresh eggs.

01

Start With 3 Chicks

Every participating family receives 3 healthy 2-week-old layer hen chicks from Connors Farms, ready to grow. Your flock is the foundation of your backyard food system.

02

School-Family Program

Open to any family with a child enrolled in school, Pre-K through 12th grade. All schools welcome. Children become active participants in the care, feeding, and documentation of your flock.

03

Weekly Documentation

Track and photograph your chicks each week for 6 months. Share your progress back to the Connors Farms team. This keeps you connected, accountable, and celebrated throughout the journey.

04

First Egg Milestone

Around 5–6 months, your hens begin laying. That first egg marks your official graduation into backyard farming, a milestone worth celebrating for the whole family.

05

3 Eggs Every Day

Three mature hens produce approximately 3 eggs daily: fresh, home-grown protein for your whole family. No grocery run required. Just walk out to your yard.

06

5 Years of Food Security

Layer hens produce reliably for 5+ years. This initiative plants a seed of lasting food independence in your household, and inspires neighbors, schools, and entire communities to follow.

Why This Matters

More Than Chickens.
A Foundation For
Independence.

“Real change starts at home. When a family can feed themselves, educate their children, and build something, an entire community grows stronger.”

— Joel Browne Connors

The Virgin Islands imports the vast majority of its food. That dependence on external supply chains leaves families exposed to price spikes, shipping delays, and the fragility of systems entirely outside our control. The Chick To Egg Initiative is a direct, practical answer to that vulnerability.

When a family raises three laying hens, they produce more than fresh eggs. They produce knowledge, routine, and resilience. Children learn where food comes from. Parents build skills that last. And neighborhoods begin to shift from consumers into producers.

This is the kind of leadership Joel Browne Connors has always believed in: programs that work on the ground, with real families, and leave something lasting behind. Not a campaign promise. A chicken, a coop, and a community stronger for it.

Family participating in the Chick To Egg Initiative
1,000+ Estimated eggs produced per enrolled family each year: fresh, local, and free from the grocery store.
Your Growing Journey

Week by Week.
Milestone by Milestone.

Every family’s journey through the Chick To Egg program follows a natural rhythm, from the excitement of chick arrival to the quiet satisfaction of collecting your own eggs each morning. Document your progress and share your story with Connors Farms — your weekly updates help us celebrate every milestone alongside you.

Share Your Story →
Weeks 1–2

Chick Arrival & Settling In

Set up your brooder and introduce the chicks to your children. The first two weeks are all about warmth, safety, and bonding.

Weeks 3–6

Brooder Management & Growth

Monitor brooder temperature as feathers grow in. Weekly photo updates begin. Document every change and share with the Connors Farms team.

Weeks 7–12

Move to Outdoor Coop

Transition chicks outside as they grow into pullets. Observe their behavior, diet changes, and interaction with their new environment.

Weeks 13–20

Pullets Mature & Prepare

Introduce laying feed as pullets reach maturity. Watch for pre-laying behaviors: nesting instincts, changes in comb color, and increased activity.

Weeks 21–26

First Eggs — Graduation!

Your hens lay their first eggs. Document the milestone with photos, submit your First Egg Report to Connors Farms, and celebrate with your family.

Ongoing

3 Eggs Per Day. Every Day.

Your backyard farm is active. Three fresh eggs a day for your family. Food security that runs for 5+ years and counting.

Family Registration

Register Your Family Today.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Once approved, your family will be contacted by the Connors Farms team to schedule chick delivery and a brief onboarding session.

Free to Enroll
No cost to qualifying families. Chicks, starter resources, and education are fully included.
K–12 All Schools
Open to any USVI family with children enrolled in Pre-K through 12th grade programs.
6-Month Program
Families submit regular progress updates throughout the program until hens begin laying eggs.
Community Support
Connors Farms provides guidance, educational materials and support throughout the journey.
Connors Farms · Chick to Egg Initiative
Family Application
All fields marked * are required

Parent / Guardian Details

School-Age Children *

Child 1

Outdoor Space *

Where will your chicks live once they outgrow the brooder?

Program Commitment

Information submitted through this application is kept private and used only for program review and communication.