Poultry research at what later became North Carolina State University began with the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station in 1881. In 1895 the Poultry Division was added, after the Board of Trustees recommended "that a poultry yard be established and several varieties of the best breeds of chickens, etc., be bred and a few bees kept for the instruction of the students." Buildings and yards were established on ten acres adjoining the Fair Grounds. Frank E. Hege, a commercial poultryman from near New Bern, was the first department head.

Although the Agricultural Experiment Station was officially transferred to the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts when students first registered in 1889, it did not move to the college until 1897. The first course in poultry at the College was taught in 1900-1901. In 1912 Poultry work became part of the Department of Animal Industry.

The Poultry Science Extension Program began in 1907 and originally consisted of demonstration projects. Still in existence, its mission has been the dissemination of important information to the public of North Carolina. The first Extension Poultry Specialist, C.B. Ross, was hired in 1913 and initiated the first instructional Extension short course in 1915. In 1938 C. F. "Chick" Parrish, a Poultry Extension Specialist from 1925 to 1963, began producing "Poultry Pointers," a monthly newsletter for poultry producers.

In 1923 the Poultry Department became one of six departments in the new School of Agriculture. Research, teaching, and extension work were under one department head, Benjamin F. Kaupp, for the first time. In 1962 the name of the department was officially changed to Poultry Science.

In 1945 "Chick" Parrish started the 4-H Pullet Chain in 14 counties. While technically named the "Grow Better Pullets Program," it was generally referred to as the "Sears Pullet Chain." Sears, Roebuck & Company gave $300 for the purchase of baby chicks for ten boys and girls. Each 4-H'er in the Chain received 100 baby chicks. At the end of six months club members brought twelve pullets to a show and sale. Sears gave $100 in prize money to each county in the program. The 4-H Pullet Chain Program was so successful that it spread to nearly every county in North Carolina and to most of the other southern states. There were fifty-four shows and sales in North Carolina in 1950, 107 shows in 1958. This program helped North Carolina become a commercial egg producing state.

The Department of Poultry Science is currently housed in Scott Hall. It consists of twenty-three faculty members working in a number of different research and extension areas, including: nutrition, physiology, immunology, poultry management, toxicology, microbiology, food science, waste management, food safety, and poultry health. A large amount of work is also being done in the area of poultry by-product management to reduce the potential environmental effects of the poultry industry. Informal educational programs are also offered by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. The Department of Poultry Science has eight Extension Specialists with expertise in a variety of areas. Additionally, Extension Specialists with poultry expertise from five other departments work with the Poultry Extension Specialists. Through coordinated efforts, the members from these six departments help to meet the educational programming needs as a whole.