Hatching Eggs in the Classroom
Incubating and hatching eggs in the classroom is a great way to teach students about animal life cycles and the needs of living things. Here are several resources to help you do this successfully.
10 Best Practices for Hatching Chickens in the Classroom
First Consider What Happens After the Project – When considering hatching chickens, which can be an incredible lesson that covers many life science concepts, you need first to contemplate the inevitable: what are you going to do with live baby chickens? If you are unwilling to adopt a flock or find them a home before they hatch, this is not the project for your classroom. Also, consider how long they will be at school. Chicks grow very quickly and may need more room within a week’s time.
Think About Timing – It takes approximately 21 days for an egg to hatch, so this experiment is a bit of a time commitment. Plan for how you will engage the students throughout the incubation period, with daily/weekly lessons themed around the different sciences at play (check out Chicken Little Day Camp below). It is also a good idea to note that hatching is a process that takes several hours, and the students might not get to see it happen. Despite this, try to start the eggs in the incubator early on a Wednesday so that they are most likely to hatch during school hours three weeks later.
Research – This is perhaps one of the most important steps, as you are taking on the responsibility of growing living chickens. Guessing how to do this project will not end in success. You also need to be familiar enough with all the science and technology being used so that you can communicate accurately with the students and thoroughly answer any questions they might have. Visit our online guide for a library of research links about hatching chickens in a classroom.
Make A Checklist – The research you do should result in a list of all the supplies you need to get this project started. The last thing you want is to be missing a component at the crucial moment it’s needed. Make a checklist, and check it twice. A basic materials guide is as follows: An incubator and incubator thermometer, an egg turning tray, an egg candler, brood box, heat lamp, chicken feed and supplements, and of course, fertile chicken eggs.
How Do You Fertilize the Egg? – Believe it or not, you can mail-order fertile chicken eggs! Again, research is the key when locating a reputable hatchery. An example is Meyer Hatchery (https://meyerhatchery.com/ ), which offers a variety of breeds. This is another research element; look at the breed(s) you are purchasing and make sure they have the features that will work best for you. Also, ensure you understand egg candling to check the eggs for hatchable fertility when they arrive.
Gather the Materials – This is not a project to cut corners on, because, again, you are deciding the quality of life for living animals. Always check customer reviews and the seller’s credentials/location. Finish gathering everything before you begin, and test that everything functions properly before getting started. Ordering the chickens is the last thing to do, as you’ll want to get them into the prepared incubator as soon as possible.
Plan Your Lessons – Remember that you must plan for at least a 3-4 week period where this experiment is a focal point to anchor your lessons. This commitment can be completely worth it if the wide variety of educational opportunities and topics are properly addressed. Keep the class excited even if they become impatient or begin to lose interest. Resources like TeachKyAg and the Kentucky Poultry Federation provide curriculum-fulfilling lessons and materials for multiple grade levels and all subjects.
Prepare The Students Before the Classroom – This project is popular because of how exciting it can be for students, but this might also cause issues, especially in younger grade levels. You don’t want to take any risks when it comes to giving kids access to fragile eggs and equipment, so before moving anything into the classroom, give the students an orientation about what will be happening and when, and set ground rules. Use your best judgment and the temperament/age level of your students to decide how involved they can be in caring for the eggs and chicks.
Find The Perfect Spot – If your incubator is working and properly sealed, then any part of the classroom should be acceptable. If placed near vents or windows, however, monitor the temperature more closely. Consider elevation and position based primarily on how easy it will be for your students to view and access what is happening. Multiple outlets will be needed for the equipment and try not to move it around once the eggs are placed. Once the chicks hatch, the brood box should be kept in the warmest possible area with a natural light cycle.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Expert Help! – Contact local farmers or poultry company employees with experience incubating eggs and raising baby chicks. Check with your local county Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation office. County Cooperative Extension Offices may also have 4-H and Agriculture professionals to provide expertise. These folks may also help find a home for the chicks after hatching.
Perfect Classroom Setup For Hatching: Easy as 1,2,3 (Meyer Hatchery)
National 4-H Guide to Embryology
National 4-H Poultry Curriculum (Grades 3-4)
Eggology 101 - K-2 (National Agriculture in the Classroom)
Eggology 101 - 3-5 (National Agriculture in the Classroom)
Chicken Little Day Camp - A week of lessons and activities for a classroom or day camp egg-hatching project developed by Kentucky teacher Amanda O’Bryan (Old Mill Elementary, Bullitt Co.)
Chick Embryo Development Model
Interested in technical or financial support? Connect with your local Cooperative Extension or county Farm Bureau office.
Books
Incubators
Amazon (12-egg incubator and auto turner)
Resources from Pennsylvania 4-H
Planning and Scheduling Checklist - Planning is crucial to the success of an embryology project. Use this section as a checklist to help you plan the project activities.
Trouble Shooting - Maximum hatchability requires fresh eggs from well-bred and properly managed flocks. However, egg care and incubation are even more critical.