Beginning of LifeBeginning of Life4-H School Enrichment Project4-H School Enrichment Project

About the ProjectAbout the Project Science Based, Hands-onScience Based, Hands-on Helps teach SOL’sHelps teach SOL’s Extension provides educational Extension provides educational

resources for the projectresources for the project– Leaders ManualLeaders Manual– Suggested ActivitiesSuggested Activities– Youth Activity sheetsYouth Activity sheets– WWW SitesWWW Sites

http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/index.htmlindex.html

What You Need to Know to What You Need to Know to Have a Successful ProjectHave a Successful Project

Planning and Scheduling Planning and Scheduling ChecklistChecklist

The ChickenThe Chicken The EggThe Egg The Reproductive System and The Reproductive System and

FertilizationFertilization IncubationIncubation Trouble ShootingTrouble Shooting Embryo DevelopmentEmbryo Development Answers to Commonly Asked Answers to Commonly Asked

Embryology Questions Embryology Questions

http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/index.html4hembryo/index.html

Links to other embryology Links to other embryology sitessites

jpeg images of embryos, jpeg images of embryos, hatching, shell window, etc.hatching, shell window, etc.

Project ExpectationsProject Expectations Chicks never go Chicks never go

home with home with studentsstudents

Find home for Find home for chicks before chicks before Starting Project.Starting Project.

This is not just a This is not just a chick hatching chick hatching projectproject

Actively involve Actively involve youthyouth

Candle Eggs Candle Eggs regularlyregularly

Keep Records Help youth

observe embryonic development

How do I SuccessfullyHow do I Successfully Hatch Eggs? Hatch Eggs?

Proper Preparation Proper Preparation and Planningand Planning

Quality Fertile Quality Fertile EggsEggs

Student Buy InStudent Buy In Good Incubation Good Incubation

ManagementManagement PatiencePatience

Preparation and PlanningPreparation and Planning

Choosing a workable time frameChoosing a workable time frame– 25 day time period25 day time period– Avoid holidaysAvoid holidays– Weekend egg turning?Weekend egg turning?– Wednesdays usually a good day to start Wednesdays usually a good day to start

eggseggs

Preparation and PlanningPreparation and Planning

Order and secure fertile eggsOrder and secure fertile eggs

Quality Fertile EggsQuality Fertile Eggs Proven SourceProven Source Proper Collection and Proper Collection and

StorageStorage– 50-65 Degrees F.50-65 Degrees F.– 70% Humidity70% Humidity– 7 days Maximum7 days Maximum– >35>35oo and <82 and <82o o criticalcritical

Other FactorsOther Factors– Nutrition, age of birdsNutrition, age of birds

Chicken Eggs are bestChicken Eggs are best

Preparation and PlanningPreparation and Planning Secure incubator in advanceSecure incubator in advance Clean incubatorClean incubator

– Avoid strong contaminantsAvoid strong contaminants– 25% bleach solution25% bleach solution

Setup and test incubator a week Setup and test incubator a week before project to beginbefore project to begin– Use 2 thermometers?Use 2 thermometers?

Incubator location?Incubator location?– Avoid drafts, direct sunlight, heat & AC Avoid drafts, direct sunlight, heat & AC

outlets outlets

Preparation and PlanningPreparation and Planning

Inform coworkers and custodial Inform coworkers and custodial staffstaff

Power outages?Power outages? Lower school temps on Lower school temps on

weekends?weekends? TamperingTampering

Preparation and PlanningPreparation and Planning

What happens to the chicks?What happens to the chicks?– Do not distribute them to students!Do not distribute them to students!– Illegal to send < 6 chicks homeIllegal to send < 6 chicks home

Will you keep the chicks a couple Will you keep the chicks a couple of days to discuss the brooding of days to discuss the brooding process?process?

Chicken and Egg BasicsChicken and Egg Basics

Hen AnatomyHen Anatomy

Function of Function of Embryonic MembranesEmbryonic Membranes Yolk SacYolk Sac

– FoodFood AmnionAmnion

– ProtectionProtection– ExerciseExercise

Chorion / AllantoisChorion / Allantois– RespirationRespiration– WasteWaste– Minerals from shellMinerals from shell

Start Up DayStart Up Day Have the incubator ready to goHave the incubator ready to go The eggs arriveThe eggs arrive

– Store eggs small end downStore eggs small end down– Allow a couple of hours for eggs to Allow a couple of hours for eggs to

come to room temperaturecome to room temperature– Wash excessively dirty eggs with Wash excessively dirty eggs with

warm waterwarm water– Candle eggsCandle eggs

Candling eggs prior to incubation

Good qualityGood qualityhatching egghatching egg

Poor qualityPoor qualitylarge air cell large air cell

dark yolkdark yolk

CrackedCracked

Two YolksTwo Yolks

Start Up DayStart Up Day Have the incubator ready to goHave the incubator ready to go The eggs arriveThe eggs arrive

– Store eggs small end downStore eggs small end down– Allow a couple of hours for eggs to come to Allow a couple of hours for eggs to come to

room temperatureroom temperature– Wash excessively dirty eggs with warm Wash excessively dirty eggs with warm

waterwater– Candle eggsCandle eggs– Put a number on large end of each eggPut a number on large end of each egg– Put “X” and “O” on each eggPut “X” and “O” on each egg

The Importance of Egg The Importance of Egg TurningTurning

Mark eggs with “X” and “O” Mark eggs with “X” and “O” on opposite side of eggson opposite side of eggs

Turning prevents embryo Turning prevents embryo sticking to shell membranesticking to shell membrane

During school days turn eggs 3 During school days turn eggs 3 time per daytime per day

Turn once per day on Turn once per day on weekendsweekends

Stop turning on day 19Stop turning on day 19

Incubation Incubation ManagementManagement

TemperatureTemperature– 99.5 - 100.5 forced Air99.5 - 100.5 forced Air– 100.5 - 101.5 Still Air100.5 - 101.5 Still Air

HumidityHumidity– 60% 60%

Maintaining HumidityMaintaining Humidity Use of water pans - lots of Use of water pans - lots of

optionsoptions Importance for chick healthImportance for chick health

– Prevent sticking to shellPrevent sticking to shell– Keeps amnion fluidKeeps amnion fluid– Provides for free embryo exerciseProvides for free embryo exercise– Prevent crippled chicksPrevent crippled chicks

Incubation Incubation ManagementManagement

TemperatureTemperature– 99.5 - 100.5 forced Air99.5 - 100.5 forced Air– 100.5 - 101.5 Still Air100.5 - 101.5 Still Air

HumidityHumidity– 60% 60%

TurningTurning– 3 times daily3 times daily– Once daily on weekendsOnce daily on weekends

CandlingCandling RecordsRecords

Fertile vs. Not fertileFertile vs. Not fertile