I am a Primary school teacher, and I would like to have a live incubation in the classroom. Any suggestions?
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A bunch of us went out to St. Johns to visit Eric’s (and Ben’s) chicks. This was their second time outside and they were having a grand old time. Here’s tiny Moxie, the sweetest little Americana chick with her little green feet.
Question by rizzole999: I am a Primary school teacher, and I would like to have a live incubation in the classroom. Any suggestions?
I have access to some fertilized eggs and I just want to know if I can take one of my broody chickens and place it on them to hatch. Is this possible and and what are the likely chances that it will work?
Thankyou
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5 Responses to I am a Primary school teacher, and I would like to have a live incubation in the classroom. Any suggestions?
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In my school district that is part of the Kindergarten science unit…they have been doing it for like 15 years or something.
They just recently did away with that unit because animal rights activists felt it was cruel. Apparently, not all teachers were doing what they needed to and some of the chicks died of dehydration or came out deformed…at least that is what I heard. Also, I believe I read something in the paper that sometimes the farms that provided the eggs did not want the birds back once they hatched…this is definitely a problem in an urban area!
talk to your supervisor…if you know what you are doing, then I don’t see a problem. (What will you do with the birds when they hatch?)
nl8uprly
December 16, 2012 at 6:59 am
sad to say, but my district has gotten rid of live animals in the classroom. seems like a trend. check your district first.
eastacademic
December 16, 2012 at 7:39 am
I think this is a great idea… use an incubator talk to a chicken farmer and they can give you one. so it can be done properly
Clays mom
December 16, 2012 at 8:13 am
I didn’t use a chicken to hatch the eggs, but rather an incubator. Check with your local county extension office. They usually have materials that you can check out as well as lesson plans that will involve your students.
Mine even gave me the name of local farmers who were willing to take the chicks after they hatch.
fair
December 16, 2012 at 8:32 am
We did a similar thing way back when I was in primary school. The class used an incubatorlike a babies one in a hospital. I wouldn’t recommend using a real chicken to incubate the eggs because:
1. it will be too much of a distraction for the kids
2. it is likely parents will complain
3. it may spread disease (through no-one’s fault)
The reason my primary school did it was to add ducks to the pond we were building and so they would be used to kids they we hatched at the school.
The reason my high school also did this was to investigate imprinting on babies (using chickens). They try to take on the ‘parents’ characteristics where as the control was socially isolated and did not like people in the time it spent with them.
purplebuggy
December 16, 2012 at 9:11 am