Hatching eggs in school

[Anonymous]

My youngest son's class has just taken delivery of an incubator with 18 eggs They're all so excited about watching them hatch and my boys have already started asking if we can give the chicks a home :roll:

I have to admit my feelings a re little mixed. The last time school did this they started with 10 eggs and only got 3 live chicks at the end of the process. What do you think of this as a success rate? It's all very exciting though, I just hope they get a better success rate this time.

Helen

 

[girlracer265]

I love the idea, i sell eggs to a teacher who does this with her pupils

 

[Anne W]

You just have to hope that the little darlings aren't taking the eggs out to have a look when the teacher isn't looking or fiddling with the controls for temp and humidity. Children have such inquisitive minds don't they - but it is so lovely for them and also good to witness death as well as life .

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Helen,

I'm a year 2 teacher (6 & 7 yr olds) and have just successfully hatched 2 out of 3 eggs in class. It's been an amazing experience and the children have gotten so much out of it!! Every morning we have a steady stream of visitors who want to see the progress of our (now 6 week old) chicks.

The key was definitely talking to the class about the incubation process. We looked at the development of an egg and how important it was not to knock the eggs and disrupt the vein development, the importance of keeping a constant temperature etc etc. I have to say my class were fantastic and took their responsibility very seriously: "Oli you're standing too close!" was a frequent cry (poor Oli is very curious!!)

Regarding the chick that didn't make it, we'd heard it cheeping inside the egg so it was very sad. I have to say my class handled it admirably!! Again the key was a lot of talk. We really talked the whole thing through, and it's said that a child who experiences the loss of a beloved animal is better able to cope with real bereavement when it happens.

We've enjoyed the experience soo much that we are keeping the chicks (don't yet know the sex -eek) and have been fund raising towards that ends. We're keeping our fingers crossed for two lovely ladies, despite the fact that the children have named them Tom and Jerry !

Helen I hope this helps! I would definitely recommend the process to any mum or teacher.
Best wishes,
Natalie