Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Westchester County

This project is great for
all grade levels, special education classrooms, day care facilities, 4-H clubs.

HAVE AN EFFECTIVE, EDUCATIONAL, HANDS-ON
EGGS-PERIENCE!

Learn correct methods and practical tips for the care of hatching eggs, setting up & maintaining an incubation project, and chick care after the hatch. Additional educational activities and resources will be shared. Teach science by doing!

Incubators, project supplies & curriculum materials will be displayed. You may place your orders at the workshop.

4-H Classroom Clubs please call for a class visit.
Registrants receive $10 discount coupon on equipment order.

The following information will be explored:
The Avian Egg and Its Parts
Formation of the Egg
Embryonic Development
Hands-on Candling Session to learn how to observe the
developing embryo
Match curriculum to MST standards
Daily routine
Importance of Humidity
Demonstrations of classroom experiments and additional
project activities
Troubleshooting
Duck egg incubation protocol

Basic Training for Chick Egg Incubation

This training is for those who have never hatched eggs before. You will receive basic information about the equipment you will need, how to use, care for and clean the equipment, the timing of events, what care will be required during incubation, how to candle the eggs, how to set up the brooder for the newly hatched chicks, and how to use the curriculum to meet MST standards. A short video showing embryonic development will be shown. How to handle mortality and the issue of chicks in the food chain are discussed. The 4-H Classroom Project Leader’s Guide will be provided. A selection of student worksheets is available.

Training for Hatching Chicks
Dates and Times for Workshops

Beginner Training:
Monday, March 2, 2009, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Thursday, March 5, 2009, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, February 26, 4:00 pm to 7 pm

Refresher Course:
Monday, March 9, 2009, 4:00 pm to 6 pm
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Snow Dates:
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009, 4:00pm to 7:00 pm
(refresher snow date will end at 6:00 pm)

Attention Novice Hatchers!
If you are new to this project and need all of the equipment to start up, pre-order the necessary equipment and take it with you when you leave the workshop. Please complete the order form and return it to the office by February 13 to insure delivery at the workshop. A new set up requires the incubator, 2 thermometers and wicking. A brooder light and thermometer, feeder, and waterer are needed for your brooder box. You will complete any necessary assembly for your incubator at the workshop. Call to request an order form.

Incubation Refresher Course
Do you hatch 10 chicks for every 12 eggs set? If your answer is “no”, this workshop will address the reasons why your hatch rate is not about 80%. The eggs are fertile, what could be wrong? It could be the equipment, it could be your methods.

All participants will bring all of their equipment. This equipment will be set up with the emphasis on the importance of thermometers, cleanliness and correct humidity conditions for hatching. How do you check a thermometer for accuracy? No variation in temperature is tolerated. You will be candling eggs. All the places where fatal mistakes are made will be explored. Proper care and brooding of chicks will be covered. Matching the curriculum to MST standards will be covered. Chickens in the food chain will be discussed. The 4-H Classroom Project Leader’s Guide is included and student worksheets are available.

Replacement Parts
Are you using an older incubator? Please order any replacement parts/new equipment by March 2nd to insure delivery to you at the workshop. Keep in mind that the wafer should be replaced every few years. For best results always use new wicking for the wet bulb thermometer. Check all thermometers for accuracy each year. Call to request an order form.

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For more information please e-mail: westchester@cornell.edu