With springtime fast approaching it is time for one of my favorite things that 4-H does, chick embryology! We have 17 classrooms participating in the hatching of 17 dozen chicks. These classes will each receive a dozen eggs and a hatching kit. The hatching kit consists of an incubator, brooder box, chick feed, and lots of fun lesson plans as well as literary resources.
This year we are fortunate that we had two amazing local farms donate the eggs to be hatched. We would like to send out a big thank you to Barks and Beaks Farm as well as Rock House Farms. We are so grateful that local farmers were willing to partner with us!
Chicks in the Classroom is a part of 4-H that is called school enrichment! This allows 4-H to share research-backed curriculum with our local schools. The eggs will be in the incubator for around 21 days. For the eggs to hatch, many different factors have to be taken into account, including temperature, humidity, and turning the eggs. Students and teachers will be responsible for turning the eggs each day to ensure the proper development of the chick embryo. They will be able to watch the chick embryo grow by candling the eggs. This is when you hold up a bright light to the egg so that you can see the contents of the egg. The students will get to watch the chicks hatch on days 21-23. Once the chicks hatch they will be moved over to a brooder box that will be filled with shaving, food, water, and a nice heating lamp to keep them warm. The students will then be able to observe the behavior of the chicks. After the chicks have hatched out they will be returning to the farm that they come from to continue to operate the life cycle!
Hatching chicks in the classroom is a long-standing tradition that has been going on for many years. I remember my 2nd-grade class at Lower Creek Elementary School participating and how much fun it was. I am proud to continue providing this program for our local schools!
To learn more about how youth can participate in 4-H or what is currently offered locally, contact
Caldwell County 4-H Agent Gabby Whorley at glwhorle@ncsu.edu or call (828)757-1258. Families can also view local 4-H information online at caldwell.ces.ncsu.edu.
Caldwell County 4-H is a proud member agency of United Way. Gabby Whorley is the 4-H Youth Development Agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension, Caldwell County Center. The N.C. Cooperative Extension, Caldwell County Center, 120 Hospital Ave. NE #1 in Lenoir, provides access to resources of N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University through educational programs and publications.
