2015 Embryology and Incubation K-2 Success Stories
Cook
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Once again we loved participating in the program! 22 eggs hatched. Unfortunately one died
within 24 hours. When this particular chick hatched, it seemed that his internal organs were
present from the outside. The second chick that died did so overnight, probably 11 days after
hatching. We left school on a Thursday or Friday evening and in the morning, the chick was not
moving. Even had many parents asking to come in and see our chicks.
This is my third year doing the chick hatching project. I had more success the previous years,
especially last school year (2013-2014). I did not have much success this year. I normally have
at least half of my eggs hatch. Last school year I even had some chicks hatch with interesting
color feathers (white with black spots, tiger-like stripes, etc.).
The students had never held a chick before. This was a science unit that not only created the
happiest Kindergarteners, but created a buzz around the school and community. We will
definitely participate next year!
My students absolutely loved studying the chick eggs!!! It was such a wonderful experience and
something they looked forward to everyday. I had parents telling me that all their child talked
about were facts about chicks and their life cycle.
This is the first year I have had so many hatch. I think the class prepared me for a more
successful hatch.
The eggs were unplugged and moved on day 18 we did not think they were going to survive after
this incident. At day 23 they hatched. We were so excited.
Disappointed with the hatch this year
1 chick lived
Our success story is that we were just about to throw out the eggs on the third day after the first
chick hatched, when we saw movement. We allowed that chick to hatch as well and he did fine.
Unfortunately, we had one chick that hatched and later died in the brooder but the empathy
shown from the children was quite warming.
We feel it was not humid enough in our incubator and that is why we had such a low hatch rate
this year.
The students LOVED doing this unit. They were beyond excited throughout the whole process.
I had 2 incubators...one w auto turn one without....there was better hatch without turner (7 ) with
turner only 3 (12 eggs in each )
Our last egg hatched successfully 36 hours after our first hatching (we had almost given up hope)
We hatched 4 yellow chicks, 1 golden and 1 all black chick. Multicultural chicks for our
multicultural classroom.
This year we didn’t have any eggs to hatch. I think it was because of the small amount to time we
have to regulate the temperature after we picked up the incubator. The children were upset. We
talked them through the possible reasons why. They are excited to try hatching eggs next year.
The kids learned a lot and were very curious and happy when the chicks finally hatched. They
kept observation journals and wrote about their experience in their daily writing.
It was one of the most rewarding experiences; to watch the baby chicks emerge from the eggs we
took much care for. My students, families, and school were overjoyed and so engaged in this
project. With my preschoolers, we were able to explore deep scientific concepts, learn new
vocabulary, and become responsible citizens as we learned about embryology. We will most
definitely be doing this again! Thank you!
We had some hatch but this has been the lowest hatch that I have ever had.
Experienced a chick who was born "special" (no right eye and beak deformed) It was welcomed
with open "wings" by the others in that hatch. It was protected by them as s/he grew strong and
confident. Being sensitive to the social and emotional level of our Grade 1 students it was a
teachable moment.
Kids (whole school) were to excited about the project
I did not have to take the eggs home for the first weekend but I did come in to check the eggs.
Two did not arrive until Wednesday afternoon. They were small. One little brown chick had the
most trouble. I didn't think he was going to make it and prepared the students. When I finally put
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him in the cage, other chicks started to surround him so no others could peck at him. I was
worried that he would not be accepted and the opposite happened. I did realize the other chicks
will try to get any piece of eggshell off a chick and he had some stuck to him. I gentle took him
out and got the shell off of him although there was mucus still left. The bigger chicks continued to
protect him and the others left him alone eventually. This morning he is fluffy and thriving.
The kids kept a countdown calendar and were so excited to reach the final days.
It was fun to hear so much language from the children as we got to see 2 of the chicks actually
hatch. They were so excited as they watched and cheered for the chick to come out. These are
preschoolers who have never had such a fun experience.
Success stories were limited this year. We would have only had 3 eggs hatch, had we not
realized that they were unable to hatch successfully on their own once they'd made the first crack.
We also opened eggs 60 hours after the first one hatched (have photo evidence) and we had at
least 6 eggs that had full-grown chicks inside that were not able to hatch. Very upsetting and
disappointing.
Each year our kiddos love to see the hatching. We had a much smaller hatch this year then in
past years. They hatched late but overall we were happy.
5 Chicks hatched with their organs outside their body...3 died on their own.. 2 we took care of (it
was obvious they were suffering). 4 hatched and were healthy and lively.. left in incubator
overnight as instructed and they died. Very sad... very smelly! But they were in there when the
other 3 hatched with the organs outside the body. Came in to an incubator of 7 dead chicks... very
disturbing!
Children were so happy to see the chicks.
This was my first year hatching chicks with our new incubator. Your 3 hour class was very
informative and answered many of the questions I had throughout the experience. I referred back
to my notes often and they were right on target! We loved having 3 different kinds of eggs too!
I have never seen the kids more excited about anything.
Our chick that survived was a miracle chick! On day 2, our incubator was discovered to have
reached a whopping 110 degrees! Most eggs showed evidence of this being the time they ceased
development. On day 18, Com Ed was installing a new power line pole in the back of our home.
We were without power for over 2 hours! After further investigation, it was evident that it was at
this time the chicks stopped feeding off their yoke sac, their development was very impressive
with that exception.
The chick that I had to help out of the shell became very healthy.
I had 8 healthy chicks this year!!!! 3 yellow and 5 brown. So beautiful! The students were so
excited!
We were so excited to have seven eggs hatch. We loved learning about how they developed
every day inside the eggs, and we were thrilled when we had an early hatcher.
Over the years we have many success stories. Our hatch this time was a success even though
we only had two chicks. The children named them, they learned lots of new vocabulary words.
They observed the chicks and created books that gave lots of facts about chickens. We weighed
the eggs and learned about how scales work.
We had a webcam set up so families could watch chicks hatch from home! It made the whole
process much more exciting. The students are over the moon. They love our chicks! A mom and
her baby came in and shared about human development in the womb and we compared and
contrasted this to our chick development. We kept observation journals where we recorded what
part of the chick was developing each day.
Our students loved to observe, comment and illustrate pictures of the eggs, and then the chicks.
Myself and the kids really love working with the eggs, each year. This year we had more eggs to
hatch and I think it was because will turned them by hand. The best part is the kids get very
protective off the eggs.
In the 9 years of having the eggs, this was the smallest hatch
I am just happy that I had eggs hatch!
Before we found this program we tried to hatch eggs though a different source, which didn't work
out. No eggs would hatch After we joined and took the beginners course, we have faired much
better. My preschool students have participated in this program for the last four years. Each year
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we have been lucky enough to hatch between 18-22 eggs. The children absolutely love learning
about what happens each day inside the eggs and are always so excited when they hatch. We
invited to rest of the school (grades k-8) to watch and observe as well. Hatching day and the
following days our classroom is filled with visitors and parents, whom all love seeing the chicks
begin to grow.
We had chicks hatch for several day from Tuesday-Saturday
One chick, Daisy, pipped and had a hard time coming out. She finally did and the students were
so excited that she hatched that she became a favorite. Interestingly, we had 4 yellow, 1 golden
and 1 beautiful all black chick. Multicultural chicks for our multicultural classrooms.
The parents expressed genuine excitement for the project and thought how wonderful it is to
provide students with such a unique hands-on experience observing the life cycle of something
other than a butterfly or frog. They wrote about the project in our PTO newsletter to share with
other families who do not know about my project.
The students were amazed that they could see the embryo developing inside the egg when it was
candled.
DeKalb
 We had one chick that hatched but part of the shell was stuck on him. After calling Johnna
Jennings, we put him in a separate box and he survived. When we had put him with the other
chicks, they attacked him. My students named it "Shelly." We had a little lesson about bullying
and then went back to chicks and how some survive and some do not. Tough lesson for little
kindergarteners, but they were happy to see Shelly survive.
 The incubator was amazing this year. There was no fluctuation of temperature at all. We love how
Johnna comes in and talks with the children. She is amazing and we are grateful for the
experience!!!
 Students loved learning about embryology and holding a chick for the first time. We had a great
hatch. Students did not want them to leave.
DuPage/Kane/Kendall
 We successfully had more eggs hatch this year. The students loved collecting the temperature
and humidity data. We did it as A group lesson every morning.
 Chick that was let out from the egg after 18 hours trying to get out of the shell, is out and about
 We were really hoping to have at least 2 chicks hatch (after hearing at the training that the past 2
years people had low to no success). We ended up having 16! They are all colors, which is fun.
It didn't take chicks long to hatch once pipped. It was a great project!
 One of our teachers found an APP for iPads that was very helpful/informational. It is called
iHatch. The cost of the APP was 99 cents. It gave day-by-day illustrations of what the chick
should look like and what you should be doing. It was well worth the money.
 The kids showed teamwork and empathy. It was a very exciting time. Parents were excited also.
 We had a better hatch rate this year! :) Still seems significantly lower than it should be but we're
happy with a few! :)
 last year we had a poor hatch. A parent donated a new incubator and the kids had a wonderful
time.
 Hatch went very well. Other students in the building were able to visit to see the process of the
hatch.
 Sad about low hatch rate this year
 We were excited every day to check to see if more chicks were added to the brooder box.
 Had to help 2 chicks out of their eggs and they survived! :)
 I am very pleased with my hatch again this year! 16 healthy baby chicks!
Lake/McHenry
 When talking with teachers in other districts, I believe I had a successful hatch compare to them.
 One chick was helped out because it couldn't push its way out after breaking the egg cap. It
appeared strong so we chipped off the top for it. The chick did very well and developed as well as
the others. One chick, the last to hatch out, had legs that were curled under and could not stand.
The other chicks were very aggressive towards it and it was kept separate from the clutch. It did
die after 3 days.
 Last year I hatched 11 out of my 24 eggs and this year I hatched only 4. The students were very
diligent about turning the eggs, and I added a new thermometer with a humidity tracker as well, so
the eggs were almost always at the perfect temperature and humidity. I'm still trying to figure out
what happened!
Kankakee/Will
 I love my fan incubator. My hatch rates have increased since I upgraded to one.
 Not sure what happened, but 20/24 chicks looked good on the day I candled. We are
contemplating that we may have lost power one night, but this is not verified. My success story,
is that the 3 that hatched were fun to watch. The children loved them and they got along (for
chickens). We did have a smaller chick, and the 2 bigger ones did not pick on it.
 Happy that 17 chicks hatched!
 The children were able to see in various stages all at the same time. As an egg, in the pip stage,
close to hatching, newly hatched but still in the incubator and fluffed and dry in the brooder box. I
was also able to video the last 3 minutes of a hatching which was VERY exciting!
 Students actually witnessed the hatching of a chick. After the experience even the lowest literacy
equip students were able to dictate the stages of development in the life cycle of the chick.
 This was a fantastic experience that was contagious throughout our school. Teachers are amazed
by the children's enthusiasm. My students watched eagerly as we counted down each day. I even
came in on the weekends to check on my feathered babies. The chicks are approximately 8 days
old. Their pin feathers are coming in and they are growing so fast! The children are amazed by
this as well. Two of the chicks are starting to get their tail feathers. I have had help from other
teachers and even our school board president with providing items for the chicks. I love teaching
science to my students and this program is fantastic. My principal has requested that this become
an annual event. Yeah! I have 21 budding scientists!
 We used our document camera to project the eggs hatching. The students saw 4 chicks hatch out
of their eggs. This is the first year that I had eggs hatch. The first two years I had zero hatch. The
manufacturer sent me a new incubator and I also wrapped a blanket around the circumference of
the incubator. I also kept my incubator at 101 and not 99-100 degrees.
Other
 We had 32 out of 48 eggs hatch! The students loved talking about, studying and observing the
entire process.
2015 Embryology and Incubation 3-12 Success Stories
Cook
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At the end of day 18 they moved our eggs and unplugged them until someone noticed and
plugged them back in. We were scared that we would not have a successful hatch. At Day 23
they hatched!
The seventh grade (and also the eighth grades) get to handle the chicks the day before we return
them. I have seen some gentle behavior from some students who otherwise might have the
reputation of being considered kind of rough or mean.
The students look forward to the incubation portion of program. They really take ownership and
help take care of the eggs while they are at school. They name them and make sure that we
remember to turn them.
The janitor turned off the incubator by shutting down power over the weekend. We still had eggs
that hatched successfully.
My students were so over protective with the chocks that did hatch.
The kids are DYING to hold the chicks everyday...the older students show the younger ones how
to hold the chicks. Also, the students all want to bring the chicks home; every night a different
student in each classroom brings them home. This is an INCREDIBLE experience for these city
kids. If you'd like, I can share some emails and pictures.
DeKalb
 It is a joy every year to see children enjoy and delight in the hatching of chicks. I took individual
photos of the children with the chicks to give to their parents at conferences.
 My first year, I had 25 out of 28 eggs hatch!
 The power went out at school, so my husband and I had to do a chick rescue mission. We had to
take the incubator home for the weekend.
 This year our success rate was amazing and we had the most beautiful chicks. I've never seen
such a wide variety.
DuPage, Kane, & Kendall
 The 2nd chick we did help out of the egg and it did survive.
 I just got a new incubator - Children really enjoy working with the chicks
 We had a successful hatch. The kids hard work, turning the eggs daily, checking temps and
adding water, as well as praying over the eggs worked! We loved having the various colors of
chicks (black, red and yellow). We discovered it didn't take as long for them to hatch once they
pipped, as they did last time. Great project.- Hey and No dead ones!
 We have 1 black chick who is thriving - happy about that.
 7 beautiful, healthy chicks.
 Even after a power failure -- they still hatched a day late but still hatched
 Our class had about 3 chicks hatched in the incubator when we went home for the day. The next
morning when we got to school there were a total of 11 chicks!! Eight hatched during the night. It
was like an explosion of chicks happened over night! The kids were ecstatic!!!!!
 We had one egg that pipped the 21st day, it broke the shell almost all the way around the second
day but could not hatch totally. We discussed what the possible problems were. We had placed
wet sponges in the incubator and there is an automatic water bottle that adds water to the cells.
But the children felt it was "stuck" to the shell. Again, we discussed the possible problem. They
suggested that since the shell could "Breath" and was porous we should spray it with water. So,
we gently sprayed the shell and that afternoon we had our eighth chick.
 We were so excited to have chicks hatch this year! Last year=0 :( I got a new incubator this year
and I believe that did the trick!
McHenry
 Even though we only had half of our eggs hatch it was a great learning experience to look at the
unhatched eggs. Students were able to guess what day development stopped. They looked at
the daily data we collected to see if they could find any reason why development stopped around
the day they guessed. Even though we could not find any definite reason why development
stopped students formed many guesses as to why so many stopped developing around the same
time. It was wonderful to see the students using so much of their scientific knowledge.
 A few years ago 22 out of 24 hatched - Wow the kids were so excited
 I found out that our egg turner was not turning on day 10. I know that it was working on day 1, but
somewhere between day 1 and 10 it stopped turning, even though the motor was running. I
switched out to a working egg turner. I thought that for sure I wouldn't have any chicks hatch. I
was very happy that we got 6 to hatch on day 24!!!
Kankakee & Will
 Humidity was kept between 65% - 75%. Temperature 100 degrees
 Was able to bring an egg out and put under the elmo for the class to view the chick coming out of
its shell. Timing is everything.
 We had a great hatch. I, as well as my students, truly enjoy learning about the embryology
process. It is such a rewarding experience to see the embryos grow from day 1-21.
 the students were so excited and enjoyed every minute of having the eggs and chicks in our
classroom.
 My students really grew to understand the importance of life and the seriousness of learning to
care for another living thing.
 Unfortunately we had a faulty thermostat on our incubator, but had a delayed hatch. We were
happy with our 12!
 The kids loved to see how fast they change and how they don't need a parent to take care of them
from the beginning. Also, how they walk, eat and drink right away.
 We were able to watch two actual hatchings. The students really liked being able to see the final
pip and then the hatch out! It is such an enjoyable experience for us all.
 My students, especially the boys got so excited about the hatching of the eggs! The kids all
enjoyed taking pictures and holding them on the last day. We had one chick that was hurt when it
was born. The students watched the other chicks peck at it. We separated it from the others but it
eventually died. The students were very sad, but learned that things like this happen in nature.
They know the saying the survival of the fittest.
 One incubator of egg hatched 18 baby chicks.
 Our eggs hatched a day and a half after the others in our building. We were worried that they
might not hatch or that something went wrong, but I believe the temperature was just running
lower than the other incubators.
 We used the ELMO to watch chicks actually hatch in real time.
 I try to get the whole school involved, so my classroom had many visitors from pre-k on up
through 5th grade. They would come in before school, during school and after just to take a look
at the eggs. The chicks visited many of the classrooms, where the teachers would talk to them
about life cycles, etc.