University of Florida
IFAS
Baker Extension Service
4-H
School Enrichment Series
Embryology
An Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Institution
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, F.S., persons needing accommodations or an interpreter to
participate in the proceeding should notify the University of Florida Baker County Extension Service no later than 5 days prior to the
meeting at 904-259-3520 or
fax 904-259-9034.
Chicken
Embryology
4-H School Enrichment Project
Renee’ L. Gore
University of Florida
IFAS
Baker Extension Service
4-H
Power-point adapted from Virginia Extension .ppt
“Beginnings of Life”
About the Project
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Science Based, Hands-on
Correlated with National Science Standards
Extension provides educational resources for
the project
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Teacher Resource s with activity masters
CCS Classroom Projects grades 2-5 & 6-8
4-H Embryology guide – Bob Renner
The Incredible Egg 3rd grade Ohio State Extension
resource
– Baker County Embryology project book, ppt and
support
– WWW Sites
http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/index.html
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What You Need to Know to Have
a Successful Project
Planning and Scheduling
Checklist
The Chicken
The Egg
The Reproductive System and
Fertilization
Incubation
Trouble Shooting
Embryo Development
Answers to Commonly Asked
Embryology Questions
Web site support
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http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/inde
x.html
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Links to other embryology
sites
jpeg images of embryos,
hatching, shell window, etc.
The 4-H Virtual Farm
http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4
h/virtualfarm/poultry/poultry.html
and the University of Florida link
to Penn State
http://www.animal.ufl.edu/
Project Expectations
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Chicks never go
home with students
Farm home for
chicks at project
close.
This is not just a
chick hatching
project
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Actively involve
youth
Agent Candles Eggs
at mid project
Keep Records
Help youth observe
embryonic
development
How do I Successfully
Hatch Eggs?
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Proper Preparation
and Planning
Quality Fertile Eggs
Student Buy In
Good Incubation
Management
Patience
PREPARATION AND PLANNING
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Choosing a
workable time
frame
– 25 day time period
– Avoid holidays
– Electric turner to
manage consistent egg
turning or plan for
weekend turning.
– Wednesdays usually a
good day to start eggs
INCUBATION MANAGEMENT
These steps
provided by 4-H
Agent in
preparation for
your successful
project
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Clean incubator
Setup and test incubator
a week before project to
begin
Viable, Fertile Eggs
provided by Extension
Service
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
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Incubator location?
– Avoid drafts, direct
sunlight, heat & AC
outlets.
– Place in “wet area” to
ease in humidity
maintenance and
clean up from
accidental overfilling.
Quality Fertile Eggs
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Proven Source: 4-H Poultry
Club families & Livestock
Extension Educator.
Proper Collection and
Storage
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50-65 Degrees F.
70% Humidity
7 days Maximum
Critical Storage Temp.
35-82 deg
Preparation and Planning
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Inform coworkers and
custodial staff
to avoid accidental
unplugging of equipment
after hours
Planned Power Outages?
Lower/higher school
temps on weekends? Check
with Administration
Tampering? Thermostat
dial covered by cardboard to
protect from mischief
Preparation and Planning
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What happens to the
chicks?
– Do not distribute them
to students!
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Will you keep the chicks
a couple of days to
experience the brooding
process?
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Many ways to expand the
project as Educator
deems appropriate.
Chicken and Egg Basics
Chicken Conformation
EGG STRUCTURES
Fertile vs. Not fertile
GERMINAL
DISC
Hen Anatomy
Function of
Embryonic Membranes
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Yolk Sac
– Food
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Amnion
– Protection
– Liquid
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Chorion /
Allantois
– Respiration
– Waste
– Minerals from
shell
Start Up Day
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Presentation by Extension
Educator - 4-H Youth
Development
– Beginning the incubation
Process
– Key Elements for Success
– Special Properties of the
egg
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Incubator Warms up During
Presentation
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Eggs are Set Before
Educator Leaves Classroom
Candling eggs prior to incubation
Good quality
hatching egg
Cracked
Two Yolks
Poor quality
large air cell
dark yolk
The Importance of Egg
Turning
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If incubator is not equipped with Electric Turner Then:
Mark eggs with “X” and “O” on opposite side of eggs
Turning prevents embryo sticking to shell membrane
During school days turn eggs 3 time per day
Turn once per day on weekends
Stop turning on day 19
Convenience of Electric Turner
Automatic Turner does the job for you.
No need to manually turn eggs.
 Check to be sure turner stays plugged
in.
 Remove Electric Egg Turner Day 18.
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Incubation Management
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Temperature
– 99.5 - 100.5 forced Air
(Dome Type)
– 100.5 - 101.5 Still Air
(Box Type) Incubator
can be Provided by
Extension Service
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Humidity
– 60%
– Wet Bulb Thermometer
86 degrees
Maintaining Humidity
Incubator contains water pan
 Importance for chick health
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– Prevent sticking to shell
– Keeps amnion fluid
– Keeps shell from hardening, trapping
chick at hatching
– Prevent crippled chicks
Then What?
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Classroom Presentation
of Second half of the
Project Around Day 14.
Sharing Chicken Embryo
Set Depicting Day 3
through 21
Development
Candling Eggs.
Considerations for
Successful Project
Finish.
Concentrate to the Finish
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Day 17-18 Remove
Electric Turner
No need to turn eggs
after this
Open Air Vents blocked
by tape or red plugs
Humidity remains even
more critical. Keep
water levels consistent
Keep Records of
Hatching Statistics
Hatching Time
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Hatching Begins Day 21
give or take 3 days
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Impacted by Light and
Temperature
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May take Several Hours
for Chick to Exit Shell
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Don’t help Chicks Hatch
-- Struggle Necessary
for Survival
Chicks in varying
stages of hatching and
drying in incubator.
And Then?
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Chicks remain in incubator
until dry and fluffy.
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May take several hours to
dry
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Once dry and fluffy place in
brooder
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Provide chick mash and
waterer (available at minimal
cost from any farm supply or
feed store)
What’s A BROODER?
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Cardboard or plastic tub
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Absorbent bedding i.e. saw dust, corn
cob pellets,
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Shop light hung low to warm chicks
Safety First
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Check to be sure
Light is Fire Safe
Should not Touch
Brooder Surface
Marbles placed in
Tray of Purchased
Chicken Waterer
Block Chicks from
Tragic death
drowning in water
Contact Us Today
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4-H Agent will
Retrieve Chicks and
Transport to Farm
Home.
Success in
Experiencing
Science through this
project not Chick
Count.
Don’t forget to clean your incubator before returning
Contact Me To Schedule Your School Enrichment
Embryology Experience
Renee’ L. Gore
Extension Faculty 4-H
Baker County
1025 W Macclenny Ave
Macclenny, FL 32063
904-259-3520 or by cell 904-677-6155
jrgore@ifas.ufl.edu
http://baker.ifas.ufl.edu
Thank you to Virginia Extension for the base ppt model for
this adapted version to meet our local program needs and
differences
Publication BAK4H1202 Vers 1.0 04/08
Renee’ L. Gore Extension Faculty Baker County