4-H Embryology4-H Embryology4-H School Enrichment Project4-H School Enrichment Project

Lori Wiggins, Extension Agent IIILori Wiggins, Extension Agent IIITaylor County Extension Service/ Taylor County Extension Service/

University of Florida University of Florida

4-H Embryology4-H Embryology4-H School Enrichment Project4-H School Enrichment Project

EGG-SPLORE the science of embryology EGG-SPLORE the science of embryology from egg to chicken. The "4-H from egg to chicken. The "4-H Embryology" project will enable youth Embryology" project will enable youth to apply basic principles of to apply basic principles of mathematics, science, English, and mathematics, science, English, and health through a "learn by doing" health through a "learn by doing" experience.experience.

4-H Embryology4-H Embryology4-H School Enrichment Project4-H School Enrichment Project

• Youth will learn by listening, observing, Youth will learn by listening, observing, experimenting, and applying their knowledge experimenting, and applying their knowledge to a real-world situation.to a real-world situation.

• Youth will develop an understanding of Youth will develop an understanding of biological concepts through direct experiences biological concepts through direct experiences with living things, their life cycles and their with living things, their life cycles and their habitats.habitats.

• Youth learn valuable life skills related to Youth learn valuable life skills related to sciences processes, teamwork, record keeping, sciences processes, teamwork, record keeping, planning and organizing.planning and organizing.

4-H Embryology4-H Embryology4-H School Enrichment Project4-H School Enrichment Project

The objectives of the program are to teach students:The objectives of the program are to teach students:• to identify parts of an egg and explain their to identify parts of an egg and explain their

functions. functions. • to learn how to make observations and record them.to learn how to make observations and record them.• to observe and learn about the stages of embryonic to observe and learn about the stages of embryonic

development of a chick.development of a chick.• to provide proper post-hatch care of the chicks.to provide proper post-hatch care of the chicks.• to develop a greater appreciation for animal life.to develop a greater appreciation for animal life.• to learn about other opportunities available in 4-H.to learn about other opportunities available in 4-H.

About the ProjectAbout the Project Hands-on, Science ProjectHands-on, Science Project Correlated with National Science Correlated with National Science

StandardsStandards Extension provides educational resources Extension provides educational resources

for the projectfor the project– Teacher Resource s with activity mastersTeacher Resource s with activity masters– 4-H CCS Classroom Project Book grades 2-5 & 6-4-H CCS Classroom Project Book grades 2-5 & 6-

88– Informational powerpoint and supportInformational powerpoint and support– WWW Sites for activities and resourcesWWW Sites for activities and resources

http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/index.htmlindex.html

What You Need to Know to What You Need to Know to Have a Successful ProjectHave a Successful Project

Planning and Scheduling Planning and Scheduling ChecklistChecklist

The ChickenThe Chicken The EggThe Egg The Reproductive System The Reproductive System

and Fertilizationand Fertilization IncubationIncubation Trouble ShootingTrouble Shooting Embryo DevelopmentEmbryo Development Answers to Commonly Asked Answers to Commonly Asked

Embryology Questions Embryology Questions

Web site supportWeb site support http://florida4h.org/embryology/ http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/inde

x.html http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/eggs/ The 4-H Virtual FarmThe 4-H Virtual Farm

http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/virtualfarm/poultry/poultry.html

Project ExpectationsProject Expectations

Actively involve youthActively involve youth Agent Candles Eggs at mid projectAgent Candles Eggs at mid project Keep RecordsKeep Records Help youth observe embryonic Help youth observe embryonic

developmentdevelopment

How do I SuccessfullyHow do I Successfully Hatch Eggs? Hatch Eggs?

Proper Proper Preparation and Preparation and PlanningPlanning

Quality Fertile Quality Fertile EggsEggs

Student Buy InStudent Buy In Good Incubation Good Incubation

ManagementManagement PatiencePatience

PREPARATION AND PREPARATION AND PLANNINGPLANNING

Choosing a Choosing a workable time workable time frameframe– 25 day time period25 day time period– Avoid holidaysAvoid holidays– Electric turner to Electric turner to

manage consistent manage consistent egg turning or plan for egg turning or plan for weekend turning.weekend turning.

– The middle of the The middle of the week is usually a good week is usually a good day to start eggsday to start eggs

INCUBATION INCUBATION MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

These steps These steps provided by 4-H provided by 4-H Agent in Agent in preparation for preparation for your successful your successful projectproject

Clean incubatorClean incubator Setup and test Setup and test

incubator a week incubator a week before project to before project to begin (at least 2 days)begin (at least 2 days)

Viable, Fertile Eggs Viable, Fertile Eggs provided by Extension provided by Extension ServiceService

CLASSROOM CLASSROOM MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

Incubator Incubator location?location?– Avoid drafts, direct Avoid drafts, direct

sunlight, heat & AC sunlight, heat & AC outlets.outlets.

– Place in “wet area” Place in “wet area” to ease in humidity to ease in humidity maintenance and maintenance and clean up from clean up from accidental accidental overfilling.overfilling.

Quality Fertile EggsQuality Fertile Eggs

Proper Collection and Proper Collection and StorageStorage– 50-65 Degrees F.50-65 Degrees F.– 70% Humidity70% Humidity– 7 days Maximum7 days Maximum– Critical Storage Temp.Critical Storage Temp.– 35-82 deg35-82 deg

Preparation and PlanningPreparation and Planning Inform Inform coworkers coworkers

and custodial staff to and custodial staff to avoid accidental avoid accidental unplugging of unplugging of equipment after equipment after hourshours

Planned Planned Power Power Outages?Outages?

Lower/higher Lower/higher school temps on school temps on weekends? Check weekends? Check with Administrationwith Administration

Preparation and PlanningPreparation and Planning What happens to the What happens to the

chicks?chicks?

You will keep the You will keep the chicks for at least a chicks for at least a week to experience week to experience the brooding process.the brooding process.

Chicken and Egg BasicsChicken and Egg Basics

EGG STRUCTURESEGG STRUCTURES

Function of Function of Embryonic MembranesEmbryonic Membranes

Yolk SacYolk Sac– FoodFood

AmnionAmnion– ProtectionProtection– LiquidLiquid

Chorion / Chorion / AllantoisAllantois– RespirationRespiration– WasteWaste– Minerals from Minerals from

shellshell

Start Up DayStart Up Day Presentation by Extension Presentation by Extension

Educator - 4-H Youth Educator - 4-H Youth Development Development – Beginning the incubation Beginning the incubation

ProcessProcess– Key Elements for SuccessKey Elements for Success– Special Properties of the Special Properties of the

eggegg

Incubator needs to warm Incubator needs to warm up one day prior to eggs up one day prior to eggs being put inbeing put in

An Incubator An Incubator

Candling eggs prior to incubation

Good qualityGood qualityhatching egghatching egg

Poor qualityPoor qualitylarge air cell large air cell

dark yolkdark yolk

CrackedCracked

Two YolksTwo Yolks

The Importance of Egg The Importance of Egg TurningTurning

The incubator will be equipped with an Electric Turner The incubator will be equipped with an Electric Turner Mark eggs with “X” and “O” on opposite side of eggs Mark eggs with “X” and “O” on opposite side of eggs

just to be sure the turner is working properly and just to be sure the turner is working properly and turning the eggsturning the eggs

Turning prevents embryo sticking to shell membraneTurning prevents embryo sticking to shell membrane During school days eggs will turn about 3 time per dayDuring school days eggs will turn about 3 time per day You will need to remove the turner from the incubator You will need to remove the turner from the incubator

on day 19on day 19

Convenience of Electric Convenience of Electric TurnerTurner

Automatic Turner does the job for Automatic Turner does the job for you. No need to manually turn you. No need to manually turn eggs.eggs.

Check to be sure turner stays Check to be sure turner stays plugged in and it is turning the plugged in and it is turning the eggs.eggs.

Remove Electric Egg Turner on Remove Electric Egg Turner on Day 19.Day 19.

Incubation Incubation ManagementManagement TemperatureTemperature

– 99.5 - 100.5 forced 99.5 - 100.5 forced Air (Dome Type)Air (Dome Type)

– 100.5 - 101.5 Still Air 100.5 - 101.5 Still Air (Box Type) Incubator (Box Type) Incubator is provided by is provided by Extension Service Extension Service

HumidityHumidity– 60% 60% – Wet Bulb Wet Bulb

Thermometer 86 Thermometer 86 degreesdegrees

Maintaining HumidityMaintaining Humidity Incubator contains water panIncubator contains water pan Importance for chick healthImportance for chick health

– Prevent sticking to shellPrevent sticking to shell– Keeps amnion fluidKeeps amnion fluid– Keeps shell from hardening, Keeps shell from hardening,

trapping chick at hatchingtrapping chick at hatching– Prevent crippled chicksPrevent crippled chicks

At Mid PointAt Mid Point Extension Agent will visit Extension Agent will visit

your classroom to your classroom to Candling Eggs at day 14 in Candling Eggs at day 14 in order to remove order to remove nonfertilized eggs.nonfertilized eggs.

Concentrate to the FinishConcentrate to the Finish Day 19 Remove Day 19 Remove

Electric TurnerElectric Turner No need to turn eggs No need to turn eggs

after thisafter this Open Air Vents Open Air Vents

blocked by tape or red blocked by tape or red plugsplugs

Humidity remains even Humidity remains even more critical. Keep more critical. Keep water levels consistentwater levels consistent

Keep Records of Keep Records of Hatching StatisticsHatching Statistics

Hatching TimeHatching Time Hatching Begins Day Hatching Begins Day

21 give or take 3 days21 give or take 3 days

Impacted by Light and Impacted by Light and TemperatureTemperature

May take Several May take Several Hours for Chick to Exit Hours for Chick to Exit ShellShell

Don’t help Chicks Don’t help Chicks Hatch -- Struggle Hatch -- Struggle Necessary for SurvivalNecessary for Survival

Chicks in varying stages of hatching and drying in incubator.

And Then?And Then? Chicks remain in Chicks remain in

incubator until dry and incubator until dry and fluffy.fluffy.

May take several hours May take several hours to dryto dry

Once dry and fluffy place Once dry and fluffy place in brooderin brooder

Provide chick mash and Provide chick mash and waterer - provided by waterer - provided by Extension OfficeExtension Office

What’s A BROODER?What’s A BROODER?

Pen for chicksPen for chicks

Absorbent bedding i.e. saw dust, Absorbent bedding i.e. saw dust, newspaper, etc will be needed for newspaper, etc will be needed for flooringflooring

Shop light will be hung low to warm Shop light will be hung low to warm chickschicks

KEEP BROODER CLEANKEEP BROODER CLEANChange out daily (several times a day- students Change out daily (several times a day- students

can help)can help) Bedding (newspaper-to line brooder)Bedding (newspaper-to line brooder) WaterWater FoodFood

Safety FirstSafety First Check to be sure Check to be sure

Light is Fire SafeLight is Fire Safe Should not Touch Should not Touch

Brooder SurfaceBrooder Surface Marbles placed in Marbles placed in

Tray of Purchased Tray of Purchased Chicken Waterer Chicken Waterer Block Chicks from Block Chicks from drowning in drowning in waterwater

Project EndProject End 4-H Agent will 4-H Agent will

Retrieve Chicks Retrieve Chicks and Transport to and Transport to Farm Home.Farm Home.

Chicks can be Chicks can be adopted to families adopted to families of students.of students.

Success in Success in Experiencing Experiencing Science through Science through this project not this project not Chick Count.Chick Count.

Don’t forget to clean your incubator before returning

Contact Me To Schedule Your School Enrichment Contact Me To Schedule Your School Enrichment Embryology ExperienceEmbryology Experience

Lori WigginsLori WigginsExtension Agent IIIExtension Agent III

Taylor CountyTaylor County203 Forest Park Drive203 Forest Park Drive

Perry, FL 32348Perry, FL 32348850-838-3508850-838-3508

lwiggins@ufl.eduhttp://taylor.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://taylor.ifas.ufl.edu