Students in Chris Catlin’s eighth grade Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources class learned the process of hatching chicks before spring break. Catlin said the batch of chicks are Black Austalorp and Rhode Island Red. He is also hatching Quail eggs.
Catlin said when his class hatches the chicks, they learn “the growth and development of a chicken, how an egg is produced, the stages of development of a chicken embryo in a egg, how to properly operate an incubator and care for the the eggs in an incubator, how to properly operate a brooder and care for the chicks in a brooder, the food and water requirements of the chicks, and the benefits and uses of chickens (meat and egg production).
“I really enjoy providing this activity with my classes so they can experience, in real life, the development of a chicken,” he said.
The chicks started to hatch and some class periods got to see them break out of their shell.
“The students were very excited when the eggs started hatching, especially if they got to see a baby chick break out of its shell during their class period,” said Catlin.
Catlin allowed the students to hold the chicks once they were a couple of days old.