Looking for a great science fair project? Hatching fertile chicken eggs in an incubator is an easy yet informative experiment that any child can do.
The main reason it makes a great science fair project is that it sparks curiosity about the formation and development of living things. In times when students seem to be more interested in futuristic and robotic things, projects like these develop their interest in life sciences. It is truly fascinating for students to watch how a lifeless and defenseless embryo is protected by the delicate shell of nature and evolves step by step into a life form.
Through such projects, students not only learn about the egg and its development, but also learn about incubation and favorable conditions for hatching. This project requires adequate preliminary learning and knowledge before launching into it. Two main things to know are the eggs and the incubation conditions.
Apprenticeship – Mystery behind the eggs
Not all eggs are destined to become a chicken one day, only fertilized ones can hatch and only under the right conditions. That is why students must first learn how to get the right egg. Fertile eggs are easy to obtain from a poultry farm or supplier. However, there are a few more things to determine your fertility.
– The chances of fertility are never 100%.
– Fertility can be determined after two to three days by holding the egg up to a light source. If you see a cloud inside the shell, it means that the egg is fertile and there is a chance to hatch. This method is called sailing.
– In addition, the size of the egg is an important factor in determining fertility. The best egg is neither abnormally large nor too small.
– The egg must have a completely normal shape and the shell must not be damaged or cracked.
– The egg normally takes 21 days to hatch.
Maintenance – Incubation conditions
Although hatching is a natural process, it simply cannot occur under any conditions. It requires a specific temperature and humidity. Perhaps, nature maintains such conditions under the mother hen, but when looking for artificial means, you need to be vigilant. The students who carry out the project will have to know the conditions that they have to provide.
– If the eggs are to be stored prior to incubation, keep them in a cool, dry place with 75% humidity. Eggs can be stored for up to seven days. Let them come to room temperature before incubating.
– Keep the temperature between 95F to 100F in the incubator and the humidity should be 60%. It should be increased to 65%, after day 18, in the incubator.
– Eggs should be kept with the large side up.
– To maintain uniform temperature, the eggs should be turned every four hours until day 18.
– Make sure the incubator stands stable on a flat surface and is well ventilated inside.
Observation – Development
Waiting for fertilized chicken eggs to hatch in the Hova Bator incubator is not the only observation in this project. Through the candle, students can watch the step-by-step development of an embryo into a living, breathing chicken. Although, the egg should be kept in the incubator to increase the chances of successful hatching, but a quick and careful observation every few days will not harm the internal process.
