• The white part down the bottom of the egg is the air sac, this is where our chick pips the shell (makes a hole with it's beak) and then begins to hatch from there.

• The red lines are part of the blood supply and the dark part is our chick.

The incubator has a wheel that slowly moves the eggs during the day.  This stops the embryo from sticking to the egg.

If the eggs have none of these, they will not hatch.

When we candled our 11 eggs, it looked like 5 might be strong enough to hatch.

On Day 14 of incubating chicken eggs, the chicks inside are well-developed and getting closer to hatching! Here are some key facts about this stage:

1. Feathers Developing – The chick's feathers continue growing, giving it more of a fuzzy appearance.

2. Strong Bones – The bones are hardening and the chick is getting stronger.

3. Beak Growth – The beak is nearly fully formed and the egg tooth (a small bump used to break the shell) is visible.

4. More Movement – Chicks may start shifting position inside the egg as they prepare for the final days of development.

5. Larger Size – The embryo takes up most of the space inside the egg, leaving little room for movement.

6. Veins Start to Fade – The blood vessels inside the egg begin to shrink as the chick prepares for hatching.

7. Egg Candling – In the previous videos as I shined a light though the egg shell, we can see a dark shape moving inside, with a visible air sac at the bottom.

1. Magical Hens Lay Them! – Some special chickens, like Cream legbar hens in Ireland lay green eggs naturally. Most of our eggs have come from Buff Orpington hens.

2. No Paint Needed! – The green colour comes from a natural pigment inside the hen, not from dye or magic!

3. A Sign of Good Luck – Green is the colour of Ireland, shamrocks, and good luck, so green eggs are extra special.

4. They Taste the Same! – Even though they look different, green eggs taste just like white or brown eggs.

5. Leprechauns Might Approve! – If leprechauns had chickens, they would probably love green eggs!

6. Different Shades of Green – Some eggs are light green like a shamrock, while others are dark like an olive.

7. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! – Green eggs make a fun breakfast for celebrating Irish traditions!

   
   

Would you like to try green eggs and ham like in the famous Dr. Seuss book?

When we buy eggs from a shop, they won’t hatch if we put them in an incubator. Here’s why:

1. They Haven’t Been Fertilised – For a chick to grow inside an egg, the egg must come from a farm where a rooster (a daddy chicken) lives with the hens. Most eggs in shops come from farms where there are only hens, so the eggs are never fertilised.

2. They’ve Been Kept Cold – Even if an egg was fertilised, shop eggs are usually kept in a fridge, which stops any chance of a chick growing. Fertilised eggs need to be kept warm for 21 days in an incubator or under a mother hen.

3. They Might Have Protective Coatings – Some eggs are washed or treated before being sold, which removes the natural coating that helps an egg stay fresh. This can also stop a chick from developing.

   
   

So, if you want to hatch eggs, you need fertilised eggs from a farm, not the ones from the shop!

An incubator is a special machine that helps eggs hatch into baby chicks by keeping them warm and safe, just like a mother hen would!

Here’s how it works:

1. Keeps the Eggs Warm – Chicks need the right temperature to grow inside the egg. The incubator keeps the eggs at around 37.5°C (99.5°F)—just like a hen’s body!

2. Adds Moisture (Humidity) – Inside the egg, the chick needs moisture to grow properly. The incubator has water inside (100ml added every day) to keep the air humid so the egg doesn’t dry out.

3. Turns the Eggs – A mother hen gently turns her eggs with her beak so the chick doesn’t stick to the inside of the shell. Many incubators have a turning feature that moves the eggs slowly (like we have), just like a hen would!

4. Takes 21 Days – After three weeks in the incubator, the chick is ready to hatch! It pecks a little hole in the shell using its tiny egg tooth and then slowly breaks free!

   
   

An incubator is like a warm, safe nest that helps eggs hatch when there’s no mother hen around.

1. How does a mother hen take care of her eggs?

2. Why can't we use eggs from a supermarket?

3. Can you tell me one lucky green egg fact? (1 Extra point if you can give 2 facts)?

4. How long do you think it takes for a chick to hatch?

5. Why do we need an incubator instead of letting the eggs sit in the classroom?

6. What does lockdown mean in chick hatching?

7. How many ml of water do we put in the incubator every day?

8. Why is it important to put water in the incubator?

9. What does the chick have on the end of it's little beak to help break the shell of the egg when beginning to hatch?

10. What is egg candling?

    
    

    
    

    
    

Lockdown means we stop opening the incubator and let the chicks get ready to hatch. It’s like when a baby chick gets tucked in before a big day!

Why Do We Do Lockdown?

1. No More Egg Turning – The chicks are getting into their hatching position, so we stop turning the eggs.

2. More Humidity – We add extra water to the incubator to keep the air moist. This helps soften the eggshell so chicks can hatch easily.

3. Chicks Need to Rest – They are practicing their breathing and absorbing the last bit of yolk inside the egg for energy.

   
   

What Happens Next?

After lockdown, the chicks will start pecking their way out! You might hear little peeping sounds from inside the eggs before they hatch.

Important Rule: No opening the incubator during lockdown! The chicks need the warm, humid air to hatch safely.

Are you excited to hear the first little peeps?

On Day 16, the baby chicks inside the eggs are almost ready to hatch! Here are some fun facts:

1. The Chick is Big Now! – By Day 16, the chick takes up almost the whole egg with very little space left to move.

2. Strong Bones and Feathers – The chick’s bones are getting stronger and its soft fluffy feathers are growing.

3. Breathing Practice – The chick is practicing breathing by taking in oxygen through the air sac inside the egg.

4. Getting Into Position – The chick turns its head towards the air sac at the large end of the egg, getting ready to hatch.

5. Beak and Egg Tooth Ready! – The chick’s beak is strong, and its egg tooth (a tiny bump on the beak) is ready to help it break the shell.

6. Less Movement – Since there’s not much space left, the chick doesn’t move as much as before.

7. Almost Lockdown Time! – In just two more days on Friday, we will stop turning the eggs and start lockdown to get ready for hatching!

   
   

The big day is getting close! What do you think the first chick will look like when it hatches?

We also remove any eggs that aren’t good or don’t have chicks inside, so the healthy eggs can hatch safely.

The chicks are getting ready to hatch, so they need to be safe and warm without being disturbed.

They’ll stay in lockdown for the next few days until they start to pip (make a little hole) and finally hatch!

Wow! The baby chick is almost ready to hatch! Here’s what’s happening inside the egg:

• The chick is fully formed and getting into the right position to break out.

• It tucks its head under its wing and points its little beak toward the air bubble inside the egg.

• It starts breathing a little air from the air bubble!

• The chick is still getting food from the yolk, which it’s almost done absorbing.

• The tiny blood vessels inside the egg start to disappear, so the chick can get ready to breathe outside the egg.

  
  

It's almost time! In just a few days, the chick will peck through the shell and say hello to the world!

On Day 21, the baby chick is ready to hatch!

Here are some fun facts about what happens:

1. The chick breaks the shell! – The baby chick uses a special egg tooth on its beak to peck through the shell. This is called pipping.

2. It takes time! – Hatching can take up to 24 hours because the chick rests between pecks.

3. The chick breathes air! – Before breaking out, the chick starts breathing through its lungs for the first time.

4. The wet chick dries off! – When the chick finally escapes, it looks wet and tired. After a few hours, it dries into a soft, fluffy ball!

5. No more egg tooth! – The tiny egg tooth falls off after a few days because the chick doesn’t need it anymore.

After hatching, the baby chick rests, eats, and grows stronger before exploring the world!

The first hole the chick makes is called the external pip, which happens when the chick breaks through the inner membrane and the shell using its special egg tooth (a small, sharp bump on its beak).

After pipping, the chick rests before it starts zipping, which is when it cracks the shell all the way around and finally pushes its way out!

Where They Live

• They stay warm under a heat plate, just like being under a mother hen!

• Their box should stay dry, clean, and calm.

How They Grow

• They’re starting to grow tiny feathers on their wings and tails.

• They’re bigger and more curious than when they hatched.

What They Eat

• Chicks eat starter feed made just for babies.

• They drink clean water- all day, every day!

Being Gentle

• We can hold them carefully with two hands.

• Always be quiet and calm so we don’t scare them.

• Remember- we’re helping them feel safe and loved!