Monday, May 23, 2016

Our Babies Have Hatched!

When arriving at school this morning, we were greeted with small pipping sounds. Four of our chicks had hatched early this morning! This is day 20, so you can imagine everyone's surprise. At 1:50 pm we have 8 chicks hatched and more chipping away at their eggs. 

We have four fluffy yellow chicks in our brooder. We can hear them peep in class while we do work. You can see their egg tooth poked out of the egg. We got to hold the cracked egg to observe the membrane and the blood vessels. The chicks have to become fully dry before moving to the brooder. They are adorable!

When they grow up, they will become dinner. They won't lay any eggs, so they are called meat chickens. They need 8 weeks to become fully grown. We will send them back to UVM and then some will be donated to the food shelf. If anyone would like some chicks let us know. 

Chick Hatch Poll

10-11
12-13
14-15    four students
16-17    ten students
Full 18! nine students

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Egg Homework

Please crack open an egg with your child. Let them show you the albumen (white part); the yolk; and the chalaza (the rope-like string that anchors the yolk so it doesn't hit the outer shell). Have them scratch the inside wall to feel the membrane, which acts as a protector from germs. Remove the air sac, located on the bottom of the shell. This sac acts as a shock absorber for the yolk.