Here They Come Again!

For the second time this year, something special is growing in my office, and in 23 classrooms in Richmond County! No - it's not mold - it's baby chickens! Teachers and students at Mineral Springs, Washington Street and West Rockingham Elementary Schools are getting their chance to participate in the 4-H Embryology Project!



The growing embryos are on about Day 14/15 of their development. By this point, the embryos are taking up more and more of the egg and have absorbed nearly all of the albumen (or white/clear stuff in the egg). They have feathers over their body & now begin to "look" like a baby chick.

Students have been taking very good care of the eggs, which includes turning the eggs everyday, making sure there is water in the incubator, recording temperature and humidity, and making sure that the incubators is out of direct drafts. We are visiting the classrooms to practice safe handwashing with the 1st graders and chat with the 2nd graders about general agriculture before the babies arrive.

You can check out pictures of the candled eggs be clicking here! We'll be sure to add some more pictures when the babies arrive, which should be about this time next week.

Happy Hatching!

They're Here!!!

The day has finally arrived! When I got to the office yesterday, I heard the faint sound of chirping coming from the incubator. Several hours later, our first two chicks hatched! Overnight, many followed suit and we now have more than 20 here at the 4-H office! I was able to visit several classrooms yesterday and many had chicks starting to hatch as well.

As fun as today is, the 4-H Embryology project is about more than just hatching chicks! Through this project, 24 Richmond County 1st and 2nd grade classrooms have cared for eggs for the past 21 days. After the teachers attend a training with Miss Michelle, they are ready to receive equipment and eggs. During the course of the project, students learn about life cycles, agriculture, biosecurity, record keeping and more! Students have written stories, made books and completed timelines to help them learn more about the chicks and why we treat them like we do.

Farm Bureau partners with us to help ensure success of 4-H Embryology! Special thanks to them for assisting with this program.

And - since they are so fun to look at - here are pictures of some of our chicks!