Chick incubation projects are a great way to teach youth about Agriculture Science.  It also teaches them how to care for animals and learning about life cycles.

The Greenup County Extension Agent for Agriculture partnered with Grayson Lake Park Ranger to respond to a request from Russell Independent Schools to offer Chicken Embryology or hatching for students at the primary school.  Students in first, second and special education classes participated in the project for a total of 350 participants.

Students received lessons in basic needs of animals, life cycle of chickens, feed and care.

The Extension Agent worked with a local producer to collect fertilize eggs and placed them in 3 incubators.   The incubators replicated the mother hen’s environment for the gestation of the eggs for 21 days.  Students observed the eggs daily and logged the progress.

Russell Elementary teachers also incorporated the embryology project into art lessons and additional classroom lessons.   The pieces were displayed on the school hallways for students and parents to view.

Verbal surveys at the completion of the project resulted that 100 percent learned something new about poultry.