Our Egg Project by Ethan

We did an egg project in our class.

First we received 2 dozen eggs and also an incubator, all on April 6^th.  Chicks take 3 weeks (21 days) to hatch. We first studied all of the parts of an egg and their function. The shell provides the embryo with moisture and warmth. The shell membrane is a thin but tough skin that lines the shell. It can keep bacteria from getting to the chick, but not virus. The air cell is a pocket of air in between the membrane and shell. It is what the chick first pecks at when it hatches. Next come to the albumen; it is the white of an egg. It provides needed amounts of protein to the chick. The chalazae are protein-made twisted strands that hold the yolk in place. The yolk is the yellow blob in an egg. It gives the embryo fat and other nutrients. If you look closely, there is a tiny white dot on the yolk; it is the germ spot. That is where the chick starts to develop.

On the day we got the eggs, we were showed all the parts of the incubator before we put the eggs in. The thermostat controls the temperature and it is the most important part. If the incubator is pushed, shoved or even just lightly bumped, then the thermostat may move and the temperature may change, that can kill the embryos.

When we put the eggs in we had to worry about temp, time and humidity. After excitingly while anxiously waiting for 21 days, nothing happened! Why?  We investigated carefully and found out that someone bumped the incubator and raised the temp too hot.

It is very ,very disappointing that we have no chicks. That happens sometime.  But the project was exciting. I think it is very fun to study about eggs and chicks.