SAE:

Care and Incubation of Hatching Eggs

Description:

-The avian egg contains the essentials to start a new life. The egg has the reproductive cell (ovum) produced by the female. In addition, it contains the food supply that is needed by the chick.

-Successful incubation depends on maintaining favorable conditions for hatching fertile eggs. Four factors of major importance are temperature, humidity, ventilation, and turning. Eggs are incubated in a device known as an incubator.

-Agriscience students may incubate various types of eggs. The incubations can be done at the student’s home or in the agriscience laboratory. The student will be responsible all phases of incubation including:

Selection of hatching eggs

Egg care and storage

Incubators

Monitoring incubating conditions

Sanitation

Troubleshooting failures

-Students may incubate chicken, quail, or other type of bird eggs

  Written by Bobby Joslin

Factors To Consider

Ranking: 1 = lowest 10 = highest

Time required

2 

Investment

 3

Equipment needed

 4

Skills required

 2

Facilities required

 3

Land required

 1

Labor Intensity

 1

Potential for income

 5

Transportation required

 1

Expansion possibilities

 5

Expertise needed

 3

Advertising needed

 2

Susceptible to disease

 1

Susceptible to insects

 1

Suitable for residential areas

 10

Other (specify)

Length of production cycle

 One year at 21 day intervals

Regional

When to start project

 Any time

Notes:

  Must have a source of eggs.

Sources of Additional Information:

-Cooperative Extension Service

-State Department of Agriculture

-State Agricultural Universities

-Internet