Hatching Chicks | Tadpoles & Frogs | Classroom Alternatives | Outdoor Alternatives | Animal Policies

Hatching Eggs or Hatching Problems?

Hatching chicken eggs is often done as a classroom project to demonstrate a part of animal life cycles. If you’re considering such an activity, here are some points to consider.

Successfully hatching chicks from eggs is not as simple as you might think. Unless you’re experienced at hatching and raising chicks, it’s very difficult to maintain conditions for eggs to hatch and chicks to survive. An incubator needs to be closely monitored and in a classroom setting that can be virtually impossible. Even with the best care, problems often arise that can result in chicks being born malformed.

What will you do with the chicks afterwards?  You need to ensure you have a place for them. Many commercial operations won’t take chickens to prevent the spread of disease. Under no circumstances should they be sent home with children whose families are not equipped to care for them.

Birds and other animals can pose a health risk. There are real concerns about human strains of avian flu being introduced to North America. Teachers should not participate in hatching activities until they have researched current information and are confident that recognized international sources such as the Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organization –  as well as Alberta Health Services – have not issued alerts about increased potential risk.

Be a good role model. Your students look up to you as a role model for demonstrating responsible stewardship. If chicks are injured or killed during their time in the classroom, what message does that send to your students? Are you teaching them to appreciate the diversity of life found in nature, or inadvertently showing that animal life is disposable?

You are legally responsible. As the person in charge of the animals, you are responsible under the Animal Protection Act for ensuring they are free from distress. The maximum fine for an offense under the Act is $20,000.

If you want to demonstrate the wonders of animal life to your students, there are many alternatives you can use. See the other pages in this section for some ideas. If you have other ideas you would like to share, please send an email.