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Original poster

Hatching chicks

17 replies

PearlHeart3 · 28/02/2021 18:09

Many years ago when I was in year 2, I remember there being an incubator in my class for a few weeks. One day, chicks hatched and we watched them being born. I just asked my partner and he also had an incubator in class and watched chicks being hatched. We are similar ages but grew up in very different parts of country. I just wondered if anyone else had this experience during their primary school years? I thought it was quite unique but obviously not judging by my partner's response.

OP posts:
angorarabbit · 28/02/2021 18:13

I was a primary school teacher until recently. We had a parent who would set up a small incubator in the classroom each year, and the children (and I!) loved the experience of watching the chicks hatch. Major distraction from classwork, of course, but a great learning opportunity!

Disressingtimes · 28/02/2021 18:16

It’s very common and I know it’s something many people are trying to stop due to welfare concerns.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-merseyside-48690698

www.bhwt.org.uk/education/chick-hatching-in-schools/

Soubriquet · 28/02/2021 18:22

My dd is 7 nearly 8 and they did this during reception

The chicks were incubated, hatched and then went back to the farm

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General education
steppemum · 28/02/2021 18:25

very common, you hire the incubator etc from the farm.

When my dd was in reception, I used to help out in class and I was so excited to see one hatch!

3babylady · 28/02/2021 18:26

The year above me did, but then my year we did caterpillars to butterflies.

JackieWeaversMum · 28/02/2021 18:28

www.livingeggs.co.uk/

PolarnOPirate · 28/02/2021 18:31

My son’s class’ eggs hatched during the first week of the first lockdown ☹️ So completely bad timing!! They do it every year I think, but sadly my son obviously will never be in reception again!

In our countryside first school we had chicken eggs hatch (mid-late 90s) and if a kid’s dog had puppies or whatever they’d come in for a play 😍

Esse321 · 28/02/2021 18:41

the problem is what happens to the boy chicks.

Gubanc · 28/02/2021 18:47

As long as the school has made arrangements for the farmer/supplier to take all chicks back it's an interesting thing to do. But if the boys (most of them will be boys) will end up dumped in a farm or in a stranger's garden, it's totally irresponsible. I'd also prepare for chicks needing help with hatching, getting stuck in shells, the horror of not fully absorbed yolk sacks etc.

wandawombat · 28/02/2021 19:04

Yep, the rehoming groups are inundated with cockerals.

Disressingtimes · 01/03/2021 10:31

Unfortunately, little consideration is usually given to the chicks or ducklings once they are hatched

It is very difficult to provide optimal conditions in a classroom incubator and, as a result, chicks may be sickly, dehydrated and poorly developed when they hatch.

Chick organs often stick to the sides of the shell as a result of the eggs not being turned properly.

Animal Aid is repeatedly being contacted by parents and teachers concerned about the fate of the birds once the school has finished with them.

Hatching chicks
SmidgenofaPigeon · 01/03/2021 10:42

Bollocks do they all merrily get sent ‘back to the farm’.

I actually hate it when the children I nanny for have chicks/ducklings in their school/nursery. I feel so sorry for them. It’s horribly loud for them and they get pulled about. You can’t fully trust a a three year old to be super careful when handling them. They always drag me to come and see them and I really hate doing it, it just makes me feel sad.

We never had this when I was a kid and I’m sure I was still able to learn about the process no problems...

Gubanc · 01/03/2021 16:45

@SmidgenofaPigeon

Bollocks do they all merrily get sent ‘back to the farm’.

I actually hate it when the children I nanny for have chicks/ducklings in their school/nursery. I feel so sorry for them. It’s horribly loud for them and they get pulled about. You can’t fully trust a a three year old to be super careful when handling them. They always drag me to come and see them and I really hate doing it, it just makes me feel sad.

We never had this when I was a kid and I’m sure I was still able to learn about the process no problems...

Well... the farm takes them back and obviously culls the boys as they'd do anyway.
bewildered1023 · 01/03/2021 16:58

We had worms in P2 Hmm, great big worm tanks and a couple of butterfly boxes as they were called ... and then giant snails in secondary school that we did experiments on (stuff like poking their eyes to see how it affected their response or something) . Think the worms smelt particularly awful .

We were allowed to take pets in very occasionally, I remember my mum taking our miserable wee rabbit in to visit - she still has the scars now !

CMOTDibbler · 01/03/2021 17:06

Ds hatched some in yr2 (teacher very experienced with chickens, they were her eggs and she'd have used an incubator to hatch anyway), and one of those chicks is still running round in our garden and he's yr 10.

AlwaysLatte · 01/03/2021 17:07

We're looking forward to having the chicks here when they have hatched at a local primary school 😍 🐥

SmidgenofaPigeon · 01/03/2021 17:11

The schools and nurseries here always beg parents to take a chick or two at the end but it’s central London so sadly, it doesn’t usually work out Sad

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