Experiential Learning

Fresh vs. Refrigerated:  Effects of cold storage on hatchability

The idea of tiny cell multiplying over a three week period to become an organism has always fascinated me.  This project allows the observer to record the embryo's development, progress, movement and anatomy.  It is an amazing event that no student should miss!

* My goal is to become proficient at hatching eggs so that I can implement a program to educate school children about embryology and agriculture through this interactive learning experience.  I would like to discover under what conditions I will have minimum loss and maximum success while hatching eggs.

* I obtained two sets of eggs from the same brood of hens.  One set of eggs hatched a week earlier and the embryo development was stalled while in cold storage.  The other set of eggs had been freshly laid and warm when I received them.  My goal was to find out which set of eggs, the fresh or refrigerated, would produce healthier chicks.

* I determined the outcomes by observing, measuring and recording the number of eggs that developed bacteria infections, became "quitters" and died, and the number of successful births.