Day 18--Friday, April 26

Major Growth Developments

•The beak breaks through the inner shell membrane.

•The lungs begin to function.

On Friday, we took out the automatic egg turner. The eggs no longer need to be turned after day 18. We will now prepare the incubator for the hatching of the baby chicks.

1.Open the incubator

2.Take the eggs out of the automatic egg turner and place them carefully in the egg cartons that they arrived in.

3.Unplug and take out the automatic egg turner.

4.Place a layer of cheese cloth (like a very thin paper towel) and place over the wire rack.

5.Add sponges to the bottom channels of the incubator to increase moisture. Fill with water.

6.Place the eggs back on to the cheese cloth. The eggs will now rest on their sides.

7.Close up the incubator.

8.Remove the red vent plug from the top.
Information & Image from the University of Illinois website:http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/explore/embryology/

Day 17--Thursday, April 25th

Major Growth Developments

•The beak turns towards the air cell.

Information & Image from the University of Illinois website:http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/explore/embryology/