Are you a school teacher or homeschool teacher wanting to hatch eggs and teach embryology? It’s a fun and educational project, but there are usually three key issues: (1) Getting an incubator and brooder, (2) Getting fertilized eggs and (3) What to do with the resulting chicks.
Getting eggs and rehoming chicks is the easy part if you live in the Dayton, Ohio area. Happy Wife Acres has an Eggs for Teachers program. Fertilized chicken or quail eggs are free to teachers if the resulting chicks are returned. Otherwise, there is a charge. (https://www.happywifeacres.com/eggs-for-teachers/)
Now the hard part. How do you get an incubator and/or brooder? It can be expensive depending on if you want to buy or rent equipment. Fortunately, you have several options:
- OSU Incubators. The Ohio State University Cooperative Extension office has a program called ChickQuest. Incubators are available in some Ohio areas. There may be a rental fee. We have no direct experience with this program. Here is the link for Montgomery county: https://montgomery.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/chickquest/4-h-chickquest
- Incubator Rental. Happy Wife Acres rents a small incubator (holds 10 chicken eggs) for $20. We have a small number of these units, so availability is limited. We also have one hatch kit just like our Rent-a-Chick Hatch kits that include an incubator, brooder, feed, and bedding for $75. That kit is reserved exclusively for public and private school teachers. Homeschool teachers must reserve Rent-a-Chick Hatch kits. (https://www.happywifeacres.com/hatching-eggs-incubators/)
- Rent-a-Chick Hatch Kits. Hatch kits are available for rent ($75). However, the pickup and return dates are fixed. Kits include an incubator, brooder, heat lamp, waterer, feeder, feed, bedding, and eggs. (https://www.happywifeacres.com/rent-a-chick-rent-a-chick-hatch-programs/)
- Build a Hatch Kit Workshop. We occasionally offer a workshop to build a hatch kit. During the workshop, you will modify a storage tub into a brooder. At the end of the workshop, you will take home an incubator, candler, and hygrometer, and a brooder that includes a heat lamp, waterer, and feeder. You are purchasing all of the equipment ($200). We will schedule this workshop if there is interest (2 to 4 people). You can let us know if you would like to attend the workshop by calling/texting us (937-361-5798) or filling out the class interest form at the bottom of the Classes tab (https://www.happywifeacres.com/classes/). There is also an option to just buy a completed kit. That option is $300 (https://www.happywifeacres.com/buy-hatch-kit/).
- Order and Build Your Own. If you are confident in your building abilities, you can purchase the equipment and supplies and create your own hatch kit. We recommend a sturdy brooder that will securely hold the heat lamp to prevent fires. This guide provides some links to equipment and a link to a video to build the brooder: https://www.happywifeacres.com/create-your-own-brooder-kit/
Best wishes on whatever option you choose. If you have questions, just ask!