Incubator program at Extension Office
Katie Van Dyke discussing the candling process at the Extension Office as part of an incubator program for hatching eggs.
Last week, community volunteer Katie Van Dyke presented a class titled “From Egg to Chick” at the Extension Office. The program allows participants to check out incubators from the Extension Office for use in hatching chicks. The process will take roughly 21 days from incubation to hatching, and the incubators will then be readied for use by another group. The incubators were donated by Nutrien.
During the classes Sara Smith, 4-H Assistant Coordinator and Van Dyke gave interested kids and families information about the proper raising of chicks, and encouraged them in the pursuit of poultry production. The animals can be used for egg production, and because the program is through the Extension, they can also be entered into the poultry shows at the fair, along with a record book of the process of taking them from egg to live bird.
During last week’s class, Van Dyke demonstrated the process of candling the developing eggs. Candling refers to using a light source to see the silhouette of the bird inside the egg. The viability of the animals can be seen as movement inside the egg at later stages of development. “My kids weren’t that excited about chickens,” Van Dyke said. “But when they got to see them move inside there, everything changed.”
As the kids gathered around the candle (a strong LED light), they could be overheard reacting to exactly that sight, and becoming visibly excited about the prospect of raising their own chicks.
Chickens are typically seen as a great first animal project for 4-H members, as they are less resource-heavy than larger livestock but provide a similar experience of care and raising. Proper raising of chickens and other birds also involves attention to schedules, health and feeding protocols, and disease management. Based on the number of attendees at the incubator class, there should be quite a few entries in the category this year, which is something Office Administrator Rachel Hamilton is always excited to see. “It should be a great year this year—we’ve got a lot going on,” she says.
The day camp is just one of the many ongoing activities sponsored and supported by the office. As the spring fully sets in and the fair season inevitably begins, classes and groups will begin meeting frequently in preparation for the various shows, contests, and projects 4-H members will be undertaking.
Anyone interested in joining the 4-H program can contact Lisa Barfuss at the office at (208) 547-3205.
