Hatching chicks outside of their shell is an intriguing experiment that has gained popularity after a group of Japanese students successfully accomplished it. This article provides a step-by-step guide to replicate this experiment, based on a video tutorial by Jordyn Passw0rds, a research paper from Japan, and helpful comments from Lewis Wood.
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Necessary materials:
- Fertilized chicken eggs
- Incubator
- Cups (one per egg)
- Plastic wrap
- Cotton balls
- Easter egg
- Drinking straw
- Rubber band
- Source of calcium (as mentioned in the research paper)
Steps:
- Obtain fertilized chicken eggs: These eggs are different from regular supermarket eggs and can be ordered online or purchased from a farm.
- Place the eggs in an incubator: Once you have the eggs, place them immediately inside an incubator. If you don’t have access to an incubator, you can build one following the tutorial provided in the link.
- Incubate the eggs for 54-55 hours: Turn the eggs three times a day to prevent the yolk from sticking to the shell. To do this, gently turn the egg in your hand for about a minute, then place it back in the incubator in the opposite position.
- Prepare the cups: After the incubation period, you’ll need a cup for each egg. Make a 1 cm diameter hole about 2 cm from the bottom of the cup. Place a cotton ball inside the hole, which will be used to pump oxygen into the cup on day 17.
- Prepare the plastic wrap: Take a 30×30 cm piece of plastic wrap and place it over the cup. Use an Easter egg to shape the plastic wrap into the shape of the egg that will be placed in the cup. Secure the plastic wrap with a rubber band and make small holes in the plastic wrap for ventilation.
- Carefully break the egg: Be careful when breaking the egg to avoid piercing the yolk. Carefully pour the egg contents into the prepared cup.
- Seal the cup: Cover the top of the cup with another 30×30 cm piece of plastic wrap and fold it down to secure it.
- Place the cup back in the incubator.
- On day 17, remove the cotton ball, insert the straw into the hole and pump oxygen into the cup.
- Monitor the progress of the eggs, and if all goes well, you should have chicks.
Additional tips:
- Provide a source of calcium for the egg, as removing the shell reduces the availability of calcium. 2. Ensure to maintain the proper oxygen ratio, as this can affect the experiment’s success.
- Keep a clean environment and sterilize the incubator, cups, plastic wrap, and tools before starting.
- Perform the experiment with multiple eggs, as even with the right conditions, the success rate can be around 50%.
Conclusion: Hatching chicks outside of their shell is a fascinating experiment that requires attention to detail and patience. By following these steps and tips, you can increase your chances of success and enjoy the experience of raising chicks in an unusual environment. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not successful on your first attempt, as even experts face difficulties in this process. Good luck and have fun!
Video
This is the video
Additional things from another tutorial.
In another video from the Happy Tails channel, additional tips are provided on how to help chicks hatch from their egg. Below are some key points from the video to complement the previous tutorial:
- Patience is crucial in the hatching process, as it can take hours or even days. These methods should not be used to speed up the process, but only in life-or-death situations when a chick is stuck in its egg.
- If you decide to help a chick, do it slowly and give it time to try on its own. Don’t do all the work at once.
- The proper temperature is crucial for the development and survival of chicks. Make sure to provide them with enough heat throughout the process.
- In the video, it shows how to help a chick that cannot get out of the egg by itself. First, you need to locate the chick’s head inside the egg using a powerful flashlight. Then, create a small hole without breaking any other part of the egg. Leave the egg alone for at least 7-8 hours to give the chick time to try to get out. If it doesn’t succeed, you can start gently removing pieces of the eggshell, being careful not to break the white membrane.
- Make sure the membrane is dry before removing it. If it’s still wet, you can harm the chick. This process can take more than 36 hours, so it’s essential to have patience.
Source of Research Paper
This is the link: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpsa/51/3/51_0130043/_pdf
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