Bulletin Board

‘Classic Chicks’

Pupils in St. Mary’s Hare Park studying life cycles were treated, once again, to witnessing the process from egg to chick! On 2nd May, fifty-eight Bantam hen eggs were set in two incubators, kindly donated by an expert on these birds, Mr. John Pummell. Years 4 and 5 were excited at the prospect of following incubation studies under his guidance.

On the tenth day of incubation, Mr. Pummell showed the children how to ‘candle’ the eggs to ascertain whether they were fertile. Nineteen were infertile or dead (at an early stage in the shell). The children were amazed that they could see blood vessels and tiny hearts beating inside the shells.

The children ‘candled’ the eggs the following week unaided to assess development. Internet searching was in full swing looking at hen sites. Hatching began during the afternoon of 21st May. By the evening, three had emerged from their shells. Eight more chicks hatched throughout the night and early morning. Excitement reigned during the day as more hatched. The last bird was born, with Mr. Pummell’s help at 1.45 p.m. on May 23rd. Mr. Pummell also spent time the following week working with groups, answering children’s questions and showing them how to handle the birds sensitively. He also identified them: the 24 birds are Silver Spangled Hamburghs, Sebrights, Quail Belgians and Gold Belgians. The children are now involved in observing the chicks behaviour as well as spending time on the theoretical aspects of incubation and life cycles.

We owe a huge debt of thanks to Mr. Pummell for providing the eggs, and sharing his expertise and time so generously with the children. Also grateful thanks to Mr. Sadler without whose daily care (including weekends), brooder building skills and temperature setting checks, such an enterprise could never have been undertaken.

“ Classic Chicks?” Well, when not visited by St. Mary’s students, the chicks are kept company by the soothing tones of Classic F.M., 24/7. Doubtless, they will also become used to the strains of the children rehearsing for their summer production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Techni-coloured Dreamcoat’ as the weeks progress. The birds will eventually be rehomed by Mr. Pummell from whence they originally came!

Mrs. Burch, Head of Science, 4th June 2007

Pupil Reports

Chick-Tastic!

Jessica (9)
" Mummy, Mummy, go faster," I pleaded. This seemed the longest journey ever. Mummy just didn't understand how important it was to get to school early today. I had to see if any of the eggs that Mr. Pummell had delivered had hatched. Mr. Pummell had brought in 58 eggs and our school was looking after them. Yesterday, we had 'candled' the eggs. This was where Mr. Pummell put a torch against each egg to find out if the chick had fertilised or not. When I was allowed in the incubator room I saw that eight chicks had hatched overnight. Some of them were wet and weak but the slightly older ones were fluffy and dry. Over the next few days more hatched and we had 25, but sadly one of these died. We were allowed to hold them and I named my one, a New Hampshire Red, Pecky, because it kept on pecking my hand with her little beak. This has been a great experience and I really hope we can do it again next year.

Stacey (8)
At our school we have had the great opportunity to watch chicks hatch from their eggs. A man called Mr. Pummell came into help us. At the beginning there were 58 eggs. Mr. Pummell held a torch on the eggs so we could see what was going on inside them. It was amazing, you could see the heartbeat! When a few of the chicks hatched I got to hold some of them. I held one and it was a Sebright, I called it Fluffy. When all of the eggs that could hatch, hatched, there were only 24. I loved it, I had great fun!

Olivia (9)
Mr. Pummell brought 58 eggs into our school. They were put into the Science Room in an incubation machine. We were allowed to see the eggs. It was very exciting knowing that some of these eggs would eventually hatch and become chicks.
Mr. Pummell put a torchlight over the eggs and we could see their heartbeats. It was quite sad because we could also see that some were dead in their shells. The DIS were taken away. Over the next 21 days the eggs began to hatch and we were so lucky to see the new chicks. We were allowed to hold 5 of them. I named one of them Sleepy because he seemed all sleepy! It was such a special thing to do. I really enjoyed doing this.

Footnote: the whole process was then repeated for Year 3 pupils.