Science Project Help!!!

[noob]

I was inspired to do my science project based on fertilized eggs by a post on yahooanswer (lol yea i know)
but because im a noob or not even classified as one when it comes to incubating, hatching, and etc with fertilized eggs,
please help me and answer my questions!!

D

1. What branch of science is fertilizing eggs under? biology? life science?
2. I need to think of a QUESTION ( problem) to solve.
- I'm going to compare the development rate (is that what you even call it) of chicken and duck eggs to see which hatch first/faster
3. What is an easy, affordable incubator or can i rent one because i'm going to use it once and don't want it to end up in my basement?
4. How do i make a brooder?

Im pretty sure i'll have more question in the future but these are the ones for now. THANK YOU!!!

 

[Teach97]

glad to see someone getting involved in science...which by the way is what I teach!

I will help you as if you were one of my kids (I teach 7-12)

First off...Biology is one of the Life Sciences...so it is part of both. How specific are you trying to get? It would fall under several categories depending on how you go about it and the type question you are trying to answer. My guess would be that most will get you into a zoological category.

as far as a question goes...if your desire is to show which hatches faster...it is the chicken. That is a known fact that has lots of information on...now what you might look into is questions abut humidity or temperature...take into account that most of your "experiments" will actually be demonstrations of previous work...but that is okay!...unless you are in college...or your teacher says so...there are folks on here that have questions about adjusting heat to make more males or more females (works this way in reptiles and there is "evidence" that birds and reptiles are related)...do some research on it! What is my rambling point? There are questions that can be answered...but chicken vs duck might be a little simple...I know there was a debate awhile back about turning vs non-turning.

incubators...not sure you will be able to find one to rent...you might talk to local business that sells them if they would donate one to your school...or...? You might put a flyer up at feed stores or such explaining your plans and such

brooder - look it up! ( I know...pat teacher answer...it works and you will learn more about the process of finding the information than if I just told ya!)

if you have any questions feel free to holler (pm or email) I have students working on a variety of projects as we speak...

 

[kid-n-chickens]

You might check with your county extension center, they typically have them that they loan to elementary classes for hatching a few eggs. If not you might try posting on your status on facebook you are looking for one or asking your teacher or around the school, you would be surprised at the people that have them. As far as a brooder, I use a large storage container and cut the lid in half and put half on to help hold in the heat and then put the heat lamp wiht a 75watt light bulb in it for heat you will know if they are cold they willl all huddle under the light if they are to hot they will go as far away as possible from it. Eventually you will need to put a piece of screen over the box to keep them in. I put wood chips changed every other day for sanitary reasons for bedding, and put clean rocks or marbles in the waterer to keep them from drowning. Hope this helps a little.

 

[WhoaNellie]

What about making your own incubator as part of the project?
There are instructions online. From what I've read the hatch rates aren't as high as some other incubators. But when I was a kid, a neighbor incubated eggs in a wooden box with a light bulb for heat on her kitchen table.
In fact, she hatched two ducks and a chicken that year.

 

[rikku_03]

whoa this is a good idea I was going to tell my little sister to do this for the science fair but its coming up soon so too late for that

 

[WriterofWords]

What grade are you in? Like Teach said (I teach Science too), the chickens will hatch faster. If you want to do a comparison graph on how they develop and a weight percentage chart for how much weight is gained or lost. For example:
Chicken egg 1st day: ? oz,,, 2nd ? oz % of original weight added or lost
Duck egg 1st day: ? oz,, 2nd day ? oz, % of original weigh added or lost

Then at the end you could compare graphs and see which developed physically faster during which time frame.

ETA: Check your districts high schools for 'bators, most of them have them.

 

[MissJenny]

As for an incubator I would think the thing to do is build one (or two or however many your project requires.) There are a bunch of instructions and diagrams on here. I've seen them made out of foam coolers and a light bulb, so they don't don't have to be expensive -- they just have to match one another for comparative purposes.

Tell us more about your project as you go along -- I think a lot of us are very interested.

Jenny

 

[Kiwibird]

In Science Fair here in New Zealand, there is a technology category. It may be different where you are. If there is a technology category you could make two different home made incubators or two different home made brooders, and compare which holds its temperature best.

Also if you were using eggs and chicks/ducklings here, you would need to apply for ethical consent. Someone would need to check that your ideas are not posing an unusual level of risk to the chicks/ducklings (there is always a level of risk, as 100% hatches are not guaranteed, and they would take that into account). Teachers at your school will know whether you have to do that, and how to apply if you do.

 

[noob]

Thanks everyone!
right now, i can't do anything for the project because i still havent had a specific question yet...

people are telling me to choose a different topic for my science fair project but i dont want to.
i was thinking of doing embryo at first but that is too cruel.
then i thought why not compare brown eggs and white eggs but that is too obvious
after that i was like why not quail duck and chicken eggs to see which one hatches faster, but getting the incubator is the program. no one has it and i dont want to buy it because its a waste of chchings
*sigh*
any suggestions? What kind of questions i should test out? something maybe i can compare and answer.i have like three more days to think or i'll have to change my topic which i dont want to.
please answer asap and thank you so much!!!

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
I think you will be able to find what you need here www.avianweb.com as far as buying one for Making a homemade one search here at BYC I 'm sure you will be able to find something you can build I know of a PvC one or you might wanna look on Youtube for instuctions on how to build one.

Good luck to you and