Learning Resources Chick Life Cycle Exploration Set Manual

Explore the life cycle of a chicken with the
environmentally safe egg cross-section
models. Each egg is numbered according to
the day of the incubation period. The storage
tray is also numbered for easy organization
of eggs.
The egg models provide an alternate way of
exploring the chick life cycle if you do not
have an incubator to hatch real eggs. The
models also show the inside of an egg as it
changes during each day of the hatching
process.
Chicken Facts
Chickens are domestic birds that cannot fly,
are mostly found on farms, and usually have
a life span of 7 years. The adult female
chicken is called a hen, the adult male is
called a rooster, and the young are called
chicks. There are many different breeds of
Yolk: The chicken egg starts as an egg
yolk inside a hen. A yolk (called an
oocyte at this point) is produced by the
hen's ovary in a process called ovulation.
Yolks are a major source of vitamins and
minerals. They contain all of the egg's
fat and cholesterol, and almost half of
the protein.
Fertilization: The yolk is released into
the oviduct (a long, spiraling tube in
the hen's reproductive system), where
it can be fertilized internally (inside
the hen) by a sperm from a rooster.
Egg White (albumin): The yolk
continues down the oviduct (whether
or not it is fertilized) and is covered
with a membrane (called the vitelline
membrane), structural fibers, and layers
of albumin (the egg white). This part of
the oviduct is called the magnus.
chicken that are different sizes and colors.
A group of chickens is called a flock.
The rooster is larger and more brightly
colored than the hen; he also has a larger
comb. The comb is a large fleshy red skin
atop a rooster's head. Roosters make a very
loud crowing sound and can be quite
aggressive. This is their way of
communicating with others in their flock.
Chicken eggs range in color from white to
pale brown, and other pale colors.
Chickens have an assorted diet. They eat
insects, worms, fruit, seeds, acorns, grains,
slugs, snails, and many other foods. They
have a well-developed gizzard (a part of the
stomach that contains tiny stones) that
grinds up their food and helps
with digestion. Many animals eat chickens,
including skunks, owls, raccoons, hawks,
snakes, opossums, bobcats, and people.
The Formation of a Chicken Egg:
LER 2733