Chick Hatching Kit FAQ

A: Eggs take 21 days to hatch. Many classes decide to then keep the chicks for 1-2 weeks in order to see the egg tooth fall off and see the feathers start to grow. Some decide to keep the chicks for 8 weeks, at which point the chicks can be moved to an outdoor coop. In either case, students will get the opportunity to hold and care for the chicks during this time.

A: To ensure you get your eggs and feed right when you need them, you will receive a link for scheduling the delivery once the hatching kit is purchased. Eggs are shipped every Tuesday in March, April and May and take 3-7 days to arrive after the ship date chosen. Eggs are to be placed in your incubator within 12 hours of arrival.

A: If you are running the program at a school, you can ship the eggs directly to your school. If you prefer to ship the eggs to your home, you can start them in the incubator there and then bring the incubator with the eggs inside to school. As long as you keep on the top of the incubator, the heat will stay in the incubator for a few hours. You can then just plug it back in when you get to school! Please note that we recommend schools set the eggs Tuesday-Friday and not Sat-Mon as the eggs take 20-21 days to hatch. If they are set Sat-Mon they might not hatch during school hours.

A: Here are some considerations:

How many do you want to hatch?
Given an average hatch rate of 50% for fertilized eggs sent via the mail, you are likely to hatch 4 chicks with the Little Red Barn, and 6 chicks with the Big Red Barn

How big is your table space?
The footprint of the Little red barn is 23”x30”. The footprint of the Big Red Barn is 23” x 48”.

Will you want to transport the brooder?
The Little Red barn fits in the back set of a mid-sized sedan leaving room for a car seat. The Big Red Barn can fit in the backseat of a car but will take up the entire back seat.

A: With access to RentACoop Egg-sperts as well as instruction guides that have been tested and used for over 10 years, you will be supported every step of the way!

A: For chicks, many schools offer students the opportunity to take the chicks home on the weekends. You'll have many eager parents offering to house the chicks so you can either choose a name out of a hat or you can sell the rights to take the chicks home at your school raffle/auction. This is a great way for a school to pay for the program in it's entirety. However, even if the chicks need to stay at school, the included feeders and waterers have sufficient capacity to easily sustain your chicks over the weekend.
For your incubator, you can monitor and adjust the temperature and humidity from the comfort of your phone. You will be alerted if there are any issues.

A: Water and feed can last up to a week when filled but we recommend checking daily when possible. Bedding can be changed once or twice per week depending on how many chicks hatch.

A: Yes, we encourage handling the chicks! This is one aspect of this educational program that must not be missed! The more you interact with the chicks, the more comfortable with you they will become. Soon enough they'll be sitting on your shoulder and following you around. As with any animal, we recommend washing hands before and after handling the chicks.

A: There are many options, and it's a good idea to have a plan before setting your eggs in the incubator! If you're considering keeping the chicks and raising them into adulthood, our EGGsperts are here to guide you through the basics of chickenkeeping, and help you choose all the best supplies for your new backyard flock!
Some schools may also choose to keep a small number of adult chickens. Having a coop on campus is a wonderful opportunity for hands-on learning experiences, teaching children how to care and feed for animals, to share the fun of collecting eggs, and even to add their used bedding to your school's compost bin!

If you decide that you are going to rehome the chicks, planning ahead gives you time to find them the perfect home! You may have a neighbor or a family from your school who wants to start their own flock or add to an existing flock.
Your local 4-H organization is another great resource for finding a home for your hatchlings!
We also recommend connecting with local homesteading forums and farming communities online. There, you're sure to find plenty of options for rehoming your chicks. Every community is different, and our Eggsperts are always available to help you to find the best solution!

A: Absolutely! The Red Barn Kits is simple to clean and easily folds to compactly store with all the components (including the heating plate, feeders and waterers).