Name:

Chicken Eggs: Fertilization, Development & Production

Define the following terms:

Embryo

Fertilization

Development

Production

Read the article Facts about Fertilized Chicken Eggs.

Highlight things you think are important. Underline things that you knew. Write a ? next to things you still
have questions about. Then, answer the questions below.

1. What must happen for an egg to be fertilized?

2. List 2 ways that you can tell if an egg is fertilized.

3. Is it safe to eat fertilized eggs? Why or why not?

Chicken Embryo Development

How many days does it take for a chicken embryo to develop?

Is chick in the yolk or the white of the egg?

What does the yolk do for the chick?

When does the heart form?

Why are blood vessels important? When do they form?



Why does the egg need an air cell?

Chicken Egg Production

1. How do we get edible eggs instead of baby chickens?

2. What determines the color of the egg?

3. How old are hens when they first start laying eggs?

4. List at least 3 different environmental conditions that are kept regulated for the hens.

5. Why is the hens diet important?

6. How many eggs does the average hen lay each year?

7. Where do eggs go after they leave the hen house? What happens there?

8. What grade of eggs can you buy at the grocery store?

9. What are lesser grade eggs used for?

10. How is it determined if an egg is peewee or jumbo?

11. How long will eggs last until they start going bad?

12. How long are hens kept for laying eggs?

13. What happens to the hens after they can no longer lay eggs?