We offer a spring Egg Incubation program that brings farm life into your home or classroom!
2026 Spring Egg Incubation Registration Opens Saturday, February 7th!
Follow these steps to reserve your spot and ensure a successful incubation experience for your group.
Step 1: Create Your Shopify Account
To get started, you must create an account with us on Shopify. This will allow you to complete your reservation and make the necessary payment for your egg incubation unit. Please visit our Shopify store and follow the prompts to sign up.
Step 2: Select Your Reservation Date
Once you have created your account and logged in, return to our Shopify store starting on February 1st to
Select Your Reservation Date: Choose the date that works best for you based on when you want the eggs to hatch. If you’re planning around spring break, school holidays, or special events, make sure to select a date that allows enough time for incubation.
Consider Incubation Duration: Eggs typically take 21 days to hatch, so make sure to plan accordingly for the optimal hatch date.
Important Note: Since each unit contains 1/2 dozen eggs, please be sure to adjust your plans accordingly if you need multiple units. To ensure that every classroom or home can fully participate and manage the program effectively, we ask that each classroom/homestead limit their egg incubation to 1/2 dozen eggs (1 unit). This will allow us to accommodate as many participants as possible and provide everyone with a great experience.
Step 3: Choose the Number of Units and Pickup Time
Each unit consists of 1/2 dozen eggs, and the fee is $40 per half dozen. Please select the number of units based on the number of eggs you’d like to incubate (keeping in mind the 1/2 dozen limit).
For example:
1 unit = 1/2 dozen eggs for $40
2 units = 1 dozen eggs for $80
Egg pickups are available at 9am or 4pm. A 15-minute grace period before or after your scheduled time is allowed. However, arrivals outside this window may result in an inability to successfully pick up your reserved eggs.
Step 4: Complete Your Reservation
Once you’ve decided on the reservation date and number of units, proceed to complete the reservation form. Make sure to double-check your selected dates and egg quantities before submitting your order.
Step 5: Payment
After confirming your reservation details, you’ll be prompted to make payment of $40 per half dozen eggs. Payment will be made via our secure online platform at the time of reservation. All reservations are non-refundable. If you need to change your reservation date or quantity, we will do our best to accommodate your request based on availability. We cannot guarantee alternative dates will be available. However, please note that there are no refunds for reservations once payment has been made.
Step 6: Prepare for Your Eggs
Before picking up your eggs, be sure to have your incubator set up and ready to go. Your eggs should be placed in the incubator on the pickup date to ensure proper temperature and humidity for incubation. When transporting incubation eggs, no special precautions are required. The eggs do not need to be refrigerated, warmed, or washed. You will receive the eggs in an egg carton. Simply ensure that they are kept in a safe, stable environment at room temperature to prevent any physical damage.
- Chick Starter: When you pick up your eggs, you will receive a small bag of food that will last approximately 1-2 weeks for your chicks. If you plan to keep the chicks longer, you can purchase additional chick starter from a local feed store.
- Chick Return Policy: Chicks must be returned before they reach 8 weeks of age. After that, you are welcome to keep the chicks if you’d like. Please coordinate with us in advance for their return.
Step 7: Expecting Your Hatchlings
Please reference theses instructions on what to expect during the hatching process, along with additional tips for caring for your chicks during incubation.
If you have any questions, need further assistance with the sign-up process, or need to change your pick-up date, please email our Farm Education Program Manager, Adele Gedig, at adeleg@thecenterpalos.org or call (708) 361-2434. We’re here to help make your egg incubation experience a success!
Check Back to Reserve Your Incubation Eggs!
We provide:
Fertile eggs
Small bag of starter chick feed
A home for your chicks once they hatch (Chicks must be returned by 8 weeks of age)
We do not provide:
An incubator
Food & water dishes
Heat source to keep chicks warm (Heat lamp or Heat Plate)
Bedding and an enclosure for your chicks (Rubbermaid Totes work well)
21 days worth of care for the eggs
care for the chicks after hatching, before they are returned to The Children’s Farm
Fees
6 eggs : $40
12 eggs: $80
*Please Note: We will no longer be offering eggs at a discount to schools that book a farm tour.
Classroom Resources
Hatching Science: 21 Days of Discovery
Embryology in The Classroom: Hatching Classroom Projects
Oregon State 4-H Foundation: The Incredible Egg
National Agriculture in the Classroom – Hatching Science Center
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension: Hatching Eggs in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide
Embryology in the Classroom: A Closer Look
FAQs
When are the eggs available for pickup?
Eggs are available for reservation March 15th-May 15th.
Where can I purchase an incubator?
You can purchase an incubator that suits your needs off of Amazon. You can also check local farm stores such as Tractor Supply Company, Farm and Fleet or Runnings.
What should I use for a brooder set up?
The easiest and most cost-effective brooder set-up is a large Rubbermaid tote with shavings at the bottom. People have also used play pens or kids swimming pools as well. Make sure if using a heat lamp that it is properly secured. Heat plates are less of a fire hazard.
Can I transport the eggs after I begin incubating?
We do not recommend unplugging and transporting the incubator after the incubation process has begun. If there is a period of time you will be unable to turn the eggs, we highly recommend an egg turner. If turning the eggs by hand, the eggs need to be turned 3-7 times per day.
How many of the eggs will hatch?
Typically, we see a high hatch rate as over 90% of our eggs are fertilized. When incubators are set properly and there are no temperature and humidity issues, most who participate in this program have a very successful hatch.
Can I keep the chicks?
You are more than welcome to keep the chickens or find them a home yourself. We do require you to return the chicks no later than 8 weeks after they hatch if you do not intend on keeping them.
What breed are the chickens?
We have a variety of different chickens in our coop, so most of our chicks are crossbreeds of the following: Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock, Polish, Silkie, Wyandotte, Buff Orpington, Australorp and Easter Eggers. Most of the eggs will be brown, but you may get some white, blue or green eggs.
Do you have duck eggs for incubation?
Our duck flock is not very prolific with their egg laying so we do not offer duck eggs for incubation.
Do you keep all of the chicks?
No, we aren’t able to keep all of the chicks that are returned. While we do welcome some back to the farm, we simply don’t have space for all of them long-term. Chicks we cannot keep are rehomed to local farms.
Questions? Contact Adele at adeleg@thecenterpalos.org or call the Farm Office at (708)361-2434