Eggs and chicks in the classroom

Whether it’s Easter fun or to mark the start of Spring, watching chicks hatch from eggs in the classroom provides great learning opportunities and is often a highlight of the school year for primary-aged pupils. So, what do you need to know if you have a pupil (or staff member) with an egg allergy?

What is an egg allergy?

People who are allergic to egg will have an allergic reaction if they eat egg or foods containing egg.

The allergic reaction occurs because the person’s immune system mistakenly identifies egg proteins, in either the whites and/or yolk, as harmful.

People with an egg allergy must avoid eating eggs or any ingredients containing egg.  Some people with an egg allergy can eat well-cooked or baked egg, others will react if even a small amount of egg touches their skin.

Read more about the symptoms of an allergic reaction and how to respond to an allergic reaction.

Is it safe for a pupil with an egg allergy to be in the classroom with an egg incubator and hatching chicks?

???? It is safe for the child to be in the classroom with the incubator, but they should not touch the eggs. Always ask them to wash their hands after touching the incubator box.

???? When the chicks hatch a child can handle them after 24-48 hours, once the feathers are quite dry and there is no egg residue remaining.

???? Consider whether a child with an egg allergy should wear disposable gloves to handle the chick (see below).

???? After handling the chick all pupils should wash their hands straight away.

????‍???? The activity should be supervised by an adult to make sure the child does not put their hands near or in their mouth or risk cross-contamination from other pupils.

Communication with parents/carers:

We would recommend always letting parents and carers know if you are planning on having an incubator and hatching chicks in the classroom, particularly if their child has an egg allergy.

Discuss the measures you have in place regarding hygiene and handwashing and ask whether they would prefer their child to wear disposable gloves to touch the chicks.

Be mindful that some children with an egg allergy might feel very nervous about this activity and uncomfortable with having an incubator and eggs in such proximity to them.

Pictures: Chick: Afra Ramió on Unsplash

Resources & Insight

  • Simple wordsearch to familiarise pupils with common food allergens and prompt discussion about allergies.

  • Featuring 9 common food allergens this poster can be used for display or as a factsheet to promote class discussion.

  • A selection of children’s books about allergy recommended by families. Support your child and their friends to understand what it means to live with allergies.

  • Is your school allergy safe? Every year we work with hundreds of schools and see great allergy management, but sometimes there are gaps which put pupils at risk. Take our quiz to get your score.

  • Walbottle Village Primary near Newcastle was the first school to be awarded the Schools Allergy Register trust mark. This is the story of how we worked with them and what it means to the school.

  • Equip all your staff to understand allergy, prevent allergic reactions and respond quickly in an emergency. Our online, video-based training includes adrenaline pen demonstrations, tips for managing trips and events and a section on wellbeing and inclusion. This training is FREE to schools joining the Schools Allergy Register.