Step 1 - Location
Deciding on a location for both your incubator as well as your brooder is an important first step. You want to be sure that the location is secure and provides a safe environment for the eggs while they incubate while providing visibility to the students.
CHOOSING THE IDEAL

Incubator location

Whether you chose a counter-top, a table, or a teacher's desk, the surface that you select must be stable.

Eggs are fragile and the developing embryo inside the egg is particularly sensitive to being shaken or jarred. The incubator itself needs to be level and not subject to tipping or tilting in order for the water that keeps the eggs hydrated to remain consistent on the bottom of the incubator.

The incubator requires a standard 110V receptacle nearby. Extension cords should be used with caution and where necessary the cords should be fixed or taped to ensure it cannot be pulled or tripped on which could lead to damage to the eggs and equipment.
CHOOSING THE IDEAL

Brooder location

Brooders should be placed in a location where the students can easily observe the chicks and not be tempted to tip the brooder tote to see inside of it.

The floor is the most common location of the brooder, and concerns regarding tampering or handling the chicks without supervision may be solved by using painter's tape or another non-permanent adhesive to section off an area of the floor. Students can be instructed that they are not permitted to enter the area inside of the tape without permission and supervision.

Similarly to the incubator, the brooder will require a standard 110V receptacle to power the heat plate. The plate that provides the chicks with the warmth they need will raise ambient temperatures to around 38°C as long as the room itself is around 20°C. Placing the brooder near a door or window where temperatures fluctuate can cause the brooder to become too cool which will cause stress to the chicks.