The journey from a fertilized egg to a living creature is a natural process. At the heart of this transformation is “pipping,” a term that describes the initial breakthrough a developing bird makes in its shell. This small crack signals the beginning of the hatching process, the chick’s first visible effort to emerge from its protective casing.
From Pip to Hatch
Hatching begins with the internal pip. The chick uses its egg tooth to break through the inner membrane of the egg, accessing the air cell. This allows the chick to take its first breaths, transitioning from relying on the egg’s pores for oxygen to breathing with its lungs. After this internal breakthrough, the chick may rest and continue to absorb the yolk sac, which provides essential nutrients for its initial days outside the shell.
The external pip is the next visible sign, where the chick creates a small hole in the outer shell. This occurs 12 to 24 hours after the internal pip. Following the external pip, the chick then begins “zipping,” rotating within the egg to cut a circular line around the shell. This zipping can take less than an hour, but the entire process from external pip to a full hatch typically spans 12 to 24 hours for chickens. However, it is not uncommon for this duration to extend up to 48 hours, or even longer in some cases, as the chick rests between efforts.
Key Influences on Hatching Duration
The time it takes for a chick to hatch after pipping can vary due to several factors, with environmental conditions playing a significant role. Humidity levels in the incubator are important. If humidity is too low, the membranes inside the egg can dry and toughen, making it difficult for the chick to break free. Conversely, high humidity can prevent sufficient water loss, resulting in a larger chick within a smaller air cell, hindering its ability to maneuver and breathe during hatching.
Temperature also influences hatching. Incubation temperatures that deviate from the optimal range can affect embryonic development and energy, potentially delaying or accelerating the hatch. Extreme temperatures, either too high or too low, can reduce hatchability and even lead to developmental issues or mortality. Furthermore, the species of bird naturally determines the overall incubation period and, consequently, the typical duration from pip to hatch. The health and vitality of the individual embryo itself also contribute to how quickly and successfully it completes the strenuous hatching process.
Assisting the Hatching Process
Observing a chick struggle to hatch can be challenging, but intervention should be avoided. Hatching is demanding, and chicks are designed to complete it independently. Premature assistance can cause more harm than good, damaging blood vessels attached to the shell membrane, leading to bleeding and weakening the chick. It can also introduce bacteria, increasing infection risk.
Patience is the best approach, as chicks often rest for extended periods between pipping and zipping. Maintaining consistent humidity and temperature in the incubator best supports the chick’s natural efforts. While rare situations like “shrink-wrap” (where low humidity causes the membrane to dry and constrict the chick) might prompt intervention, such actions are highly risky and should only be a last resort, undertaken with extreme caution and understanding of the process.
First Moments After Hatching
Once a chick has fully emerged from its shell, it will appear wet, disheveled, and exhausted from the immense effort. It is important to leave the newly hatched chick undisturbed within the incubator to allow it to rest and dry off completely. This drying period, typically lasting 24 to 48 hours, allows the chick’s down to fluff up and its strength to recover.
During this time, the chick does not immediately require food or water because it has absorbed the yolk sac just before hatching, which provides sufficient nourishment for up to 72 hours. Leaving hatched chicks in the incubator can also encourage remaining eggs to hatch, as their chirping and movement can stimulate others. A healthy newly hatched chick will exhibit clear, bright eyes, a clean and dry vent area, and will eventually become active and alert, exploring its surroundings.