The process of a chick exiting its shell, known as eclosion, is a marathon, not a sprint. The entire effort, from the first visible crack to full emergence, typically spans a broad range. While some chicks may complete the final stages in as little as six hours, the common duration is between 12 and 24 hours from the initial breach. This timeline incorporates stages of intense physical labor followed by necessary periods of rest.
Pipping to Zipping: Measuring the Final Effort
The external pip is the first tiny hole the chick makes using its specialized egg tooth. This break allows the chick to take its first breath of outside air, switching from the chorioallantoic membrane to its lungs. The chick then rests to recover from the initial exertion and acclimate to breathing air.
The time between the first external pip and the next major action, known as zipping, is the longest phase, commonly lasting 6 to 24 hours. Zipping is the circular, cutting motion the chick makes around the circumference of the egg, creating a line of weakness that allows the cap of the shell to pop off. Once the chick actively begins the zipping motion, the process is much faster, often taking only 30 minutes to one hour to complete the circuit and push free.
If a chick has pipped but shows no progress toward zipping after 12 to 18 hours, it may indicate weakness or incorrect humidity levels. However, intervention is discouraged during this prolonged rest period. The most common scenario where a chick gets truly stuck is if it starts the zipping motion and then stalls for longer than an hour, often a sign that the shell membrane has dried out and hardened around it.
The Necessity of Physiological Recovery
The extended rest period after the initial pip is a physiological requirement, not a sign of a weak chick. This time is needed for the full absorption of the remaining yolk sac, which is drawn inside the chick’s abdomen just before hatching. The yolk provides the chick with all the necessary nutrients and antibodies to sustain it for its first one to three days outside the shell.
Furthermore, the rest allows the intricate network of blood vessels within the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) to dry out and seal off. The CAM, which lines the inner shell, functioned as the chick’s lung and kidney. Tearing this membrane prematurely by trying to “help” the chick out can cause a fatal hemorrhage. The sealed vessels ensure the chick does not bleed out upon emerging.
Immediate Post-Hatch Requirements
Once the chick pushes its way out of the shell, it will appear wet and exhausted, often remaining near the shell fragments. Allow the chick to remain in the humid environment of the hatcher until its down feathers are completely dry and fluffy, a process that takes four to six hours. Moving a wet chick can lead to chilling, which is detrimental to its health.
After the chick is fully dry, it can be transferred to a prepared brooder with a heat source. The chick can safely remain in the hatcher for up to 48 hours without food or water, sustained by the fully absorbed yolk sac. Upon transition to the brooder, fresh, room-temperature water should be immediately available, often by dipping its beak to teach it to drink. Providing the starter feed can then follow a couple of hours later, ensuring the chick hydrates before beginning to eat.