Egg hatching day 18

Fertile egg

The excitement is building.  Doesn't matter how many times I do it, under a broody or in the incubator.  The last few days of the incubation period are always exciting.

I am at day 17 out of 21.  Close to the point at which the humidity is increased and the turning of the eggs stop.

It is this stage that I find fascinating, with the chick developed enough to be manouvering inside the eggs ready for hatching, but the yolk still being absorbed into the stomach ready for the first 24-48 hours outside of the shell.

Silver lace wyandotte chick

They say the chick has an "egg tooth" perfect for breaking firstly into the air sack inside the shell at 19 days, taking its first breath, then through the tough shell that has protected it for the last 19 to 21 days.

I imagine if you could see in side the egg at pipping/ hatching, and increased the speed of footage it would be similar to a can opener taking the top of a tin of beans.

Inside that tiny cramped space, the chick pecks at the shell, rotating slowly, to break through, the top eventually falling off like that of a boiled egg.

Silver lace wyandote cockerels

That is just the beginning of an amazing transformation. For me it is the best part, run close by the moment around twenty weeks later when the hens lay their first eggs.

I hope in a few days to be reporting a successful hatch of araucana and silver lace wyandottes.

Watch this space for photos.

Thanks for reading.