Inside the Egg
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What’s happening inside our eggs?
From the outside, our eggs might not look very different, but inside, our Silkie chicks are changing every day! Explore the stages below to discover what is happening during their 21-day journey from egg to chick.
Day 0 — Before incubation
Day 0 — Before incubation
Our Silkie eggs are ready to begin their journey!
A big thank you to Cheeky Chicken Hobby Farm for supplying our incubator, the 12 special Silkie eggs and helping us begin our Hume Hatchery adventure.
Before the eggs went into the incubator, we candled one to see what the inside looked like. There wasn’t a chick to see yet, but this gave us a starting point to compare with later.
Once the eggs are kept warm, development can begin. A lot is about to happen inside that shell!
Days 1–3 — The journey begins
Days 1–3 — The journey begins
It might look like an ordinary egg from the outside, but inside, amazing changes are already happening.
The tiny embryo begins to develop and blood vessels start to form around it. These vessels will help carry oxygen and nutrients to the growing chick.
By around Day 3, the chick’s tiny heart has started beating!
Days 4–6 — Growing and changing
Days 4–6 — Growing and changing
Our chick is still very tiny, but it is growing quickly.
Its head becomes more noticeable and its eyes begin developing. Tiny buds that will eventually become wings and legs are also starting to form.
A network of blood vessels continues spreading through the egg to support the growing chick.
Day 7 — Our first development check
Day 7 — Our first development check
It’s time to carefully candle our eggs again!
When we shine a light through a developing egg, we may be able to see blood vessels spreading like tiny branches and a dark shape where the chick is growing.
We can compare what we see now with our Day 0 candling. What has changed in just one week?
Days 8–14 — Looking more like a chick
Days 8–14 — Looking more like a chick
Our tiny embryo is becoming much more chick-like!
Its beak, wings, legs and toes continue developing, and feathers begin to grow. The chick moves around inside the egg as it gets bigger and stronger.
There is less and less empty space inside the egg as our chick grows.
Days 15–17 — Getting ready
Days 15–17 — Getting ready
Our chick is now taking up most of the space inside its egg.
Its feathers continue developing, and it begins moving into the position it will need for hatching. It is also preparing to breathe air for the very first time.
By Day 18, our chick is nearly ready for the final stage!
Days 18–20 — Lockdown
Days 18–20 — Lockdown
It’s lockdown time!
We stop turning the eggs and try not to open the incubator. This helps keep the temperature and humidity stable while the chicks get themselves into the right position to hatch.
Inside the shell, a chick may make its first tiny break into the air cell and begin breathing air.
Now we wait...
Around day 21 — Hatching!
Around day 21 — Hatching!
It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for!
When a chick is ready, it uses a tiny hard point on its beak called an egg tooth to make its first hole in the shell. This is called pipping.
The chick slowly works its way around the shell until it can finally push its way out.
Hatching is hard work, so chicks often stop for rests along the way.
Welcome to the world, little Silkies!
Meet the Eggs
More coming soon...
Check back as our eggs continue their 21-day journey!
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