3-3-2025 A pip!...And Another!...And…! 🐥

Sunday afternoon, as Jackie and Shadow shouted away an unseen intruder, the first ‘pip’ was confirmed on one of the eggs! (egg on the right)– A pip, or slight crack in the egg shell, is the first sign that the chick is working to hatch out.

By Monday morning, a pip was visible on the 2nd egg! –
Jackie and Shadow’s delayed incubation worked to make the chicks hatch closer together and be close to the same size.

Jackie was obviously feeling the movement underneath her as she kept looking down and standing up to roll the eggs much more than usual. Shadow happily got a turn on the eggs to give Jackie a morning break.

By mid-morning, the chick’s beak was visible and tiny chirps could be heard…

When Shadow came to check in, Jackie stood and seemed to be telling him about the development…one chick could be seen moving inside. Jackie wouldn’t let Shadow have his turn. She was too invested to leave.

It took Shadow 4 more visits—2 sticks and 1 fluff—before Jackie let him take over for a short time. Now, both holes were bigger…and his turn came with lots of the soft talking instructions from Mama Jackie before she left.

Jackie soon returned with a fish that got left on the side of the nest, ready for feeding.

By afternoon, Jackie increased her soft talking to almost continuous, seeming to be encouraging her chicks to keep up the great progress. Both holes were growing and now big enough to easily see a moving beak inside each one.

As evening came, the holes grew more, tiny cheeps could be heard, and Shadow figured out he was unlikely to get another turn. He flew off to roost nearby.

…but boy will he be surprised in the morning!…before midnight, the first chick had its wing and head visible and a short time later, it was out! Jackie pushed it back in a bit as she rolled the eggs, but it’s first touch down will be the official hatch time: 23:26, cam time.

The 2nd egg is moving forward quickly on its hatching process.

And the 3rd egg is still only on Day 34. Normal hatchings are 35-42 days, so still plenty of time to wait and watch what happens with it.
Welcome to the world, Chick#1!
Sandy


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