Hatch Watch Day 31* – Last night Ella was doing a lot of spinning (circling around in the scrape which rolls the eggs under her) which is often see when hatching has, or is about to begin. It aids the chicks in their efforts to break out of their eggs. Think soft-boiled egg in an egg cup – you tap all the way around the top to get inside. The chicks do the same thing, they make a whole in one spot, called a pip, and then they start tapping their way around the egg from that point so that the egg splits open. It appears that Mom’s spinning can help in the process. So far today, no real spinning and regular shift changes. Also, the chicks start talking inside the shell and I haven’t as yet seen obvious signs that either Ella or Pip are listening or talking back to them.
This video is from 1130h today …
* after estimated start of hard incubation