Chick Development inside the Egg: From Egg to Parrot

Useful Information: Breeders' Resources (covers everything from handfeeding to potential breeding / chick problems) ... Incubation Information ... Information on Housing Chicks, Temperature Requirements, etc.

This webpage features two photo series that show the growth of an embryo in an egg. The eggs were candled and then photographed. The process of candling allows you to view the interior of an egg ...

• The amazing "Inside View" graphic is courtesy of Susanne Russo. Link to her relevant article.
• The photo series below that was produced by the University of California, Davis. It features candled eggs -- Day 1 through Day 17 (please click on photos for enlarged images, with additional information).
• Next, the photos of candled cockatiel eggs - courtesy of the Parrot Society of United Kingdom -- including some incredible hatching photos.
• The third series of images (and the most life-like) are by Brinsea - the leaders in egg incubation
• Also of interest:
  • Embryo Development (explains what happens inside the developing egg) ... Glossary
  • Causes of Infertility and Poor Hatching Rates... Dead-in-Shell / Embryo Mortality

Orange-winged Amazon Parrot Incubation Series

© 1998 UC Regents, University of California, Davis

Permission to publish the below photo series was kindly provided by Professor James R. Millam, Department of Animal Science - http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/laboratory/millam/ ... Please note that some additional information was added by Avianweb for clarification.

Please click on the images to enlarge

Day 1 Egg / Tag 1 Ei Beginning of alimentary tract; vertebral column; nervous system and head		Day 2 Egg / Tag 2 Ei Beginning of ears and heart. Heart is beating.	Day 3 Egg / Tag 3 Ei Beginning of nose, legs and wings
Day 4 Egg / Tag 4 Ei: Beginning of tongue	Day 5 Egg / Tag 5 Ei: Formation of reproductive organs	Day 6 Egg / Tag 6 Ei Beginning of beak	Day 7 Egg / Tag 7 Ei
Day 8 Egg / Tag 8 Ei Beginning of feathers	Day 9 Egg / Tag 9 Ei	Day 10 Egg / Tag 10 Ei Beginning of hardening of beak	Day 11 Egg / Tag 11 Ei Appearance of scales and claws
Day 12 Egg / Tag 12 Ei	Day 13 Egg / Tag 13 Ei	Day 14 Egg / Tag 14 Ei	Day 15 Egg / Tag 15 Ei
Day 16 Egg / Tag 16 Ei Scales, claws and beak becoming firm	Day 17 Egg / Tag 17 Ei Beak turns toward air cell	Nineteenth day - yolk sac begins to enter body cavity Twentieth day - The chick is in hatching position. It has pierced the air cell with its beak. Pulmonary respiration has begun. Twenty-first day (average for poultry): The chick breaks the shell with its egg tooth (the sharp horny structure on the upper beak, which will disappear within days of hatching). An enlargement in a muscle in the back of the neck also helps the chick force the egg tooth through the shell.

The Parrot Society of United Kingdom was so kind to allow us to publish these really interesting illustrations that show the development of the chick inside the egg -- at its different stages of development.

The images below by Brinsea Products Inc. - the leader in egg incubation

The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!