Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/25/2006

Question
My first brood of chicks is hatching today.  I'm wondering how long should it take from when they break a hole in the shell to when they should be completely out.  When should I worry and what can I do if there seems to be a problem?
Thanks!  

Answer
Hi, Tracy.  Thanks for posting and congratulations!

It depends on the baby, but it usually only takes a few hours from when you see a pip hole on the outside to when they are completely hatched.  The baby has already spent about 24 hours pipping on the inside before you see pipping on the outside, so the baby is tired.  It might pip all the way out in a few hours or it might take half the day.  Sometimes babies need help getting out when they are tired or malpositioned in the egg.  You most likely don't have the knowledge of how to help a baby out if/when it needs help??  If not, don't even try.  

There are many problems that can develop with baby parrots.  I can't possibly tell you all to look for.  You should have developed this knowledge before you allowed your birds to breed!  You need to clean out the nesting box whenever it needs to be cleaned out, you need to watch the babies to ensure they are being fed and are being kept warm, you need to watch to ensure the babies don't have any blockage in their mouths and over their nostrils from the parents feeding them, you need to ensure the parents have enough food to feed all the babies and keep themselves nourished, if younger babies aren't being kept fed enough you need to help the parents or remove any for handfeeding, etc., etc.  Have you decided whether to handfeed the babies or not?  If you don't, they won't be tame enough to handle.  Visit my website for more information on this:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Chrys