A guide to what is happening each

of the 21 days inside the egg. A

great resource for students!

The appearance of
the vertebral
column occurs.
The nervous
system begins to
develop.
The head starts to
form.
The eyes are
beginning to

The heart forms on

day two.
The ears form on
this day.
The heart begins
beating after the
first forty two
hours of
development.

The nose begins

to form.
The wings begin
to develop on
this day.
The legs have
started to form.

The tongue
begins to form
on this day.

The reproductive
system begins to
form.
It is now
possible to
determine the
gender (male or
female) of the
baby chick.

The beak of the

baby chick
begins to form
on this day.
The egg tooth
begins to form as
well.

The beak
continues to
form.
The baby chick
now weighs more
than half a gram.

The feathers of
the baby chick
begin to form.
The baby weighs
over a gram now.

The feathers
continue to form.
When candled,
some parts of the
chick can be
identified.

The beak begins

the hardening
process.

The legs
continue to grow.
The wings also
continue to
extend and grow.

The legs are fully

developed at this
time.
By this day the
chick looks like a
chick, but needs
to grow in size to
fill the egg.

The scales and

claws appear on
this day.
The legs are fully
formed now.

The baby chick

gets into a
suitable position
for breaking the
shell and
hatching.

The baby chick is

gaining weight
and strength
every day.

The scales, claws

and beak have
become firm and
horny in texture.

The beak of the

baby chick now
turns toward the
air cell.
The beak pierces
the membrane
so it can breathe
using the air cell.

The baby chick

can be heard
cheeping inside
the egg now that
the beak is in the
air cell.

The yolk sac

begins to be
absorbed into
the chicks body
cavity.
The chicks can
communicate
with one another
and their mother

The yolk sac is now

completely drawn
into the chicks
body cavity.
The baby chick
occupies all of the
space inside the
egg except the air
cell.

The fully formed

baby chick
hatches!