What happens to an unhatched chicken egg?

Answer 1

When the egg is laid, embryonic development has already occurred but usually stops until proper cell (environment) conditions are established for incubation to resume. At first, all the cells are the same, but as the embryo develops, cell differences appear. Some cells may become vital organs; others become a leg or wing.

Shortly after incubation begins, a pointed thickened layer of cells becomes visible in the caudal or tail end of the embryo. This pointed area is the primitive streak, and is the longitudinal axis of the embryo. From the primitive streak, the head and backbone of the embryo develop. The the digestive tract forms; blood islands appear and will develop later into the vascular system; and the eye begins to form. On day 2 of incubation, the blood islands begin linking and form a vascular system, while the heart is being formed elsewhere. By the 44th hour of incubation, the heart and vascular systems have joined, and the heart begins to beat. Two distinct circulatory systems are established, an embryonic system for the embryo and a vitelline system extending into the egg. At the end of the third day , the beak begins to develope and limb buds for the wings and legs are formed. The chick's entire body turns 90o and lies down with its left side on the yolk. The head and tail come close together so the embryo forms a "C" shape. The mouth, tongue, and nasal pits develop as parts of the digestive and respiratory systems. The heart continues to enlarge even though it has not been enclosed within the body. The other internal organs continue to develop. By the end of the fourth day of incubation, the embryo has all organs needed to sustain life after hatching, and most of the embryo's parts can be identified. The chick embryo cannot, however, be distinguished from that of mammals.

The embryo develops and grows quickly. On day seven, digits appear on the wings and feet, the heart is completely enclosed in the thoracic cavity, and the embryo looks more like a bird. After the tenth day of incubation, feathers are visible, and the beak hardens. On the fourteenth day, the claws are forming and the embryo is moving into position for hatching. After twenty days, the chick is in the hatching position, the beak has pierced the air cell, pulmonary respiration has begun.

After 21 days of incubation, the chick finally begins its escape from the shell. The chick begins by pushing its beak through the air cell. The allantois, which has served as its lungs, begins to dry up as the chick uses its own lungs. The chick continues to push its head outward. The sharp horny structure on the upper beak (egg tooth) and the muscle on the back of the neck help cut the shell. The chick rests, changes position, and keeps cutting until its head falls free of the opened shell. It then kicks free of the bottom portion of the shell. The chick is exhausted and rests while the navel openings heal and its down dries. Gradually, it regains strength and takes its first wobbly steps. The incubation and hatching is complete.

Answer 2

An egg changes to a chicken step by step. First, the hen (female chicken) lays the egg. Then, she sits on them to keep them warm while the chick (baby chicken) stars forming inside the egg. After a certain amount of days, the egg starts hatching and a chick is born. Then, slowly, just like humans, the chick grows into an adult chicken, either a rooster or a hen. Then, it happens all over again, just like the water cycle. Lay, Sit, Hatch, Grow! :)

Answer 3

Ovulation begins with the release of an ovum from a ruptured follicle in the ovary of the hen. The ovum is released and drops into the ovarian pocket, traveling quickly to the infundibulum. The infundibulum is a funnel shaped organ at the beginning of the oviduct. The ovum is fertilized in the infundibulum where the rooster sperm sac can be stored for up to two weeks after one mating. From the infundibulum the fertilized egg travels to the Magnum, where it will remain for about 2 to 3 hours. The magnum is a glandular structure that produces the albumen which eventually surrounds the yolk. Moving from the magnum the egg travels to the Isthmus where the membranes of the inner shell are deposited, for some select breeds like Araucana this is where the color of the egg shell is first deposited. This trip takes about 1 hour. From the isthmus the egg goes to the Uterus where it will remain for 20 to 26 hours. In the uterus, the egg gathers water and minerals including salts. Calcification of the shell takes place at this time and for most breeds of chicken the color of the shell is acquired in the uterus just prior to being released to the vagina . The vagina carries the now formed egg from the uterus to the cloaca from where it is deposited to the outside and the nest under the hen.

Answer 4

Well you see, when the chick matures, it uses all of the little muscle it has to push through the inner shell. It uses its legs since as you know the legs are the most powerful muscles on the body and pushes its way out.

Answer 5

If it is a fertile egg it either hatches eventually or if it isn't incubated then it dies. A infertile egg never hatches and actually never has a fetus inside it.

Answer 6

This question is asked often and answered many ways.

Check the "Related links" below to see the Enchanted Learning website for a complete description with pictures.

Answer 7

Nothing unless that fertilized egg is incubated either by a broody hen or by placing it into an incubator for 21 days.

Answer 8

A bit you can not see with the naked eye that sits between the white and the yolk. The white provides water for the growing chick and the yolk is the food for the growing chick.