Hatch #3 – Full Nest

February 28, 2025

On February 27, one egg remained in the nest, yet to hatch. Things began happening. A star-like crack was seen during a feeding of the chicks.

Great cam zooms show viewers the details on the egg.

February 28

5:28 AM In the early morning hours the female fluffs the grass in the egg cup. That crack is now open. The chick has been busy.

12:05 PM Look inside the egg. The first image is dark inside. Look inside the next image. Can you see the egg tooth?

If you missed it on the live cam, watch the video. During this feeding, keep your eyes on the egg. Watch for the egg tooth moving inside and changes in the egg shell.

Chick at Work

1:42 PM The shell is opening even further. As the chick hatches, it rotates its body inside the shell pecking away. This creates a line of broken egg shell. Then the chick will stretch out its legs and push to open the shell and eventually complete the hatch.

2:20 PM That top is ready to pop! Chick 1 is getting more fish by far, but don’t worry about chick 2. It is getting fed also. That is natural. Chick 2 is holding its own, and getting in its share of hits on its sibling.

3:08 PM As the female finishes feeding the other 2 chicks, she rolls the egg. Look carefully, can you see that tiny head? It won’t be long now until this nest has a 3rd February baby!

Just in time, the male delivers a nice sized fish. With soon to be 3 hungry nestlings, they will need all they can get.

3:53:56 PM Hatch 3 is out of the shell! 

3:55:02 PM Chick 3 is wet and exhausted. After a few stretches, it curls up to rest.

If you missed the hatching today, it has been captured in the video below. What took hours has been cut down to just a few minutes. I’ll bet that little one wishes it was that easy. Welcome to the last chick to hatch in the Duke Farms bald eagle nest.