Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: paul.fr on 24/04/2008 16:35:13

Title: When are birds born?
Post by: paul.fr on 24/04/2008 16:35:13

I know they hatch, but is hatching the same as birth? Afterall, they are alive, concious ...before they hatch.

Title: When are birds born?
Post by: rosalind dna on 24/04/2008 16:43:41

yes the baby birds hatch out the eggs by poking their tiny heads out into the world but the albument and yolk in the egg(s) give
the baby birds nutrition.

Title: When are birds born?
Post by: blakestyger on 24/04/2008 17:32:09

Being hatched is the same as being born - it's just the emergence of the fully developed embryo from the egg (which could be seen as an analogue of a womb).
The difference with birds is that some are able to potter about, feed and run etc immediately (precocial) whilst others are helpless and need rearing in the nest for a while (altricial).

Title: When are birds born?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 25/04/2008 15:36:30

does oxygen diffuse through the shell? or do they just have enough in there to last them until they hatch?

Title: When are birds born?
Post by: rosalind dna on 25/04/2008 16:32:57

The eggshells are porous so that is how the baby birds can breathe but not enough to drown when it rains or suffocate when a parent bird nests the egg(s).