The incubation period in chick lasts for about how many days?

The correct answer is 21.

Concept:

• Development of the fertilized zygote into a fully developed foetus or a young one is known as embryogenesis.
• This process can take place in 2 main ways:
  • Oviparous - In this type, the development takes place outside the female body. The female lays fertilized eggs and then incubates them to hatch.
  • Viviparous - In this type, the development takes place inside the mother's body, such that the mother gives birth to the young ones.
• All birds are oviparous in nature and thus they lay eggs.

Explanation:

• After fertilization, the zygote divides repeatedly and travels down the oviduct.
• As it descends, many protective layers form around it.
• The hard shell in a hen’s egg is one such protective layer.
• The hen finally lays the egg after the hard shell has formed around the developing embryo.
• It takes about 3 weeks (21 days) for the embryo to develop into a chick.
• The mother bird sits on the eggs after they are laid to keep them warm. This process is known as egg incubation.
• The embryos continue to develop within their egg shells.
• After the embryos develop, the eggs hatch.
• The incubation period is different for different birds.

So, the incubation period in chick lasts for 21 days.