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jcgam t1_itzzhni wrote

Reply to comment by JennaSais in How can the chicks breathe in their shell? by You_Smiled

It's amazing such complex behaviour is already programmed in, and they don't have to learn it.

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sametrical t1_iu0056x wrote

Was disappointed that you don't also have another quick correction, but I do agree with you that it is amazing

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JennaSais t1_iu05odf wrote

Right? Another fun tidbit is that the earliest chicks' peeping sounds stimulate the latecomers to work to get out as well, so you can see some very early social behaviors with them as well.

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paul_wi11iams t1_iu0m3yx wrote

> you can see some very early social behaviors.

Here's a more cynical take on this:

As a chick, I'd do the same, hatching just after the first. So the first-hatched would keep any predator busy while I get out of my shell and improve my own chances of survival.

It compares to zebras running close-packed, each improving its individual chances because the lion will catch only one.

Edit: Thinking further, I concede that there could be a big overlap between social behavior and selfish gene survival. For example, the first to hatch could be helping out its siblings by offering itself up to a predator.

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LandlordakaThe_Super t1_iu2a1u2 wrote

Although most predators will simply eat an egg because it does not attempt to run away.

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jqbr t1_iu41q3y wrote

Spider behavior is considerably more complex than what's being described here.

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