What is a Pip Hole?
A pip hole is a small crack or hole which is made in an egg by a chick as it prepares to hatch. The appearance of pip holes is generally viewed as a sign that chicks are on the way, as the chicks generally fully emerge within a day or so of creating the pip hole, depending on the species. The process of breaking out of the shell is known as pipping. Animals which hatch from eggs, such as birds and reptiles, actually have a specially developed anatomical structure to help them break out of their eggs. This structure is known as an “egg tooth,” and it takes the form of a protuberance on the beak, snout, or forehead. Once the animal hatches out, the egg tooth dries up and falls off within a few weeks. Watching eggs hatch can be quite interesting. At first, the egg will start to shake, as the creature inside moves around and uses its egg tooth to crack the shell. Then, the pip hole will appear, and the animal will slowly enlarge the hole until it can get out of the egg. Chicks often use th
