Chicks/eggs

[Suetheramble]

My friend has just bought some chicks(hens) they seem very light - much lighter than the egg. If this is the case are the chicks lighter than their eggs and if so how?

[LoftyLottie]

I presume because the eggs also contain the amniotic fluid, yolk sac, etc. which are the heaviest part of an egg.

[Goofy]

my hens are definately heavier than their eggs

[wildwood]

Egg shells are quite porous and allow exchange of humidity and air. As the chick grows the air cavity at the blunt end of the egg increases in size so yes, they loose a fair bit of moisture through the shell so will be lighter in weight than an egg.

When you put eggs in a pan of water and they float you have old eggs. At one weeks or so old they tend to balance on the pointed end on the bottom of the pan as the moisture of the egg escapes through the shell and increases the air cavity at the blunt egg.