Submitted by You_Smiled t3_yeivce in askscience
paul_wi11iams t1_iu0m3yx wrote
Reply to comment by JennaSais in How can the chicks breathe in their shell? by You_Smiled
> 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.
LandlordakaThe_Super t1_iu2a1u2 wrote
Although most predators will simply eat an egg because it does not attempt to run away.
[deleted] t1_iu0txni wrote
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