The Chicks

Newly hatched chicks have no proper feathers. If you look carefully, behind the eye you can see the position of the ear drum. It is an area of taut skin. The bird hears through a little hole that will be covered with feathers. It does not have ear flaps like humans.

The chicks are blind when they hatch. They only respond to sounds, usually by opening their very wide beaks in the hope that food will be pushed inside.

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