Caring for Penguin Chicks

Nonstop Nurturing

When breeding season is in full swing, penguins start pairing off, gathering nesting materials and competing for nesting boxes. To support a successful season, the penguin care team closely observes their behavior to identify breeding pairs and regularly checks the nesting boxes for eggs.

Not every egg laid is fertile, so the team uses a technique called “candling” to check for signs of fertility. By holding the egg up to a light, they can look for spider-like veins and a dark spot, which indicates the egg is fertile. Any fertile eggs are then placed in an incubator so the team can closely monitor their development. The team will continue to candle the egg weekly to track its development.

As an egg nears its hatch date, typically around day 35, the team goes on “pip-watch.” They search for signs of hatching, like the chick making its first small hole in the shell, known as 'pipping,' and listen for soft little chirps! Then, it’s only a matter of time until the tiny little fluffball emerges.

Egg-straordinary Effort Saves Cracked Egg

One of the aquarium’s new arrivals had a journey that started a bit differently. One morning, shortly after the penguin care team discovered an egg had been laid, they noticed a small crack in its shell. Even a tiny crack like this can pose serious risks and be potentially fatal.

“Since an egg isn't a closed system, it gradually loses weight as the chick inside grows and develops. A crack in the shell can cause the egg to lose too much weight, creating a less-than-ideal environment that could halt development,” said Strate. Acting quickly, the team carefully patched the crack with glue and a paper towel before placing the egg in an incubator for close monitoring.

“While we were thrilled to confirm its fertility and normal development, we remained cautious," continued Strate.

Over time, the Penguin Care Team closely monitored its weight loss, making adjustments as needed to support its development. After weeks of dedicated care, the egg finally hatched — a big win for the team! Now this little chick is thriving behind the scenes, growing stronger and bigger every day.

From Tiny Waddles to Big Swims

As this is only the second season with chicks, the Penguin Care Team decided it was best to hand-raise each one. The team makes decisions about chick-rearing on a case-by-case basis, allowing some penguins to incubate and raise their chicks.

During their first few weeks, chicks are fed a blended “fishshake” formula of fish, krill and vitamins. Then they alternate between formula and small pieces of fish a few times a day until they graduate to eating whole fish.