Yes, they have to get out quickly because they’ve run out of air. The pip, as they make it larger, helps let a little in but it isn’t enough. And they’ll run out of energy if they don’t get out quickly. The parents won’t help. Harsh but if they aren’t strong enough to get out on their own, they won’t be strong enough to survive.
As the saying goes, only the strong survive.
What’s fun to see is a parent “kissing” its baby’s beak as it pokes through the pip. I have a scap somewhere from last year or the year before of that happening. So sweet!
Awwww...that would be so sweet to see!
“Hello baby of mine! Welcome to the world!”
This is Big Red, the momma red-tailed hawk at Ithaca, kissing one of her babies as it worked to hatch. It's little peeps picked up tempo as if it was excited by momma's gentle touch.