Facts About Baby Owls

Baby owls aren't called chicks.  They are called owlets.

When an owlet is ready to hatch, it's mother makes crooning noises and taps her beak all over the egg.  After the owlet has finally hatched, it's mother sometimes cuddles it in order to enhance the imprinting process.

Most owls within a "brood" don't hatch at the same time.  The average is two days apart, and they usually come out at different stages of development.  I think this occurs as another factor in the "survival of the fittest" battle.  The more developed owlet will survive longer than his less developed brother; owls born first have a higher chance of survival.

Most owlets do not eat right after they are born.

When they are born, the owlets are mostly pink with a few white feathers.  It just takes a few hours to grow whitish-yellow fuzz, but it takes over a week for their eyes to open!  This is most likely due to the higher importance of keeping warm while Mamma Bird goes hunting for food than being able to see their surroundings.

Myth: owls regurgitate their food to their children.  Fact: owls in fact lay very small strips of meat across the owlet's beak.  This process has evolved because it helps produce gastric juices in the owlet's stomach.

Although it is possible that older owlets could hurt younger ones, barn owls are among the few bird whose young actually play together.
Owlets reach adult weight and feathering in 8-9 weeks.

The young owls will stay in the nest box for about 49-54 days before they fly away.  Their first flight is called a fledge.

The survival rate of owlets reaching breeding age is about 24-40%.