Capable of being hatched, especially referring to eggs that have the potential to develop into chicks or other young animals.
From hatch (Old English hæccan, meaning to cut or produce young) plus -able (capable of being). The term became scientifically common in the 1800s with advances in poultry and ornithology.
Farmers developed complex ways to determine hatchability by candling eggs—holding them up to light to see the embryo development—which is still used today and was basically early X-ray technology!
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