"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." — John Muir Great Egret chicks reach the point where they're climbing around the nest and getting rowdy at about three weeks. The Studio of That's roughly where these three are. The down is still thick, the beaks are still that soft yellow, and they're spending most of their time waiting — for a parent to return, for food, for whatever comes next. A typical clutch is three to four eggs, incubated by both parents for about 23 to 26 days.