hatching of eggs in a clutch one by one over a period of time, usually a few days; the eggs hatch in the order they were laid; the time between hatches can be shortened by intermittent incubation which slows down development of the first egg or eggs laid; less common than synchronous hatching; includes Bald Eagles and other raptors, herons, egrets, cranes, and parrots; see intermittent incubation