 Both parents incubate the eggs , although the female takes the larger share of this duty . The eggs are incubated for 19 – 22 days to hatching , with at least 87 % success . Food is brought to the nest by the other adult and passed to the sitting parent who feeds the chicks . The precocial , downy young leave the nest within two days of hatching but continue to be fed by their parents , although the chicks also find some of their own food after about five days . They are independent of their parents after 20 – 30 days and can fly when aged 7 – 9 weeks . If a nest appears to have been discovered , the female may carry the chicks or eggs one by one to another location ; the eggs are carried in the bill , but small chicks may be tucked under the wing . Sitting birds may stay on the eggs even when approached closely , or attack the intruder , or feign injury as a distraction . The water rail can breed after its first year , and it normally raises two broods . 
