King Penguins do not make nests, instead incubating their single egg directly on top of their feet, under a featherless fold of abdominal skin called a brood pouch. Males and females take turns incubating and foraging, in shifts that last one to two weeks of the 54 day incubation period. Because dropping the egg onto the freezing ground can be fatal, pairs hone their balancing skills passing blocks of ice and snowballs in preparation for the real deal.