Many have had the instinct to hatch their tribe [sit on their eggs to hatch them] for generations. … When a hen with breeding instinct lays an egg, she forms a clutch. She doesn’t do anything to take care of these eggs other than hide them in a safe place until she’s ready to sit on them. 14
Why do chickens need brood?
Many have had the instinct to hatch their tribe [sit on their eggs to hatch them] for generations. … When a hen with breeding instinct lays an egg, she forms a clutch. She doesn’t do anything to take care of these eggs other than hide them in a safe place until she’s ready to sit on them.
Do chickens feel pain when laying eggs?
Chickens have pain receptors that enable them to feel pain and distress. Step into the shoes (or feathers) of a battery hen – or 452 million of them, that’s how many are used for their eggs each year.
Why do chickens lay eggs without a rooster?
Chickens don’t need a rooster to lay eggs. Without a rooster, the eggs are sterile and therefore do not develop into young chicks. If you have a rooster but collect the eggs daily and store them in a cool place before use, they will not develop into chicks.
Are the hens sad when you take their eggs?
The simplest answer is no. Egg laying is as instinctive for chickens as perching and scratching. It’s something they must do, but they don’t do it to hatch chicks and will abandon their egg once it’s laid.
Can I eat my hen’s first eggs?
Chicken eggs are the first eggs laid by hens at around 18 weeks of age. These young hens are just entering their laying furrow, which means these eggs are significantly smaller than the usual eggs you will encounter. And therein lies their beauty – quite simply, they are delicious.