To make sure that theyre warm so they dont die.
sit on the eggs
on sitting on them Hens on a farm lay eggs into straw and the hens sit on the eggs until they hatch. Hens in large chicken farms do get to have such a luxury. The chickens' eggs are kept under heat until they hatch.
It's a maternal instinct - in the wild hens / birds sit on their eggs to keep them warm grow into chicks and hatch. Most eggs now are unfertilised but the hen retains the maternal instinct to sit on them anyway.
Every single breed of hen (even mix) will sit on their eggs when they feel like they want chickens. One of the hens that brood alot are brahma hens.
Hens will not sit on eggs unless they are "broody" - which is when they are actively attempting to incubate a nest. Hens will not just sit on every egg they lay.
Yes, if given the chance broiler hens will sit on their eggs and incubate them - this is instinctive behavior.
so then they can make love with there babies and be like Emily
Pea hens lay eggs and sit on the nest about 28 days to hatch a clutch of eggs
The term is Brooding
Because it is a natural instinct for them to go broody
they lay one egg a day for about 12 days before they decide to sit and incubate their eggs. They also "steal" eggs from other chickens who are not broody.
They sit on them as soon as the egg is laid. They will continue sitting on the eggs until they hatch. This keeps the eggs warm. If you gather the eggs every day, the hens are less apt to sit on them. Sometimes their maternal instincts kick in and they will sit on the eggs. When that happens you can just reach underneath and pull the eggs out. They may peck at your hand, but it doesn't hurt.