What are the signs that a chicken egg is about to hatch?

Answer 1

If you are asking about a young chicken who has not yet laid eggs then you will notice she explores the nests where the other hens are laying. She will settle into the bedding/straw or woodchips and kind of "test drive" the nesting box. After a few days of doing this she may lay small or unformed eggs until she eventually lays perfect eggs.

As for adult hens already in production, she will enter the area where the nesting boxes are and make loud clucking noises. If there is no room for her these noises will get louder and more urgent. Once she has a spot to lay she will quiet down until about 30 seconds before laying and then start with the "OH MY!!! look what I just did!!!" in loud chicken talk. This lasts for upwards of five minutes until she finds something else to be amazed at.

Answer 2

As an egg nears hatching, you may hear peeping or tapping sounds coming from inside the egg. The egg may start to wiggle or shake as the chick inside moves around. Additionally, you may notice the egg starting to crack or chip as the chick pips its way out.

Answer 3

There are two meanings of this question:

How do you know if one chook out of many is actually producing eggs on a daily basis?
Put the chook in isolation for several days and see if she lays any eggs - this way you know the eggs are hers. Since chooks may not lay an egg every day (due to various factors) it is best to keep her in isolation for several days if she does not lay an egg the first day. Especially for older chickens who cannot lay every day, keeping her alone for several days will also let you know how often she is likely laying. Another thing to keep in mind is that moving her to isolation may be stressful, and thus change her egg laying habits for the first couple of days - another reason why you should test her for several days alone to see whether she is productive.

The other meaning:
If you see a chook in a pen, how can you tell if she is going to lay an egg?
A chicken about to lay an egg will generally find a nest - either man made or scratch into the ground, or a sheltered spot outside. She will nestle down into her nest for a while, then stand up, squat as though defecating, and then lay her egg. It may take patience to catch a chicken in the act of laying, especially if they are not tame.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

If they free-range out side of a run,they might run to a favorite spot,or if in a run,same thing,favorite spot.Some chickens might be noisy alot.And others might be quiet.Then you have to hunt the eggs!

Answer 5

We candle (shine a bright light into the shell) and look for changes inside the egg. If we see blood lines and dark spots we know the egg is fertilized. After 20 days we know it is going to hatch because the egg will move and a hole will appear in the shell where the baby bird is trying to get out.

Answer 6

Usually a very small hole appears in the egg shell about a quarter inch below the small pointed end of the egg. You also may notice some movement of the egg with careful watching. At either of these signs you know hatch is close (within 12 hours)

Answer 7

Sometime late into the fourth or early into the fifth month the pullets will begin to practice egg laying. They will investigate the laying boxes and often settle into one with no resulting egg. The first eggs are often very small and sometime misformed. They are not always found in the nesting boxes and can be dropped anywhere the chicken might be at the time. Pullets who previously had not laid an egg will often make the familiar cackling noises announcing the first egg.

Answer 8

Hold them up to a light bulb or sun. If there is a baby chick in it, it will be dark. You can tell how far along the eggs are by doing this. A baby chick will fill the egg.

Answer 9

Your chicken will usually be in the nest sitting for a while.

Answer 10

it sits down, hungers down