The First Eggs

All being well the hen should start to lay about eight to ten days after she has been in the nest box. Her droppings will become very loose and watery and she will then lay her first egg. Some young hens are not quite sure what is happening and the odd time they will lay the egg on the cage floor. If this happens, place the egg in the box. The hen will most likely throw it out but it gets her attention in the box and the next egg will probably be laid inside. Once the eggs are laid, you can mark them if you choose, it takes 18 days for the first to hatch. (See Breeding Chart for hatching eggs)

After about six or seven days if you shine a light beside the egg you can usually tell if it is fertile. You will be able to see the red veins running through the egg as the chick starts to form. When an egg is fertile it usually look pearly white appearance, but sometimes this is not the case as some hens can be quite dirty in the nest box, resulting in dull dirty eggs.  If the eggs are fertile they should start to hatch after eighteen days, BUT if they do not started to hatch, DONT not be to quick to discard them. Sometimes a hen will not start to sit her eggs properly for the first few days or until she has two or three eggs and this can result in the eggs hatching late. If the weather is cold, sometimes this can also make them a day or two late.

These eggs are almost ready to hatch. Note the colour, which is pearly white. These eggs look healthy and the chicks seem to be developing well.