Natural Hen Incubation: What to Expect When Hatching Eggs the Natural Way

If you have a broody hen and a rooster in your flock, you may be able to hatch your own chicks naturally—no incubator required. This process, known as natural hen incubation, allows a mother hen to do all the hard work herself, just as nature intended. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering letting a hen hatch eggs on her own.

What Is Natural Hen Incubation?

Natural hen incubation refers to the process where a broody hen sits on her fertilized eggs to keep them warm until they hatch. During this time, the hen regulates temperature and humidity, turns the eggs, and protects them—mimicking the ideal conditions needed for successful hatching. It’s an instinctive behavior that some breeds exhibit more strongly than others.

Choosing the Right Hen

Not all hens go broody, and not all broody hens make good mothers. If you want to try natural incubation, look for a hen that is:

• Consistently broody (refuses to leave the nest)

• Protective of her eggs

• Calm and focused while sitting

• In good health and body condition

Popular broody breeds include Silkies, Orpingtons, Cochins, and Brahmas. Once she commits to sitting, you can let her keep her own eggs or slip fertile ones into her nest.

Fertilized Eggs: What You Need to Know

For eggs to hatch, you need a rooster to fertilize them. Fertile eggs look the same as unfertilized ones, so it’s best to gather eggs within a week of laying and store them at room temperature, pointy end down. Then, when your hen is broody, give her no more than 8–12 eggs, depending on her size, to incubate.

The Incubation Timeline

A typical incubation period is 21 days. During this time, the hen will rarely leave the nest, only getting up briefly to eat, drink, and relieve herself. She will:

• Keep the eggs at a constant temperature (about 100°F)

• Turn the eggs frequently with her beak

• Keep the humidity levels ideal by fluffing her feathers and occasionally wetting her breast

As the hatch day nears, you may hear peeping from the eggs as chicks begin to break through their shells.

Hatching and Aftercare

Once the chicks start hatching, they may take up to 24 hours to fully emerge from their shells. It’s important to let the hen handle this stage without interference. She will naturally keep the chicks warm by tucking them under her body. As the chicks dry off and become more active, the hen will begin teaching them how to eat and drink. She instinctively guides them to food and water, demonstrating by pecking and calling to them. Throughout this process, the hen remains alert and protective, ready to defend her young from any perceived threats.

To support her efforts, make sure the broody hen and her chicks are in a safe, quiet area away from the rest of the flock. Provide chick starter feed and fresh water in shallow dishes to prevent drowning. With just a little support, your hen will take excellent care of her chicks in the days and weeks following the hatch.

Pros and Cons of Natural Hen Incubation

Final Thoughts

Natural hen incubation is a rewarding experience for both the hen and the chicken keeper. Watching a broody hen raise her own chicks can be incredibly satisfying and educational. With the right setup and a dependable hen, you can successfully hatch eggs the natural way – just like nature intended.