new at this. help

[nuwbi2011]

I am new to this. My hen has 5 eggs. But from the 1st egg she spent most of her time in the nest. So does she sit on the eggs the whole time from day 1 or is she just sitting next to them till all is laid and then start sitting on them. When must I start looking if there are chicks in the nest. Lol. She is 5 years and this will be her 1st time breeding.

[rod038]

Generally they start setting on the eggs after the 2nd or 3rd egg and they start hatching at around 30 days from the first egg being laid.

[nuwbi2011]

Thank you for your reply. If that is the case do all the eggs hatch on the same day.

[rod038]

If they are all fertile then it will probably be 2 the first day then the rest over the next few days.