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Not really a garden question:

A chicken laid 5 eggs in my garage - she was sitting on them yesterday. (Feral chickens àre everywhere), how long until they hatch and move out?


101 posted on 04/03/2025 5:34:30 PM PDT by dakine
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To: dakine

Ah, yes. Hawaii. Land of the feral chicken! I think a chicken is on their flag, isn’t it? LOL!

It takes about 21 days to hatch eggs from laying. Then she’ll need to care for them until they are feathered out and able to make it on their own for another 20-30 days.

If you can get to the nest when she’s out foraging, I’d eat them right now! Free food! There will be a blood spot or a tiny embryo in each egg, if they were fertilized - you can just pick that out. She may not have been bred (though that’s HIGHLY unlikely with feral critters) and might just be ‘broody’ which means she’ll sit on ANYTHING right now and try to hatch it.

If you want to watch the whole process, provide her with water and some grain/cracked corn and then chick starter for the chicks. She’ll do the rest. ;)


102 posted on 04/03/2025 6:02:56 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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