How do you know when a hen is going into heat?

Your Hen usually stays in her nest, not greeting you as normal.

If you look in on her you may notice she will 'fluff' up her feathers & 'cluck' constantly, keeping her breast down and her tail up. She will only come out if encouraged to do so, for food & water. She will soon run at top speed back to her nest after a few minutes.

This will last 18-21 days, (the incubation period of an egg to hatch out.)