Eggs 

When a hen is born, it is already pre-determined how many eggs she will lay.

It depends on a number of factors whether this will happen or not though; health and feeding, but it is also important to take very good care of their "home" by keeping it a clean and healthy environment. 

The number of hour's daylight is also involved, therefore in spring the hens will lay more eggs than during the winter months. You can create more light hours in the winter and then the hen will lay eggs very well that way.

From 5 months on a hen will lay eggs.
(it should be noted though, that Bantams lay smaller eggs). 

The number of eggs each week is dependent upon the breed. The average fowl is a good "layer" 1-5 years but each year less and less. 

There's no difference in taste between a fertilized or a non-fertilized egg. Both can be eaten without any danger. But don't eat eggs which have been hatched (where a hen has been sitting on them for a while).

It's wise to pick up the eggs every day or else the chickens will start to pick the eggs and when they've tasted it, it's hard to get an egg for yourself.

If you have this problem, try blowing out an egg and carefully filled it with mustard. Then put the egg back. After that the the chickens shouldn't want to pick eggs anymore.

Color of the eggs 

Oddly enough, the color of the eggs appears to be related to the color of the Chicken's ears. Hence, a Chicken with a white ears will produce white eggs and one with red ears, brown one's. 

Egg color varies goes from white to a dark-brown. One exception to that is the Araucana (South-America). This chicken lays white, blue, green,  and pinkish brown eggs!

The color of the egg is dependent on the breed, the color of the chicken doesn't matter. 

Problems with eggs 

Egg shell too soft:  Caused by a lack of necessary calcium. Give the chicken some pebbles and crushed shells. 
Another reason for this may be a sudden shock of some sort.

Wind-eggs:  This this occurs when young hens start laying eggs.
Another cause can also be a lack of calcium.  Give them some store-bought calcium (specifically made for this purpose).   You can also add it to their diet and try some crushed shells as well.

Double-yolk:  This problem is usually observed in hens that are in there second laying season.  Nothing is wrong with these eggs, in fact some folks really enjoy them!.

Eggs that are blood strewn:  The blood that is seen is coming from the ovary and will be absorbed into the white of egg. This can be hereditary.  There is nothing wrong with these eggs.

Eggs used for hatching 

An egg can still be hatched up to the tenth day after it has been layed, so you can save them for a while . Keep them in a fairly cold (10 till 15 degrees Celsius) and dry place and rotate them daily.

Do not clean your eggs with water.  When you do this, you may remove a coating which is bacterial preventive. If you wish to clean the eggs, you can take the dirt off very carefully with a small knife.

Always mark the eggs with a lead-pencil, never a ballpoint or felt marking pen because the chemicals can go right through the egg-shell.
If it is necessary to move the eggs,  wrap each one carefully.  After moving them,  the eggs need some rest for 24 hours with no warmth.

Artificial hatch 

If you want to hatch the eggs artificially you need an incubator or else it won't work.

Read the manual carefully and follow the directions. 

Natural hatch 

Let your hen hatch some eggs, that's the easy way, just sprinkle the eggs with some water now and then and there's nothing more to do.

Place the hen in a separate compartment so she won't be disturbed and will stay brooding all the time. 

The nests need some special attention: first you need a piece of lawn, turn it upside-down, cover it with some hay and make a little hole for the eggs.

Let the hen rest, feed her with mixed grain and also she needs some fresh water. Don't feed them with the normal food, now she won't lay any "new" eggs and also she has less stools which prevents the nest and the eggs from getting dirty.

Once a while the hen will leave the nest to feed and relieve herself, that won't harm the eggs and it's certainly necessary for the hen.

The amount of eggs a hen can hatch depends on the size of the chicken. A big hen can easily hatch 12 eggs and a bantam 7-9 eggs.

Hatching will take approximately 21 day's (artificial and natural).

From day 18 you can sprinkle the eggs with some lukewarm water once a day, it will help the little chicks coming out of the eggs.

After day 22 don't expect any chickens from the eggs, just throw them away (don't eat them anymore !). 

Little chickens 

Little chickens need warmth in their first weeks which they can find beneath the hen. You can also use a heating lamp (use a red one).

With the height of the lamp you can regulate the temperature. The first week you need a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, every week down with 2 degrees till you reach 25 degrees Celsius and the little chicken have enough feathers. Then gradual remove the heating in one week.

The first 48 hours they don't require food or water. After those hours the little chicks need special breed-food, and water in a shallow tray. When they are 16 weeks you can give them the normal food.

After 6 weeks the chickens don't need the hen anymore, but you must keep them away from the other chickens.
Moulting-time (end of the summer) is the best time to mix the chickens.