Why do hens turn their laid eggs with their beaks during incubation? What is the essence of that action?

Question

Why do hens turn their laid eggs with their beaks during incubation? What is the essence of that action?

Answer 1

same reason we turn bedridden people, it improves circulation, skin care, comfort, even heating.

Answer 2

It is so the eggs are heated evenly on all sides. They will turn their eggs several times a day. If you hatch eggs in an incubator they must also be turn each day, at least two or three times. The even heat keeps the chick from sticking to the shell also as another answerer stated.

Answer 3

The developing chick can settle against the inside of the egg and adhere to it. This could cause problems when the chick hatches. Reptiles, birds and mammals lay amniotic eggs. The amnion is a special membrane allowing eggs to be laid on dry land. In birds, the amnion is composed of the eggshell. In humans it is the birth sack. Humans don't stick to their birthsack because they are weightless inside their mother. When her waters break, the baby human has basically hatched from it's egg. Reptiles do stick to their eggshell, but it is soft and can't harm them when they hatch. Reptile eggs can't be turned, because the baby reptile could be damaged if it tears away from the inside of the egg.

Answer 4

Birds are extremely sensitive, they know slightest variation in egg temperature under them. Too hot on one side is dangerous to the fetus inside, she knows 'this is the time to turn eggs and she uses beak in absence of hands to turn them!

If you have noticed, some times birds also deep their undersides in water. This is to have some humidity around eggs to prevent shells from cracking by too much drying, and also to regulate temperature.

The simple example, you cook food, don't steer it, it burns. To prevent food from burning you turn it with spoon.

Food is on fire; still uncooked and water is drying fast, you add water.

Answer 5

WITHOUT THAT ACTION THE BABY CHICKS WOULD GROW TO THE INSIDE OF THE EGG SHELL.AND THE EGG WOULD GET TOO WARM ON ONE SIDE AND TOO COOL ON THE OTHER. JUST IMAGINE THE HEN FOUND THAT OUT BY ACCIDENT.

Answer 6

All poultry turn the eggs so the developing chicken does not settle against the shell, if it does it may stick. This disrupts the development of the embryo and is mostly fatal. It is necessary to rotate eggs in an artifical incubator at least twice a day for the same reason.