Hen's eggs usually hatch between 19 and 21 days after laying. It will usually take a day or two for all the eggs in a clutch (or in an incubator) to hatch. Newly hatched chicks need warmth and humidity. They emerge fully fed because they ingest the yolk into their stomachs through their navels on hatching. But they are very vulnerable to chilling. If you are using an incubator leave newly hatched chicks in there for about 24 hours to dry out and become fluffy. Once they have fluffed up you can move them to a comfortable, quiet and warm place to develop. At this point they will need access to water and feed and should be kept with a heat lamp to maintain a steady warm temperature. If eggs are hatched by the hen itself then consider removing the chicks at hatching to help boost survival rates. Newly hatched chicks are very susceptible to disease and attack from other hens.
