This term is used in reference to the protective “boom” that surrounds the egg that nature has conveniently provided.  You do not want to wash your eggs before you put them in the incubator and remove this invisible protective covering.

This is in reference to the incubator.  The last three days of the 21 days it takes to hatch a chicken egg is lock down time.  The eggs will no longer be turned and it is best to not open the incubator.  NOTE:  I do open the incubator to put more eggs in (using a two incubator system) and also if the humidity makes it necessary for me to add water.  I just do it quickly.

A hen that is wanting to hatch out eggs.   She would be referred to as a broody hen.  Or you may hear “my hen has gone broody.”

Young male chickens.

These are young female chickens.