Do hens know when eggs are about to hatch?

[lissalischicks]

So I am nervous wreck. First time letting a hen sit and hatch eggs. I know either Thursday or Friday the eggs are due to hatch. (I put 6 eggs under her on May 3 at 7pm) I have a hen cam and I am dutifully watching knowing there is a chance none will hatch my main question is.... do they know when the chicks are going to hatch? Do they act differently or have any inkling something may happen? Is there anything I can watch for?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

"Hens don't know doodle squat about nothing."

However a hen does have an incredible amount of instinct and acts on this instinct in every situation she encounters. I highly suspect that if 12 - 20 pipping chicks calling to each other doesn't tip off the setting hen that something is afoot in her nest, then the eggs wobbling around like a Romper Room full of Weebles certainly will cue a hen in that her eggs are a hatching.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...=8f8cabfeed4229de00662947d3bb3e23&action=view

 

[lissalischicks]

Lol. Love it!

I was just wondering because I noticed she was drawing some of the hay around her more tight

Was also wondering if she would leave the nest during this time for her "walk"