Teaser Animals

For calmer chickens, bathe eggs in light

Incubating eggs in hours of light means chicks less skittish

chicken eggs incubating

GROUP LIFE Shining light on incubating eggs could make adult broiler chickens less fearful, a new study suggests.

A.S. Zain/ shutterstock

By Aylin Woodward

- More than 2 years ago

Fearful, flighty chickens raised for eating can hurt themselves while trying to avoid human handlers. But there may be a simple way to hatch calmer chicks: Shine light on the eggs for at least 12 hours a day.