Hens exhibit a unique behavior of staying with their eggs to provide warmth. They even pluck feathers from their chest to create direct skin contact, enhancing the heating process. It is also essential for the eggs to be rotated periodically to maintain optimal temperature distribution. However, there is one bird species, the Cuckoo, that deviates from this pattern. The Cuckoo practices a parasitic nesting strategy by laying its eggs in the nests of other birds. The unsuspecting host hen incubates the Cuckoo’s egg, and often, the Cuckoo’s larger chick displaces the host’s own offspring from the nest.

It’s important to note that proper warmth is crucial for bird eggs to successfully hatch. Without adequate incubation, the eggs will not undergo the necessary development to hatch.