An egg lay is the process of a hen laying an egg. HENS, which are birds of the family Galliformes, lay eggs in nests. Nests are structures made by the hen to hold the egg until it hatches. The NEST is usually made from twigs, grass, and other materials found in the environment. The hen will lay one egg at a time and then cover it with more material to keep it warm. After several days, the egg will hatch and the chick will emerge.