You can see from the photograph on the right, that the males also have a very long crest, much like a peacock. The male also has a bare patch of turquoise blue skin around the eye. The hens, while much duller than the male, are still attractive. They are basically mottled brown overall, with black, buff and white streaks. Her throat is white and she has a short crest.
Hens also have the blue patch around the eyes.
Breeding Monal Hen with Chick Photo by John Corder Hens begin to lay their clutch of 4 to 6 eggs in late April. Younger hens are known not to lay as many eggs, but as the hens mature, several clutches can be expected. Incubation lasts 28 days and the chicks are large and easy to care for. Provide plenty of space for the chicks in the brooder. They do seem susceptible to disease when under one year, and some breeders keep them on wire and others prefer to keep them in well-drained aviaries.