20; twenty; XX. Hypernyms (XX is a kind of...): large integer (an integer equal to or greater than ten)
Brood (verb). the young birds hatched at one time; a hatch; as, a brood of chickens. Brood (verb). the young from the same dam, whether produced at the same time or not; young children of the same mother, especially if nearly of the same age; offspring; progeny; as, a woman with a brood of children. Brood (verb).
A hen that is committed to hatching chicks is known as a broody. The state of being broody is controlled by instinct, hormones and lighting conditions. Left to her own devices, a broody will lay a clutch of eggs, then stop egg-laying and sit on them for 21 days (more or less) until they hatch. Freida, my White Silkie.