There are plenty of ways in which players can make their lives easier in Valheim's challenging world. From building up defenses to establishing portals, the game can made more manageable. One of the best ways to do this is through the taming of animals. The new Mistlands update to Valheim has brought a new and interesting option to the world: the Hen.
Unfortunately, this Hen is a bit of a challenge to track down in the vast game world of Valheim and actually impossible unless Yagluth has been defeated. For those players looking to track down Hens, this guide is here to help.
How to Get a Hen in Valheim?
Hens cannot be found around the game world, rather players have to track down Valheim's traveling merchant, Haldor to find them. This seller (which appears only in Black Forest biomes) now offers an Egg for 1,500 gold coins after players have defeated Yagluth, the fifth boss in the game. Players can drop this Egg near a heat source, and it will eventually hatch into a chicken after about two in-game days. Chickens then need approximately the same amount of time in order to grow into a Hen.
Gold coins can be found all over Valheim including as drops from Trolls and Fulings and within chests and in dungeons. They can be acquired by selling items such as Rubies, Amber, and Amber Pearls at Haldor's shop as well. Haldor will continue to offer Eggs after the first purchase for the same price and players can acquire as many as they like so long as they have progressed far enough in the game.
What to Use a Hen for in Valheim?
Hens are primarily used for their meat, giving players a renewable source of food. Similar to other tameable creatures in Valheim, Hens can reproduce, be given names, and fed. Fortunately, Hens are automatically tamed as they grow which differentiates them from Valheim's Wolf, Lox, and Boar. One of the items that Hen's consume is Barley, a plant that grows exclusively in the Plains biome. Feeding them is the key towards keeping them happy and activating their reproduction.
In order to make the best use of Hens, players should purchase a pair of eggs from Haldor then hatch and grow them. It is important to then keep this pair of Hens in a protected and enclosed area with a heating source. As long as they are fed, these Hens should eventually lay eggs and increase their population over time. With enough Hens, players can harvest them with Valheim's Butcher Knife and use the Chicken Meat to create new recipes.
Valheim is available now for PC. It will be released in early 2023 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.