diff --git a/code/controllers/configuration/sections/general_configuration.dm b/code/controllers/configuration/sections/general_configuration.dm
index 00fad2808c3..ab1173a62c3 100644
--- a/code/controllers/configuration/sections/general_configuration.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/configuration/sections/general_configuration.dm
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@
 	var/enable_night_shifts = TRUE
 	/// Cap for monkey cube monkey spawns
 	var/monkey_cube_cap = 32
+	/// Cap for chickens
+	var/chicken_hatched_cap = 50
 	/// Enable to make explosions react to obstacles instead of ignoring them
 	var/reactionary_explosions = TRUE
 	/// Bomb cap (Devastation) Other values will be calculated around this
diff --git a/code/modules/food_and_drinks/food/foods/meat.dm b/code/modules/food_and_drinks/food/foods/meat.dm
index 3659e98195d..6a9c58ff15a 100644
--- a/code/modules/food_and_drinks/food/foods/meat.dm
+++ b/code/modules/food_and_drinks/food/foods/meat.dm
@@ -513,6 +513,7 @@
 	list_reagents = list("protein" = 1, "egg" = 5)
 	tastes = list("egg" = 1)
 	var/amount_grown = 0
+	var/fertile = FALSE
 
 /obj/item/food/egg/throw_impact(atom/hit_atom)
 	..()
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/farm_animals/chicken.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/farm_animals/chicken.dm
index 005bfd5f5f8..3a5017e5ad6 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/farm_animals/chicken.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/farm_animals/chicken.dm
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 	/// Basic mobs need a language otherwise their speech is garbled
 	add_language("Galactic Common")
 	set_default_language(GLOB.all_languages["Galactic Common"])
+	GLOB.chicken_count++
 
 /mob/living/basic/chick/scatter_atom(x_offset, y_offset)
 	pixel_x = rand(-6, 6) + x_offset
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@
 	if(.)
 		amount_grown += rand(1,2)
 		if(amount_grown >= 100)
+			GLOB.chicken_count--
 			var/mob/living/basic/chicken/C = new /mob/living/basic/chicken(loc)
 			if(name != initial(name))
 				C.name = name
@@ -67,7 +69,6 @@
 		get_scooped(M, TRUE)
 	..()
 
-#define MAX_CHICKENS 50
 GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(chicken_count, 0)
 
 /mob/living/basic/chicken
@@ -176,14 +177,15 @@ GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(chicken_count, 0)
 	if((. && prob(3) && eggsleft > 0) && egg_type)
 		visible_message("[src] [pick(layMessage)]")
 		eggsleft--
-		var/obj/item/E = new egg_type(get_turf(src))
+		var/obj/item/food/egg/E = new egg_type(get_turf(src))
 		E.scatter_atom()
 		if(eggsFertile)
-			if(GLOB.chicken_count < MAX_CHICKENS && prob(25))
+			if((GLOB.chicken_count <= GLOB.configuration.general.chicken_hatched_cap) && prob(25))
+				E.fertile = TRUE
 				START_PROCESSING(SSobj, E)
 
 /obj/item/food/egg/process()
-	if(isturf(loc))
+	if(isturf(loc) && fertile && GLOB.chicken_count <= GLOB.configuration.general.chicken_hatched_cap)
 		amount_grown += rand(1,2)
 		if(amount_grown >= 100)
 			visible_message("[src] hatches with a quiet cracking sound.")
@@ -254,4 +256,3 @@ GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(chicken_count, 0)
 	emote_hear = list("cheeps.")
 	emote_see = list("pecks at the ground", "flaps its tiny wings")
 
-#undef MAX_CHICKENS
diff --git a/config/example/config.toml b/config/example/config.toml
index 011acb78f38..43a484e58e9 100644
--- a/config/example/config.toml
+++ b/config/example/config.toml
@@ -366,6 +366,8 @@ randomise_shift_time = true
 enable_night_shifts = true
 # Cap for monkeys spawned from monkey cubes
 monkey_cube_cap = 32
+# Cap for chickens
+chicken_hatched_cap = 50
 # Make explosions react to obstacles (walls+doors) instead of ignoring them
 reactionary_explosions = true
 # Bomb cap for explosions (Outer devastation. Other values calculate from this)