does anyone breed chickens 'naturally'?

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SillyChicky

SillyChicky

In the Brooder
9 Years
Sep 7, 2010
82
3
43
Probably a stupid question but if anyone lets chickens hatch their own eggs, how is it exactly done? How would you know which eggs are fertilized?
 
You can encourage hens to go broody by leaving a clutch of eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes, but ultimately it's up to the hen to decide when she wants to sit. Some breeds are better for brooding than others. Once the hen is in a safe place, she'll do the vast majority of the work, including detecting the eggs that fail to develop (though they are not 100% successful. You can candle them to be safe.) It really is as simple as isolating her and keeping her supplied with fresh food and water, and they make wonderful mothers! I always try to get new chicks a momma hen to "raise them right."
 
Gofygure said:
You can encourage hens to go broody by leaving a clutch of eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes, but ultimately it's up to the hen to decide when she wants to sit. Some breeds are better for brooding than others. Once the hen is in a safe place, she'll do the vast majority of the work, including detecting the eggs that fail to develop (though they are not 100% successful. You can candle them to be safe.) It really is as simple as isolating her and keeping her supplied with fresh food and water, and they make wonderful mothers! I always try to get new chicks a momma hen to "raise them right."
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Super fascinating thanks :)... Another dumb question, so if one of the chicks in my Columbian Wyandotte group is a rooster can I breed them or would that be in breeding? I got them from the same breeder. I'd like to research more about breeding and take a stab at trying it naturally once they are sexually mature.
 

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