breeding my banty hen and rooster

[MommaLyd]

Call me ignorant..but I sure could use some help. I have had a banty hen for quite a few years and just recently found her a bo. I want to breed them but can't find much on what to do. I find all kinds of articles about once you put the eggs into an incubator, but how does it happen the natural way? Once my hen lays an egg...then what? she will lay a few before going broody. Do I just leave the eggs lay in the nest while she goes about her daily pecking out in the yard? What about when she comes back to the nest at night? Should she sit on them then or should I remove them until she goes broody? Do I have to "keep" them somehow until she she's ready to sit on them? I want to carry on her line as she is getting older (she about 8-9 years old) and am afraid I'm running out of time. I know they do this naturally, but I am at a loss as to how it works and how the eggs stay viable until she is broody and ready to hatch them.

 

[Krazy]

Leave her alone chickens naturaly lay about 10 eggs before sitting on them. She will come out some times to go eat and drink. Also, I bet she knows what she is doing.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Wow I've never known a chicken to live that long! Im not sure if after that many years that she will even be fertile. Dont worry about the other eggs though, a chick can live in an egg until about 54 degrees, so they should be ok until she starts sitting on them

 

[MommaLyd]

Thank you all for the quick reply. I kinda figured she'd know what to do but just making sure. I am amazed she has lived this long myself...but then again she is quite pampered! This should give hope to anyone who has a very special chicken that they just might be with you for awhile! She is such a sweetheart and I know we are running out of time for her...i just gotta carry on her line. Now, I will tell you that she stays in a cage in the house at night and goes out to her pen outside during the day. She lays in her cage in the house (comes in about every afternoon for a "siesta") and then goes back outside until bed time when she comes back into her cage/nest. Does anybody see a problem with this and her eggs? I'll keep you all posted. Again, I'm sorry for sounding so ignorant, but I just want to make sure!

 

[MommaLyd]

Just to brag....Sadie set on 3 eggs and she hatched out a little black fuzzball 3 days ago! Momma and baby are doing great! See, even an old banty hen of 8 years still can do it! Now my next question...can I put momma and baby back in with daddy or do I have to keep them separate until baby is grown?

Thanks!

 

[jimnjay]

What a cutie, Congrats. You would be best to wait a week or so and the watch carefully. The roo will want to mate and he can get rough and baby sticks to mama like glue at first. My roosters don't bother the babies but if is always possible. I have very docile breeds.