Breeding

[KerrieFloyd]

When is the best time of the year to let my hen and rooster make chicks (aka stop collecting eggs daily and leave them to develop)? I have only ever purchased chicks in the early spring, never raised them from eggs. Our climate is North Florida (panhandle). Thanks for any input.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There is never a guarantee that hens will decide to sit on eggs no matter how many are in the nest. Until they do relentlessly, the embryos won't develop.
I guess you don't have an incubator?
What breeds do you have? Some are annoyingly broody but most will never go broody.
The eggs need to be kept about 99.5F for 21 days plus and turned several times a day or there will be no chicks forthcoming.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. It will all depend upon if/when your hens go broody. What breeds do you have ?