OK, new to chickens. I'm used to breeding horses, this is totally different!
Anyway, I'm wondering if you can encourage a hen to get broody at a particular time - and how long she needs to be with the rooster. For instance, suppose in the late spring or early summer, I had a hen with a "barrowed" rooster for however long they "need" (the rooster won't be staying at our place for any longer than necessary to get the job done), and then I wanted her to incubate her own eggs.
Question A - how long would said barrowed rooster and the hen need to "shack up" for there to be a reasonable chance of a fertile batch of eggs?
And Question B - assuming we get a fertile batch of eggs, how does one encourage the hen to get broody and thus incubate those eggs herself (this is a wyandotte hen - my understanding is they tend to like to brood)?
Thanks for any insight.
Question A - how long would said barrowed rooster and the hen need to "shack up" for there to be a reasonable chance of a fertile batch of eggs?
And Question B - assuming we get a fertile batch of eggs, how does one encourage the hen to get broody and thus incubate those eggs herself (this is a wyandotte hen - my understanding is they tend to like to brood)?
Thanks for any insight.