How Do I Breed Chickens?

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

So, I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile, but I want to start selectively breeding my chickens. I just don’t know how to do it. I have a few projects I want to try, such as Frizzle X Silkie, Frizzle X Speckled Sussex X Easter Egger, Silkie X Gold Laced Wyandotte etc. I just don’t know how to do it, or how it works. Articles online aren’t all that helpful, so I’ve turned to BYC for advice. Help please?

 

[JuliB]

What specifically do you need to know? Are you looking for advice on genetics, or how to set up pens, or how to incubate eggs, or one of the multiple other things you would want to know?

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

I just kind of need to know how to... I don’t know, like how often do hens go broody, how often they will hatch out eggs etc.

 

[starri33]

if I've understood what I've read correctly, you would take say the frizzle and separate them with the silkie so that you know that this is the only roo they've come in contact with. If the hen has been exposed to other roo's you will need to get her away from them for a while till she's not longer at risk for hatching for another roo, then for your triple X, I'd have to guess you'd do the same type of thing.

 

[starri33]

I just kind of need to know how to... I don’t know, like how often do hens go broody, how often they will hatch out eggs etc.

Hen's do not always go broody, you can't count them on the calendar.. lol.. if you want a "set date" buy yourself a incubator.

 

[hysop]

If you have a lot of hens of a certain breed, I would pick and choose which ones you like best and place them with the rooster of your choice. Wait at the least 2 weeks to make sure their eggs are only fertilized by the rooster they’re penned up with. Then collect the eggs and incubate them because to use a broody hen will be random. I’m not sure if you can help a chicken go broody or not. I think there are tips but it’s not a guarantee.

 

[starri33]

Silkies are the only ones I've heard of that are most likely to go broody, but they won't do it on your demand..

@hysop , I thought it was longer than 2 weeks, if not then I can start hatching out of my main flock..lol, trying to breed out a mean gene.. all son's on down from a roo sitting in my freezer, till I know there's no male heirs.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Basics are to pick the 1 rooster and as many hens as you wish that express the trait you want. Keep the hens separated from all roosters for at least 2wks because a hen may remain fertile from one mating for up to that long so you need to get any previous non-desired rooster sperm out.

Allow the birds you want to be together and mate. This may take a few days or a wk or 2. Its crucial to be very observant when eggs are laid and gather them asap and label them as to which hen they belong. When you have enough eggs (preferably 2 min from each hen in case of fatalities) , hatch them out. And repeat until the trait you want is expressed or the trait you dont want has been dropped.

 

[BDutch]

If you have breeds (like silkies) that easily get broody, you can put a few (Fake) eggs (say 4-5) in a nest box that is okay to hatch in. Best time is march - june. Chances are good, one of you're hens gets broody within a week, when she sees the eggs are not taken away.

Best read more about natural breeding / offspring. Because it has pro’s and cons. In a coop with other chickens you need enough space or you need a separate coop. Its great to see a broody doing her thing but its not something you can control as much as hatching in a incubator.

 

[hysop]

@hysop , I thought it was longer than 2 weeks, if not then I can start hatching out of my main flock..lol, trying to breed out a mean gene.. all son's on down from a roo sitting in my freezer, till I know there's no male heirs.

I personally wait a month, but I’ve heard it be said at the least to wait 2 weeks. If you have time and patience to wait a month I’d wait it to ensure it’s fertilized by the right rooster.

A mean gene from a rooster or a hen? I have a mean rooster but I’m thinking it’s more due to not handling him while he was a chick and not so much because he’s inherently mean