My chickens are 12 weeks old and i would like them to have chicks

[tsc11]

when will they start breeding i have one rooster and 4 hens and how many chicks will they have

 

[draye]

They don't have chicks. The hen will lay eggs, then if she becomes broody she will sit on the eggs for 21 days and the chicks will hatch from the eggs. At 12 weeks don't think it will be anytime soon either.

 

[Judy]

Some breeds are much more likely to go broody than others; Henderson's chicken chart will give you an idea. Eggs start around 20-25 weeks but a hen is not likely to go broody for a while after that, and the first eggs are a little small for incubating, anyway. I have a couple of mutts that went broody around 8 or 9 months.

If you want to be fairly certain of getting a broody, Old English Games, Kraienkoppes, Silkies, and some other game breeds such as Asil are the most likely. Other more common breeds such as Cochins, Buff Orpingtons and Black Australorps are fairly likely to go broody. Occasionally you will get a broody in most any breed, though.