My First chicks from Hen!!!!

[mrstrouty]

I just got my first batch of chickens a couple weeks ago and i caught the chicken fever BAD! I want them to breed freely with minimal work on my part.. how does that work? you just leave the eggs in the coop and let the rooster do his job? then the hen should do hers right? how many times a year will a hen brood? the wont try in the blistering cold of northern MI right?

Honestly everything here happened by accident and without a lot of planning and hoopla. I didn't collect the eggs for a few days, 21 days later....here are the babies...lol I'm honestly trying not to over think everything and let nature take over. I figure chickens have been breeding and surviving without our help for thousands of years so why not just trust in them.

 

[Chambertin]

Worked for me too.
We're not exactly diligent about the eggs every day. When we're hungry or its been a couple days we collect them.
Once there was a girl who wouldnt budge for the others. When she didnt go back to the coop we knew it was baby time.
Took her, eggs, box and all inside and now we have this:

One proud mama and a bunch of happy chicks.

Hens go broody when their bodies tell them to, thats the only downfall to nature. Have to wait for it.
Other than that its quite a hands free process. Fun and easy.

 

[Mahonri]

There is no Chicken TV better than a broodie mama and her chicks!

 

[Chambertin]

Any updates?
My little flock just keeps getting bigger. They're all looking great and dont see any issues at all, the cross has exceeded my expectatoins in every way. Espicially cuteness.