Why?

[HEChicken]

Quote:
Then how do/did they survive in the wild? Just a very low reproduction rate? Or is it captive birds that rarely go broody?

Broodiness has been bred OUT of the modern production layers because commercial egg farmers don't want a bunch of broody chickens sitting around and not laying - cuts into the profits

 

[centrarchid]

Incubator technology has been around for at least 2,000 years. Egyptions and Romans, possibly others, used it. Do an internet search to find historical accounts. Those folks were the first true hatchery managers.



Cultures without such technology, many later, must have employed broody hens of other breeds.