Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The other method of mating is in pairs or trios. One or two hens grouped with one rooster will
help control the quality of the chickens you hatch. This is especially important for breeders
who will be showing their birds. You can do this by putting the birds in pens or cages togeth-
er. Their natural instincts will take over.
Some roosters will court their hens first. If a rooster has many hens to choose from, the court-
ing appears to be less frequent. To court, the rooster may circle the hen, and she will bend
over in front of him. He will then jump on the hen's back, holding on to her with his beak and
claws. They will mate for several seconds, and the process will be over.
Some roosters are more aggressive than others when mating. Often a chicken will have feath-
ers missing and scratches on her back from a rooster. Although most chickens are compliant
when a rooster is ready to mate, some hens run away. The rooster may accept this but also
may chase the chicken and forcibly mate with her. The mating ritual is initiated by chemical
changes in the birds, and this usually makes the birds compatible for reproducing.
Using only two or three birds allows you to keep excellent records. You will want to do this
so you know which birds produced a particular offspring. Write down the dates, the traits, and
the birds that you used to create your breed. You may want to change the traits or reproduce
them, and your memory may not always be accurate.
Nesting boxes
Nesting boxes, where broody hens sit on their eggs, are an essential part of the mating and
breeding process. You can make them out of wood or plastic, or you can purchase premade
ones. You should have one box for every two to four hens you own. Some breeds will not
want to share their nesting box, such as a Cornish chicken, while breeds such as Silkies would
prefer to all climb into one nesting box and hatch their eggs together. If you are unsure of
whether your birds will like sharing their nest, plan to get more boxes.
Nesting boxes typically are placed in the coop and can be on one level or stacked on top of
each other. If you stack them, make sure they are not higher than the roosts in your coop.
Otherwise, the birds will want to sleep in them, and you may run out of room for your broody
chickens. The nests should be about 12 inches wide by 12 inches long by 12 inches deep. You
can customize boxes to fit your needs, but that size should work fine for your flock.
Wood shavings or straw make a comfortable bed. Sawdust is popular because it is inexpens-
ive, and it absorbs any droppings, but it can cause the birds to develop breathing problems.
