How to Breed Chickens

Chicken breeding is something every farmer and hobby egg collector probably needs to know. It isn't as easy as you might think though - just because your hen lays an egg, don't think that your job is over. It has only just begun...

Get a rooster. Get one with a good temperament and of the same breed as your other chickens.
Leave the rooster with the hens for a few days. But it is very important to keep an eye on the rooster and to move him out at bedtime each night. Roosters get very aggressive and can start attacking hens when they've had enough of their company. Separate him permanently after a few days and let him have the run of the backyard or field.
Feed your clucky hens well. Assuming at least some of them are fertilized, stop collecting the eggs and let them sit on their eggs in their nests.
Keep the temperature of the hen shed constant and warm. Prevent any drafts from entering the building.
Provide good food, clean water at least twice a day for your hens.
Take any eggs that are neglected by hens and incubate them. You will need an incubator. Simply follow the directions for your incubator. Alternately, pop the unwanted egg(s) under another broody hen but watch out, she will probably peck at you out of her own sense of self-defense. And don't be surprised if she rejects it - at least you tried.
Wait 21 days or so. Keep a chart if you are curious enough or if it is something that you need to know for breeding purposes.
Watch your chicks hatch. Feed them chick starter food, plenty of water. Don't neglect the hens - keep up their hen food as well. Keep all the new babies safe from predators and other chickens; the mother will be fine but it is possible that others will peck at them. However, if you provide plenty of space and outdoor roaming areas, this will be much less of a problem.
Enjoy the experience!
Talk to people who have done this; it's more work than you may think!
Keep contact with incubating eggs to a minimum.
There are many pros and cons using a hen to incubate eggs rather than an incubator. Hens control humidity, turning etc. so it takes up less of your time, but there are many other factors that can kill the growing chick, such as the hen giving up on her eggs. It does happen and if you decide to intervene, do it quickly and incubate or find a foster sitting hen.
If you have rare eggs. hatch them yourself rather than using a hen. There will be a greater likelihood of success.
Warnings:

If the eggs do not hatch, please be sure to properly dispose of them - rotten eggs can really create a nasty stench!
Handle a broody hen with care - she's often cranky and doesn't want to be messed with.
Make sure you always clean your incubator thoroughly after and before hatching another clutch of eggs to avoid passing on germs.
Fence off outdoor roaming areas with chicken wire to keep predators away. You can make really long and large runs doing this. And also make hens and chicks return to the roost with a shut door every night before sundown.

For educational purposes only.

Thanks to Wikihow.com for this information

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