Pokemon Breeders
Any boy or girl over the age of 15 may apply for their breeders license. Classes must be attended and tests passed before the license is given -- it takes more work to become a breeder than it does to become a trainer.
By law, the average trainer may not breed their pokemon; breeders are around for a reason: Pokemon are not just "dumb animals", it takes special care and skills to successfully conceive and raise young. If a trainer wished to break Pokemon League rules and try it (which, if caught, would bar that trainer from any contests or ever trying to join the League), their odds of success would be pretty slim (though it does upon occasion work).
Anyone wanting to apply for a breeder must obtain permission from the staff first.
The Breeding Process
Because there are so many different types, everything listed here is a rough estimate. If you wish to breed pokemon, we'll be working with you on a case-by-case basis and give you more exact figures for the type you wish to work with at that time.
In general, here's how it will work:
Find two of the same type pokemon (same evolution level as well) of two different sexes (duh). If you're a breeder, contact a wizard. If you're a trainer, ICly find a breeder, then the breeder should OOCly fill out the breeding app ('news breeding app'). In either case, you will be contacted as to the breeding being successful or not, and given an estimated time of arrival for the seeds/chicks/pups/babies/whatevers. At a later date you'll be told the number of offspring as well.
Roughly, here's how the time will work:
Gestation: In general, pregnancies will run about two months. For plant types this could be much shorter (a few weeks), and for some types (Snorlaxes, Lapras) this could be much longer.
Weaning: Baby pokemon may not be taken away from the mother right after birth, and in general the mother will not be interested in fighting (other than protecting her young). As with gestation, this could be only a couple of weeks for plant types, to two-three months for animal-types.
Young pokemon: After weaning, they can be taken from their mother's side for short periods of time, but still cannot be used for fighting. It is at this age that they will be learning things from their parents such as how to hunt, forage, and how to do the basic battle attacks (such as Tackle and Sand Attack). They are not 'tradeable' until they have reached the next stage.
Adolescence: When they hit this stage, they are separable from their parents. They can breed at this age, but the chances of a successful breeding are not high (and it can be dangerous to breed them this young). Most of the pokemon that trainers are given are adolescets.
Adulthood: The time when pokemon may evolve, and the time where the chances of a successful breeding are best. Also the stage where the pokemon is the best fighter.
Elderly: In general, the color of an older pokemon fades, and he or she becomes less interested in fighting -- and he or she loses more often due to old age.
When things go wrong.
Even going to a breeder is no guarantee of success. Miscarriages are at least as common among pokemon as they are within the animal kingdom. Allowing a pregnant pokemon to fight is a big no-no among breeders, though in the wild pokemon mothers-to-be often have no choice. Stillborns of either one baby or the whole group can happen. Sometimes fathers will eat or kill the litter, and (though rarer) sometimes the mother will eat her own young. (Infanticide is something most breeders can prevent, though occasionally it does still happen.)
On an OOC note, a wizard will update you as to what happens with the young.
Notes that didn't fit elsewhere:
Breeding Application
Name of Female:
Approximate age of female (stage of life or number of years):
Trainer (if owned):
Time owned:
Personality details:
Health:
Has she been pregnant before?
If yes, details (number of children, health, etc.):
Name of Male:
Approximate age of male (stage of life or number of years):
Trainer (if owned):
Time owned:
Personality details:
Health:
Has he sired a litter before?
If yes, details (number of children, health, etc.):
Age of female's owner:
Age of male's owner:
How long has the female's owner trained pokemon?
How long has the male's owner trained pokemon?
What are the tentative plans for the children?