Some animals lay eggs, but the method and location they perform this varies from animal to animal. Most animals immediately spawn a baby animal at the feet of the parents, usually of the same species as their parents, with the exception of mules, which cannot breed with each other and must be bred via the union of a horse and donkey. The two animals walk into each other for about two and a half seconds, and then drop 1–7 and end love mode to produce their offspring, the method of which depends on the animal. When both animals are fed, they pathfind toward each other, up to eight blocks away. Animals that are in love mode emit heart particles constantly. When an animal is fed its food, it enters 'love mode', preparing to breed with another animal of the same species that is also in love mode. One item per parent is needed to breed a single baby.
Most animals are uninterested in food lying on the ground, and those that are do not breed from eating this food animals breed only when fed by a player. Once an animal notices a player holding its food, it follows the player until either the player is out of range, the player stops holding the item, it begins the breeding process, or it is attacked. Most animals that can be bred have a food item used to lead and breed it (there are a few special cases, described below).
