An experiment to hatch hens working?

[thebritt]

I had a broody RIR banty/silkie cross that had been setting for a couple days, soooo - knowing that the difference between potential hens and roos is about 1 1/2 degrees during incubation, I put a piece of polar fleece under the brooding hen. Guess what? 3 out of 3 turned out to be hens! They're about 4 mos. old now, and definately hens!

! I tried it again, but unfortunately, the hen had been setting for about 15 days before we found her - in the RAFTERS of the pole barn. I moved her to a brooding hutch and put polar fleece under her, but I think it was too late in the process to make any difference. The kids are still too young to tell what kind of ratio we'll end up with.
Anyone else ever try something like that? If you do, I'd love to hear the results. Pretty sure the fleece has to be used ASAP after hatching.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Wow this is pretty cool!
Now is it the girls or boys that need the higher temps?
And you put the fleece over the eggs?

 

[thebritt]

The girls! I put the fleece under the nest with straw on top. The mom sits on top of the eggs, straw, and fleece under everything.

 

[Crusty McPottydoodle]

So, would this work with an incubator - setting the temp 1.5 degrees higher (ie 101 degrees)?

Cheryl

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! Your hatch was just the luck of the draw.

...knowing that the difference between potential hens and roos is about 1 1/2 degrees during incubation

As far as I know, that does not apply to chickens.

Lisa​

 

[thebritt]

Quote:
As far as I know, that does not apply to chickens.

Lisa

I read in the "Chicken Health Book" that temperature during incubation is the defining factor in whether or not you get hens or roosters. Also in "Barnyard in Your Backyard". That's why I tried the fleece. So that the eggs on the outside of the clutch would be warmer (with the fleece) than they would be otherwise. Wouldn't it be cool if that's all we had to do? I think this may work better when the eggs are incubated under a hen, as I think it may be harder to control temp and humidity w/ a machine. Hens are the ultimately perfect brooders (imo).

 

[enola]

Why do you think it would be harder to maintain a slightly higher temperature with an incubator ? After all, the thermostat is what controls the temperature.

I can set my incubator at whatever temperature I want and it stayes there.

And what would the polar fleece have to do with after hatching....

 

[thebritt]

Quote:
First - I just think that anytime humans try to exactly replicate nature, it's difficult to control all parameters simultaneously (temp, humidity, turning cycles, etc)
Second - The fleece was used during incubation of the eggs. Once the eggs hatched, I left it in there so the chicks would stay warm. This experiment was conducted during the early spring when it's still pretty chilly around here.

I'll do more research...I just read on WikiAnswers that it's the roos that require warmer temps - that sustained temps over 101.5 supports roos, and that temps around 103 would be detrimental to developing hens. Unfortunately, I have neither book with me, so I can't look up that info at the moment.

 

[muddstopper]

I'll do more research...I just read on WikiAnswers that it's the roos that require warmer temps - that sustained temps over 101.5 supports roos, and that temps around 103 would be detrimental to developing hens. Unfortunately, I have neither book with me, so I can't look up that info at the moment.

Your reply suggests that cooler temps would produce more hens, if so how would the polar fleece be of any benefit. My last incubator hatch, temps where set at 99.5, measured at the eggs. 13 out or 14 hatched, 7 roos and 6 hens. Sounds like VooDoo science to me, not saying it is, but not betting on it either. Need more info.​

 

[Sissy]

This certainly is interesting. out of 27
in my bator 13 were roos. this was in March.
with temps of 99.5 -101