Are straight runs really straight runs?

[cleoppa]

Or do they pull out some of the girls first? Are baby chicks generally 50:50 male:female?

 

[teach1rusl]

I would say statistically that there's a 50/50 chance of male/female. So we can only assume that hatch rates follow that.
As to whether hatcheries are fair/honest about what makes up their straight run pool...I guess you would have to know someone who works in a hatchery to find out. I've read of folks ending up with 75% male. But I've also read of people ending up with 75% pullet. I'd guess that most hatcheries do it honestly most of the time...lol.

 

[snoggle]

I have 7 straight run chicks - looking like 2 cockerels and 5 pullets. But, I got them from a breeder who pulled them out of the brooder right in front of me. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that some of the bigger hatcheries pawn a few extra males off on any of the straight run orders.