Australorps breed Thread

[DesertChic]

Our broody mama went broody again... We're hoping our pullets will start laying bigger eggs to put under her!

Can you hatch a little pullet egg (if it's fertile, of course)???

MrsB

Absolutely, but those little pullet eggs 1) may be less likely to hatch, and 2) often results in "runts"....At least that's what I've read. I've hatched a few pullet eggs in my incubator and most of them have hatched, but all of the chickens have remained much smaller than their counterparts from 2+ ounce eggs.

 

[orumpoultry]

Absolutely, but those little pullet eggs 1) may be less likely to hatch, and 2) often results in "runts"....At least that's what I've read. I've hatched a few pullet eggs in my incubator and most of them have hatched, but all of the chickens have remained much smaller than their counterparts from 2+ ounce eggs.

I won't go into why, because I'm not comfortable with the subject to be precise with it, but yes. Young hens are more fertile. Pullet eggs are more fertile, but, they're also harder. That being said, the smaller puller eggs will also produce smaller birds who lay smaller eggs. It falls into genetics. Horses have their best foals in their younger years, but produce the strongest and largest as they age. Best way I can explain it.

It all boils down to genetics. A smaller hen produces smaller hens who lay smaller eggs. I.E. Pullet sized eggs.

 

[appps]

I couldn't be more happy for your success!   But just keep in mind...not all broody hens are created equally.  Some birds of every breed can be extremely difficult, regardless and some BREEDS in particular can be especially tenacious...like a few of our Dark Cornish and especially the Buckeye over Dark Cornish gals. They can be real bears.

Works on our silkie and that's one determined breed lol. You just have to be more patient, she has taken a week.

 

[itspebbl]

Do Australorps often go broody? We have a black Australorp who went broody a few weeks ago. She is very sweet and lays light brown eggs

 

[ronott1]

Do Australorps often go broody? We have a black Australorp who went broody a few weeks ago. She is very sweet and lays light brown eggs

It seems to be hit and miss. Hatchery australorps are less likely to go broody. Breeder australorps do more often. I had two of them go broody this year.

 

[DesertChic]

I won't go into why, because I'm not comfortable with the subject to be precise with it, but yes. Young hens are more fertile. Pullet eggs are more fertile, but, they're also harder. That being said, the smaller puller eggs will also produce smaller birds who lay smaller eggs. It falls into genetics. Horses have their best foals in their younger years, but produce the strongest and largest as they age. Best way I can explain it.

It all boils down to genetics. A smaller hen produces smaller hens who lay smaller eggs. I.E. Pullet sized eggs.

To be technical on the subject, a hen is at least one year old vs a pullet which is up to one year old. Pullets are still developing and often have "issues" with their eggs that hens do not. For example, a couple of my pullets still occasionally lay double or even triple yokers, or eggs without a fully formed shell. Unless there is an actual developmental issued with the bird (genetic defect), these tendencies dissipate considerably once the pullet has aged sufficiently to be considered a hen. This can most certainly contribute to less fertility in pullets, and this is why I weigh all of the eggs I collect and consistently check the fertility of the eggs I crack for consumption.

And yes, young hens....meaning 1-2 years of age...are often deemed "more fertile", though I know of several poultry keepers who swear by their more mature 3-5 year old hens for reliable fertility. I suspect that part of the reason people believe that younger must = more fertile is because the volume of eggs laid typically diminishes as the bird grows older. The perception is that there is less fertility when in fact there are simply fewer fertile eggs to be harvested. But...I might be too presumptuous on that fact.

A non-genetic advantage of hens over pullets is that they are more readily receptive to advances from the cockerels or roosters. My pullets still run screaming when the boys try to mate with them, whereas my more mature girls know to hunker down and let nature take its course. I guess you could say that psychology has its place in the equation too...not just genetics.

So yes, genetics are important, and it's a subject I've studied enthusiastically ad nauseum, but there are other less scientific, behavioral factors to consider too. And sometimes those smaller chickens that have hatched out of pullet eggs do in fact catch up in size to their non-pullet-egg-hatched siblings. My largest Bielefelder cockerel came from a pullet egg. He was the runt of the litter by far but has displayed exceptional growth, weighing almost a full half pound more than the next largest cockerel. Not that's some fine nature & nurture at work, in my opinion.

Oh...and sorry for running on and on about this. I'm a total nerd.

 

[orumpoultry]

To be technical on the subject, a hen is at least one year old vs a pullet which is up to one year old. Pullets are still developing and often have "issues" with their eggs that hens do not. For example, a couple of my pullets still occasionally lay double or even triple yokers, or eggs without a fully formed shell. Unless there is an actual developmental issued with the bird (genetic defect), these tendencies dissipate considerably once the pullet has aged sufficiently to be considered a hen. This can most certainly contribute to less fertility in pullets, and this is why I weigh all of the eggs I collect and consistently check the fertility of the eggs I crack for consumption. 

And yes, young hens....meaning 1-2 years of age...are often deemed "more fertile", though I know of several poultry keepers who swear by their more mature 3-5 year old hens for reliable fertility. I suspect that part of the reason people believe that younger must = more fertile is because the volume of eggs laid typically diminishes as the bird grows older. The perception is that there is less fertility when in fact there are simply fewer fertile eggs to be harvested. But...I might be too presumptuous on that fact. 

A non-genetic advantage of hens over pullets is that they are more readily receptive to advances from the cockerels or roosters. My pullets still run screaming when the boys try to mate with them, whereas my more mature girls know to hunker down and let nature take its course. I guess you could say that psychology has its place in the equation too...not just genetics. 

So yes, genetics are important, and it's a subject I've studied enthusiastically ad nauseum, but there are other less scientific, behavioral factors to consider too. And sometimes those smaller chickens that have hatched out of pullet eggs do in fact catch up in size to their non-pullet-egg-hatched siblings. My largest Bielefelder cockerel came from a pullet egg. He was the runt of the litter by far but has displayed exceptional growth, weighing almost a full half pound more than the next largest cockerel. Not that's some fine nature & nurture at work, in my opinion.   

Oh...and sorry for running on and on about this. I'm a total nerd.   

Exactly. Thank you for putting a larger edge on that for Mrs. B ( and anyone else in question ). My best hatches come from a variety of factors, even feed fed. Best fertility over all is from older birds. I agree that it has "part" to do with age and "part" with the fact that hens are more apt to be bred. I have pullets that you would think are being murdered when the boys go after them.

 

[DesertChic]

Exactly. Thank you for putting a larger edge on that for Mrs. B ( and anyone else in question ). My best hatches come from a variety of factors, even feed fed. Best fertility over all is from older birds. I agree that it has "part" to do with age and "part" with the fact that hens are more apt to be bred. I have pullets that you would think are being murdered when the boys go after them.

LOL! Me too!!!!

One of my pullets screams so loud that my dogs start running around the house and barking even though the doors and windows are closed, the A/C on, and the TV blaring.

 

[DevilsDenHen]

One of my 12 week old pullets.

 

[ronott1]

One of my 12 week old pullets.

What a sweet looking pullet!