Black To White Experiment

[NanaK]

It gets really hot here and I've never found the comb size on my birds to exceed the "normal" comb size of any breed

For the Marans: were they from the same line of Marans?

If they all came from the same hatchery in the same year, then were raised in different parts of the country, that would be stronger evidence that environment has an effect.

But if they were from different breeding lines, it could just show that breeders in different parts of the country have selected in different directions-- maybe even inadvertently, by breeding from the brids that thrive in their climate.

Definitely different lines. Some in different parts of the world. All are kept by long time Marans breeders so I don't think any came from hatcheries.

Was just an observation of a limited amount of birds and breeders. Not a scientific study by any means. That would need controlled groups grown out at particular times of year.

Was just curious about Jacin and Mystery's birds since they are in colder climates and seems most of the country has had at least some excessive heat.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Have you both had excessly hot summer?

There has been some discussion in another thread about the possibility of chickens raised during excessive heat causing larger combs. It's been noticed that Marans raised further North seem to have smaller combs than ones raised further south. (Of members of that thread)

Nothing scientific but an interesting observation none the less.

I'm honestly not sure. I do know the winter that they were pullets was absolutely brutally cold though. Summers before and after that winter though, I can't remember

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Was just curious about Jacin and Mystery's birds since they are in colder climates and seems most of the country has had at least some excessive heat

I think this last summer that just happened was actually a cooler one for jume and July. We get super hot though in the summers normally though (like 85-100 isn't really uncommon.)

 

[MysteryChicken]

Have you both had excessly hot summer?

There has been some discussion in another thread about the possibility of chickens raised during excessive heat causing larger combs. It's been noticed that Marans raised further North seem to have smaller combs than ones raised further south. (Of members of that thread)

Nothing scientific but an interesting observation none the less.

I've raised birds in excessive heat many times, but never once had chickens with such large combs.

Only odd thing I observed was I got equal sexes this year with my hatches, usually I get mostly females, hardly ever mostly males.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Here's the hatch sex ratio:

1st: Malays - 3 Females

2nd: Malays - 4 Males, 2 Females

3rd: Chameleons - 3 Males, 3 Females

4th: Cackle Hatchery's Saipans: 2 Males, 4 Females. (Hatched at the Hatchery)

5th: Malays: 1 Male.

6th: Chicks hatched for a friend: 1 Male, & 1 Female.

7th hatched for a friend: 2 Males, & 1 Female.

8th (Technically 1st) Hoover's Silkies: 4 Females, 1 Male.

9th: Chameleon: Sassy Pants chick: 1 Female.

10th(Technically 1st)Hoover's Brahmas: 2 Males, 2 Females.

11th: Failed Friend hatch(They wanted females): 2 Males

12th: Hatch: 1 Female


Females total: 22.

Males total: 18.

 

[MysteryChicken]

The ladies only out number the boys by 4, this year. So, I believe there's also an environmental factor that helps with gender confirmation of a developing embryo.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I can do an experiment on this next year.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Here's the hatch sex ratio:

1st: Malays - 3 Females

2nd: Malays - 4 Males, 2 Females

3rd: Chameleons - 3 Males, 3 Females

4th: Cackle Hatchery's Saipans: 2 Males, 4 Females. (Hatched at the Hatchery)

5th: Malays: 1 Male.

6th: Chicks hatched for a friend: 1 Male, & 1 Female.

7th hatched for a friend: 2 Males, & 1 Female.

8th (Technically 1st) Hoover's Silkies: 4 Females, 1 Male.

9th: Chameleon: Sassy Pants chick: 1 Female.

10th(Technically 1st)Hoover's Brahmas: 2 Males, 2 Females.

11th: Failed Friend hatch(They wanted females): 2 Males

12th: Hatch: 1 Female


Females total: 22.

Males total: 18.

Thats not a horrible rate for males is it?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thats not a horrible rate for males is it?

Not really.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I did forget to include a Chameleon I hatched for a friend, so that brings the boys upto 19, making the girls out number them by 3.