Cackle article claims NH and RIR autosexing?

[WallyG74]

Thats the plan with these. It would be nice to breed the trait back in.

I’ll keep up with this thread and report back when I have new info. That could take some time. I haven’t decide if I’m going to buy another batch of eggs or just wait for mine next year.

 

[WallyG74]

I would also add that of all the cockerels, the ones I marked were the first to grow nice big, red combs.

 

[SheaLoner]

Update pictures. The chicks are 8 days old in these pics.
The boys
one of the girls

 

[NagemTX]

This is interesting, watching!

 

[SheaLoner]

18 days old. The biggest roo chick is the first to investigate and the friendliest.



And the girls

 

[SheaLoner]

Update. I'm fairly certain all the ones marked as boys are infact boys. But I have 2 marked pullets that are probably male. Will need to wait further and see, I think I remember some of the hens showing comb early but not certain.
I moved the obvious marked pullets into the tractor with my 7 week replacement layers. Going to try to keep their weight down and active.

4 weeks will post more pics later.
This "girl" is staying with the meaties.

 

[SheaLoner]

4 week old Cx and Freedom Ranger NHs
7 week old layer cockerels

 

[SheaLoner]

Was going to do an update today on how the chicks were growing, which ones were being kept etc. Raccoon decided to derail that. Lost my 2 of the 3 prospective roosters, 2 of the 5 female chicks. 1 was already out of the running, appears to be a rooster. And so on. This is the 2nd batch of NH breed stock the raccoons have gotten. They just are big dumb meat birds. Tasty slow snacks.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Like other autosexing and semi-autosexing traits THESE HAVE TO BE BRED AND SELECTED FOR. Even legbars lose their reliability in autosexing if you don't cull ambiguous marked chicks and most lines of these other breeds haven't been selected for this trait in many, many generations.

Barred Rocks and Light Brown Leghorns are slightly more likely to still retain autosexing traits, but crossing lines and breeding from birds that were poorly marked chicks can ruin this in a single generation.

 

[WallyG74]

Like other autosexing and semi-autosexing traits THESE HAVE TO BE BRED AND SELECTED FOR. Even legbars lose their reliability in autosexing if you don't cull ambiguous marked chicks and most lines of these other breeds haven't been selected for this trait in many, many generations.

Barred Rocks and Light Brown Leghorns are slightly more likely to still retain autosexing traits, but crossing lines and breeding from birds that were poorly marked chicks can ruin this in a single generation.

You are absolutely right. When I saw this, I had already been told it was possible to have autosexing RIRs. I started selecting only the best of the best cockerels and pullets to breed and carry these traits. Now it’s a waiting game.