California - Northern

[curious chickee]

I have a broody, my young hatchery austalorp about 8 months old. Collecting some eggs from my EE to give her a chance.

 

[Lynn Manes]

I have a question regarding chickens in winter. Normally winters are very mild here in Bakersfield, CA, but it's been really cold here this winter(for us,that is).Here's my question. Is it necessary to have a heated coop. Temps range in a night between 40°F to mid to high 20's throughout the course of the night. And my chickens except my roo who has always slept on the floor of the interior coop and one hen who sleeps inside in a nest box, our 6 other hens sleep on exterior coop roosts. Is it unhealthy for them or do chickens fair well in these temps? This is the first winter we've had the birds. None are baby chicks. Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[ronott1]

I have a question regarding chickens in winter. Normally winters are very mild here in Bakersfield, CA, but it's been really cold here this winter(for us,that is).Here's my question. Is it necessary to have a heated coop. Temps range in a night between 40°F to mid to high 20's throughout the course of the night. And my chickens except my roo who has always slept on the floor of the interior coop and one hen who sleeps inside in a nest box, our 6 other hens sleep on exterior coop roosts. Is it unhealthy for them or do chickens fair well in these temps? This is the first winter we've had the birds. None are baby chicks. Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you.

No, you do not need to heat the coop at those temps. You likely do not need heated water fountains either. The water should break up for them in the late morning.

Big combed roosters might get some black tips but but not too bad.

It has to get a lot colder than what you are seeing for chickens to need heat.

 

[EZFarms]

Anyone ever hear the old wives tale about "sexing" eggs?
The tale is that the pointier the eggs the more likely a male the rounder the more likely a female. I'm wanting to test this theory

 

[attimus]

I've heard that before and not so sure. I had a hen who only laid pointy eggs and the two chicks I managed to hatch were both hens. Certainly not enough data for a scientific study but still.
Keeps me sceptical.
Would love to hear about some factual hands on data in the subject tho. Keep us posted.
Attimus

 

[ronott1]

Anyone ever hear the old wives tale about "sexing" eggs?
The tale is that the pointier the eggs the more likely a male the rounder the more likely a female. I'm wanting to test this theory

There is a person that tried it on BYC. For it to work, you would need to see close to 100% results. Using the egg method, she got a 60% female and 40% male result.

It did not work.

I've heard that before and not so sure. I had a hen who only laid pointy eggs and the two chicks I managed to hatch were both hens. Certainly not enough data for a scientific study but still.
Keeps me sceptical.
Would love to hear about some factual hands on data in the subject tho. Keep us posted.
Attimus

Since the egg is fertilized a day before the shell is formed, and the shell is formed based on the shape of the egg shell gland, There is no way that this will work.

The egg is either male or female when the ovum is formed--those are formed when the female chick is developing in the egg before it hatches. A hen will either lay a male or female egg--and it is based on chance--The same as flipping a coin.

The egg shape has nothing to do with the gender of an ovum and like you said, hens usually lay the same shape egg every time. That is called observation and is the first part of the scientific method.

 

[EZFarms]

My serama hen has been hiding eggs so i found them a few days ago and put them in the incubator amd three are very pointy and the other is round

 

[attimus]

There is a person that tried it on BYC. For it to work, you would need to see close to 100% results. Using the egg method, she got a 60% female and 40% male result.

It did not work.

Since the egg is fertilized a day before the shell is formed, and the shell is formed based on the shape of the egg shell gland, There is no way that this will work.

The egg is either male or female when the ovum is formed--those are  formed when the female chick is developing in the egg before it hatches. A hen will either lay a male or female egg--and it is based on chance--The same as flipping a coin.

The egg shape has nothing to do with the gender of an ovum and like you said, hens usually lay the same shape egg every time. That is called observation and is the first part of the scientific method.

I was merely relating a similar chicken instance, wives tales are wives tales for a reason but who hasn't said bloody Mary into a mirror at least once. Thanks for the informational and indeed no one should assume that an egg is going to a specific sex based on shape but if someone finds making graphs and charts on the subject regardless of the outcome fun then to each his and or her own right.
Attimus

 

[EZFarms]

I'm just trying it purely for curiosity sake

 

[ronott1]

I was merely relating a similar chicken instance, wives tales are wives tales for a reason but who hasn't said bloody Mary into a mirror at least once. Thanks for the informational and indeed no one should assume that an egg is going to a specific sex based on shape but if someone finds making graphs and charts on the subject regardless of the outcome fun then to each his and or her own right.
Attimus

I was adding to your post--Of course experiment!

Make sure to follow the steps of a good scientific experiment.

I'm just trying it purely for curiosity sake

Yes! Let us know what hatches.