Cockerel only able to hatch female chickens?

[jack_h]

Hi, I've been keeping chickens for a few years now. I have 1 cockerel and 10 hens, 8 of which were born under the cockerel. I have never got a cockerel and the only common factor is the current cockerel I have

Is this because he's genetically incapable? I've also heard that chicks can change gender, is it possible that they all did this in order to avoid fighting with the cockerel I have at the moment?

Probably an impossible theory but everyone who keeps silkies I've talked to says mine is the biggest they've ever seen and he's incredibly violent as well.

 

[CrspyChkn]

Wow, this is interesting. I have heard of chickens changing genders, but also that only the females can do it. I have also read that the females "choose" the gender of the offspring.
Maybe they dont want to deal with another cockeral lol.
I wonder if it is just luck or what...
(Well, not very lucky if you want cockerals but still)

 

[Sussex19]

Welcome to BYC!
I've always heard that its the hens that decide if one gets cockerels or pullets, rather then the rooster. Another possibility that I've heard of, is the temperature that they are stored at before you incubate them.
I don't think them changing gender is very possible
How many chicks have you hatched?.

 

[jack_h]

Welcome to BYC!
I've always heard that its the hens that decide if one gets cockerels or pullets, rather then the rooster. Another possibility that I've heard of, is the temperature that they are stored at before you incubate them.
I don't think them changing gender is very possible
How many chicks have you hatched?.

8 full grown from that cockerel, with another two at the age where they should start displaying cockerel-like symptoms but nothing as if yet. Seems like the window is passing. I'm actually very happy about that, one cockerel is enough .


Edit: Also, I've never stored or incubated any eggs myself apart from the original batch of eggs I bought and incubated to start the flock. They hatch them and look after them all by themselves even in the harshest months of winter, with a great success rate I must say.

 

[jack_h]

Wow, this is interesting. I have heard of chickens changing genders, but also that only the females can do it. I have also read that the females "choose" the gender of the offspring.
Maybe they dont want to deal with another cockeral lol.
I wonder if it is just luck or what...
(Well, not very lucky if you want cockerals but still)

Aha I don't want cockerels so its great for me. If you saw the size and violent tendancies of the one I have at the moment you would probably see him capable of keeping a hundred hens in line no problem

 

[3KillerBs]

In chickens it's the female who determines the sex of the chicks. So, unless you were hoping for a male, random chance has favored you.

Chickens cannot change sex. A hen with a reproductive problem can respond to her hormonal issues by exhibiting some male characteristics but that's not a sex change at all -- just like me growing a beard because I have PCOS.

 

[NatJ]

I have never got a cockerel and the only common factor is the current cockerel I have

Is this because he's genetically incapable?

In chickens and other birds, the mother determines the gender of the offspring.
So no, your cockerel is not the one doing it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZW_sex-determination_system

 

[Sussex19]

8 full grown, with another two at the age where they should start displaying cockerel-like symptoms but nothing as if yet. Seems like the window is passing. I'm actually very happy about that, one cockerel is enough .

Its possible that its just chance, in one of my hatches I got 7 cockerels and no pullets, so it does happen. I dunno?
If you want to confirm if last two are pullets, you can always make a thread in this forum https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/what-breed-or-gender-is-this.15/

 

[jack_h]

Its possible that its just chance, in one of my hatches I got 7 cockerels and no pullets, so it does happen. I dunno?
If you want to confirm if last two are pullets, you can always make a thread in this forum https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/what-breed-or-gender-is-this.15/

Its been only hens in multiple batches over the last 3 years since I got the flock, it would surprise me if it was a case of luck, but if I start getting only cockerels i'll let you know!

On a human note, my entire "biologically incapable" theory was spawned from hearing that King Henry VIII couldn't biologically have male children, but reading more about it that condition is very rare so I doubt it is the cause, plus its a different species entirely.

 

[Sussex19]

Its been only hens in multiple batches over the last 3 years since I got the flock, it would surprise me if it was a case of luck, but if I start getting only cockerels i'll let you know!

Oh, sorry it sounded like it was just 8 that were definitely hens. I agree that that does sound unlikely.
edited
At least it is to many pullets rather then to many cockerels!