Did I really hatch 7 out of 9 cockerals?

[CHlCKEN]

“Cockerel”
I’m so sorry about this. I hope next time around you have better luck

 

[Kruchti]

Try putting in rounder eggs for hens. Saw this on the Internet

 

[NatJ]

what are the odds of hatching 7 out of 9 males.

About 9 in 128
(So if you hatch 9 chicks at a time, 128 times, I'd expect to see this happen 9 times.)

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Good thing they're a dual purpose breed. Now I just need to keep from getting attached to them, so I can make dinner. It's funny, I hunt, fish and process all my own meat. If a hen raises them, I don't have a problem. When I hand raise them, it makes it harder for me to put them on the table.

I forgot to mention how happy I was to see you already using proper terms like cockerel.

Consider building a stag pen.

Harvesting my own birds has been a transitional process, and they're NOTHING like market chicken.. you already have a good foundation understanding of rigor passing etc, so that should help a lot.. seeing TOO many cockerels mature at the same time around older pullets without another mature rooster to keep them in check and watching chase down the weakest pullet and take turns holding her down and mating.. made it easier for my then 16 year old daughter to be determined to follow through with what we knew all along was coming eventually. We even name them and labeled with their names in the freezer knowing they lived great EVERY day and had one bad moments that was over before they could process what was going on. They're surprisingly calm, not particularly feeling fear in their last moment.. and live MUCH better lives than ANY wild game or fish if I've seen thus far.. so no remorse.. Though I have grieved SOME, and that's okay. It never gets "easy".. but I'm especially thankful to have the skill and confidence needed if and when one of my hens faces an injury or suffering that requires euthanasia. My one very first and thought favorite "rare" breed lap cockerel turned into a nightmare once hormones sat in. He pulled ladies off my lap, crowed at me, followed me around and pretended to do busy work, and attacked every time my back was turned.. AFTER his brothers had been harvest. I took that abuse from about 6 months until a year old before I had finally had enough of that boy I had been "attached" to. Ditto was his name.. the meaner the roo the sweeter the stew is what I once heard.. and that ain't no lie! It took me a long time to appreciate roosters again.. alas I've had some MINOR tests through out more than 100 cockerels since that.. but I LEARNED a LOT about communication on my part and relations with chickens.

And it has begged the question WHERE do I draw the line?!

My head FBCM rooster was a highly valued flock member, when had I found him recently deceased (in the past).. I harvested him since it wasn't my first time and couldn't justify other uses like composting, trashing, feeding to the barn cat, maggot bucket, etc.. I've moved to many times to think I'll be here forever and wanna bury them, so that just not me. I didn't feel bad about eating him.. but his loss definitely hurt. I'm not sure I would do the same for a hen, though I'm NOT above harvesting hens if deemed appropriate despite not preferred..

FWIW, I harvest all kinds of birds including bantam Silkies, white faced black Spanish, etc. I'm getting ready to harvest a Cemani this coming week. I raise what I like and enjoy and the harvesting is just the work part. But lots of folks harvest quail.. So depending on ones skill, and time spent.. the perception of value can change.. Look to harvest around 18, 20, 24, 26 ish weeks.. depending on what you're looking for. I harvest according to attitude demanding it more than size.. and I grow out the ones that look the most promising for future use.. growth speed, conformation, demeanor, etc.. Keep a good back up head rooster to run the stag pen..

Sorry, I have a tendency to ramble!

You've got time to start talking about it, letting it sink in, start calling them.. sandwich, dinner, supper, nugget, kung pow, general Tso, Kentucky fried, etc and strengthen the mind!

One or two usually find a good home here each year. Some feed stores will take them even offering store credit. You might sell them on CL farm and garden section.. or give them away NOW to prevent further investment.. You CAN do it though, whatever works for YOU!

Try putting in rounder eggs for hens. Saw this on the Internet

There's lots of thread on here about that subject.. fairly certain it's been debunked time and again.. please don't believe everything you see on the internet.

But HEY, keep records and report your findings!

 

[Kessel23]

These are from my first hatch. They are 5 week old Buff Orpingtons, from my backyard flock. #1 & #2 are obviously pullets, but is there any chance the others are? One is already doing the funny attempt at crowing. The pictures made the combs look a little redder, but they are all really pink. I know Buff Orpingtons are tough to sex early, but what are the odds of hatching 7 out of 9 males. If so, oh well. At least I'll get to use my new incubator again really soon.

The last time i ordered from a hatchery I got 25 egg laying breeds and had them sexed, 24 hens and a rooster. Over half were roosters... Haven't ordered from them since.

 

[NatJ]

Try putting in rounder eggs for hens. Saw this on the Internet

That idea has been around for at least 2000 years.
(Columella, Roman author, thought to have lived about 4 BC to 70 AD. He said long pointy eggs hatch males, round ones hatch females.)

And people keep recommending it, but it clearly does not work very well.

Hatcheries would not have thousands and millions of male layer-breed chicks to dispose of, if they could tell gender by the shape of the egg!

 

[Ryguy3684]

About 9 in 128
(So if you hatch 9 chicks at a time, 128 times, I'd expect to see this happen 9 times.)

I was being more rhetorical with the statement, but I appreciate you doing the math on this one.

 

[Ryguy3684]

I forgot to mention how happy I was to see you already using proper terms like cockerel.

Consider building a stag pen.

Harvesting my own birds has been a transitional process, and they're NOTHING like market chicken.. you already have a good foundation understanding of rigor passing etc, so that should help a lot.. seeing TOO many cockerels mature at the same time around older pullets without another mature rooster to keep them in check and watching chase down the weakest pullet and take turns holding her down and mating.. made it easier for my then 16 year old daughter to be determined to follow through with what we knew all along was coming eventually. We even name them and labeled with their names in the freezer knowing they lived great EVERY day and had one bad moments that was over before they could process what was going on. They're surprisingly calm, not particularly feeling fear in their last moment.. and live MUCH better lives than ANY wild game or fish if I've seen thus far.. so no remorse.. Though I have grieved SOME, and that's okay. It never gets "easy".. but I'm especially thankful to have the skill and confidence needed if and when one of my hens faces an injury or suffering that requires euthanasia. My one very first and thought favorite "rare" breed lap cockerel turned into a nightmare once hormones sat in. He pulled ladies off my lap, crowed at me, followed me around and pretended to do busy work, and attacked every time my back was turned.. AFTER his brothers had been harvest. I took that abuse from about 6 months until a year old before I had finally had enough of that boy I had been "attached" to. Ditto was his name.. the meaner the roo the sweeter the stew is what I once heard.. and that ain't no lie! It took me a long time to appreciate roosters again.. alas I've had some MINOR tests through out more than 100 cockerels since that.. but I LEARNED a LOT about communication on my part and relations with chickens.

And it has begged the question WHERE do I draw the line?!

My head FBCM rooster was a highly valued flock member, when had I found him recently deceased (in the past).. I harvested him since it wasn't my first time and couldn't justify other uses like composting, trashing, feeding to the barn cat, maggot bucket, etc.. I've moved to many times to think I'll be here forever and wanna bury them, so that just not me. I didn't feel bad about eating him.. but his loss definitely hurt. I'm not sure I would do the same for a hen, though I'm NOT above harvesting hens if deemed appropriate despite not preferred..

FWIW, I harvest all kinds of birds including bantam Silkies, white faced black Spanish, etc. I'm getting ready to harvest a Cemani this coming week. I raise what I like and enjoy and the harvesting is just the work part. But lots of folks harvest quail.. So depending on ones skill, and time spent.. the perception of value can change.. Look to harvest around 18, 20, 24, 26 ish weeks.. depending on what you're looking for. I harvest according to attitude demanding it more than size.. and I grow out the ones that look the most promising for future use.. growth speed, conformation, demeanor, etc.. Keep a good back up head rooster to run the stag pen..

Sorry, I have a tendency to ramble!

You've got time to start talking about it, letting it sink in, start calling them.. sandwich, dinner, supper, nugget, kung pow, general Tso, Kentucky fried, etc and strengthen the mind!

One or two usually find a good home here each year. Some feed stores will take them even offering store credit. You might sell them on CL farm and garden section.. or give them away NOW to prevent further investment.. You CAN do it though, whatever works for

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I guess it's time to start building a stag pen if I'm going to keep incubating.