Do chickens decide the gender of their fertile egg?

[n2thestorm5032]

I was reading in another post and I saw that Chickens can choose the gender of the baby chick it will lay in the egg!!

How is that possible, I have been trying to figure it out and I can't come up with a logical answer!

So that is why I am coming to BYC, How is this POSSIBLE?

 

[MissPrissy]

No they cannot choose. The gender of the chick is 'decided' by the hen - meaning contrary to the way humans reproduce and it is the male sperm (either x or y) that determins the sex of a baby. The hen is biologically charged with that genetic job.

It is NOT something like a hen thinking .. hmmm, I'll lay me a clutch of pullet eggs today and next month I'll only give them cockerals. Biology doesn't work like fast food at the drive -in window. LOL

 

[n2thestorm5032]

I am sorry I still don't understand.... does that mean the chicken holds the gene of the X and Y. Instead of the sperm holding it!

 

[lauralou]

Yep, that's what it means.

 

[n2thestorm5032]

Alright, but how is this & why?

 

[MissPrissy]

Yes, that is what it means.

The hen is XY. The roo is XX.

 

[MissPrissy]

Because that is the way birds are genetically programed.

Your questions is like asking why the human male is XY and the human female is XX.

It just is the way it is. And not just chickens - all birds.

 

[n2thestorm5032]

Alright Thank you all, I am glad I found BYC I would be no where without this site!!

A big THANKS to the people who started this SITE!!!!!