Experiment Trying To Hatch More Hens

[tdan]

I'm all over this thread. Also would like breeds and pics etc....

If it is favorable, I will hatch a set. I have a control group going right now.... In fact I may go ahead and do a cold group to see my results lol

This is fascinating.

 

[Mosey2003]

I've kept an eye and way back when even refrigerated a batch, and I didn't see anything statistically significant enough to continue trying.

The thing is, you'll get skewed rates because of the hens themselves, so you could have a hatch where it looks like whatever you did worked, and then a hatch that's the opposite. The hen determines the sex of the chick. You'll have hens that tend to lay vastly more pullet eggs, and others that lay vastly more cockerel eggs. This can also change seasonally, I've heard rumored. So really, it's kind of hard telling. What would be truly interesting is if you used trap nests and tracked what each hen gave you over a season.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

@Mosey2003 you may have answered for me how my old boss could sell eggs that were pullet line and cockerel line. I was stumped how you could sex an egg

 

[Mosey2003]

@Mosey2003 you may have answered for me how my old boss could sell eggs that were pullet line and cockerel line. I was stumped how you could sex an egg

Ah, now see there, there are two possible meanings. In many breeds, certain lines are known for making better pullets or better cockerels than the other. That's a more common usage of the term.

But, if your boss was breeding and trap nesting (or using single pens) and knew which hens were hatching what, then that very well could be!

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Arrr I see! It could be the better linage one. He breeds show quality leghorns. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he did the trap nesting.

 

[BroodyCluck]

Because who needs roosters, poor creatures. If they do, I'll give them some.
Anyhow, I have read more than one article about hatching chicken eggs that have been refrigerated will produce more hens. The theory behind it is supposedly a male egg will not as likely survive if the egg gets too cold.
This brings to mind a few years ago in the dead of winter I had neglected collecting eggs. Then i had a small bantom hen get into the nest and start sitting on eggs. I felt that it would be hopeless but a couple of other chickens got next to her and I figured they were just trying to stay warm. I never saw chickens go broody in February like that. But I just left her alone believing it was rediculous. During the day the other chickens would get out of the nest and leave her alone. But at night they would stay in the nest. I just ignored it intending to handle it some other time. Then one morning I saw she had biddies. 11 hatched. There were some eggs that didnt hatch too all in that nest.Later I would learn that they were 9 hens 2 roosters.
So that makes me think there could be something to the articles I read.
Is there any of you that's ever tried this?
Wednesday I started the incubator with 12 eggs that had been in the refrigerator to experiment.

I'm wondering if it will be allowed to go back to this thread to report my findings on my experiment with trying to hatch mostly hens. Of course the chicks will likely be 8 weeks old before I will be able to know hen from Roo. That's if they even hatch. And the eggs have been in the incubator since Feb 19th so due to hatch March 11th. So that will be a while. Is that allowed? Or will I be required to start another thread?

Because who needs roosters, poor creatures. If they do, I'll give them some.
Anyhow, I have read more than one article about hatching chicken eggs that have been refrigerated will produce more hens. The theory behind it is supposedly a male egg will not as likely survive if the egg gets too cold.
This brings to mind a few years ago in the dead of winter I had neglected collecting eggs. Then i had a small bantom hen get into the nest and start sitting on eggs. I felt that it would be hopeless but a couple of other chickens got next to her and I figured they were just trying to stay warm. I never saw chickens go broody in February like that. But I just left her alone believing it was rediculous. During the day the other chickens would get out of the nest and leave her alone. But at night they would stay in the nest. I just ignored it intending to handle it some other time. Then one morning I saw she had biddies. 11 hatched. There were some eggs that didnt hatch too all in that nest.Later I would learn that they were 9 hens 2 roosters.
So that makes me think there could be something to the articles I read.
Is there any of you that's ever tried this?
Wednesday I started the incubator with 12 eggs that had been in the refrigerator to experiment.

 

[BroodyCluck]

This

I've kept an eye and way back when even

I'm all over this thread. Also would like breeds and pics etc....

If it is favorable, I will hatch a set. I have a control group going right now.... In fact I may go ahead and do a cold group to see my results lol

This is fascinating.

Let me hear back with what you get.
I have been hatching eggs lately this is the 4th batch in a roll. The oldest ive hatched mid November, I expect to start laying in maybe in a month or so. But most chicks were for selling and were sold. Then I'm planning to sell off my laying hens gradually and replace with some of these new. But I only started the experiment with the cold eggs on the 19th Feb with a dozen refrigerated eggs. But these ones I have been hatching I have been documenting exactly which chicken hatched what egg. Then marking the chick as it hatches. I have pinpointed 3 hens that seem to give female off spring each time but the youngest bunch will tell more when I'm sure of gender. There is a total of 8 hens mixed breed that I'm using eggs from. Some are mine some are a friends because I'm only using large eggs. I will share my findings and pictures starting there.

 

[BroodyCluck]

This is very interesting! I've heard this theory before but explained with people (men that work in refrigeration all seem to have daughters). I have 3 duck eggs in incubator that had all spend a day or 2 in fridge so I'll keep tabs
Yes let me know if they hatch first And how old do they have to be to know gender?

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Last lot the girls started quacking at 12weeks. Unfortunately another 2 have passed so I have one left and none to compare to

 

[Molpet]

I'm wondering if it will be allowed to go back to this thread to report my findings on my experiment with trying to hatch mostly hens. Of course the chicks will likely be 8 weeks old before I will be able to know hen from Roo. That's if they even hatch. And the eggs have been in the incubator since Feb 19th so due to hatch March 11th. So that will be a while. Is that allowed? Or will I be required to start another thread?

I would post update in original thread so people following see it