Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

I peeked in early tonight

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

The 'Fugly' stage is mine, too. 'Fugly' was stated/made up with love

I can see the cockerel stance there on all but 1!!! I did read an article once that temp. and humidity played a bit of a roll...but I can't find it at the moment. However, if I remember correctly...it only seemed to adjust things 15-20% (I wonder if it actually influenced the hatch rate of each sex, versus affecting the sex itself????)...though no where near your 100% boy hatch. That must be all the mum's fault. Were the eggs all from one hen...or one or two that were closely related? If so, this year I think I would try a different hen.

(@BY Bob might know better, but I was thinking that some human males ONLY have male offspring (or only female), or their offspring are really skewed to one sex or the other. And in humans, the male contribution determines the sex of the offspring. In chickens, it is the female contribution that determines the sex of the offspring....maybe try different hens....OR, do an experiment...half incubator eggs from same hens, half from hens not related to the others...and check hatch sex rate for each half?

I have read on here somewhere and in some other articles that it is the hen not the rooster that controls sex of the offspring. If that is the case, then last year the guilty culprits were Holly, Bunny and Clover. Of my pure marans, which was the majority of what I hatched, and the majority of male chicks those were the mommas. I managed to hatch 4 chicks from Butter and 3 lived, 2 girls 1 boy. Momma hen has had 2 clutches of her own chicks, first clutch had 1 girl and the 2nd had 3 out of 10. The Henrietta chicks I hatched were about roughly around 60% males. I only hatched 3 chicks total from Daisy my other marans and had fertility issues out of her. Of the 3 that hatched I got 3 girls and only kept 1 Clover. Daisy only laid 2 eggs that I know of last year and her eggs are hard to miss, neither one hatched. Corona and Baby are Daisy's granddaughters so hopefully they will produce more girls. This year the cochins are untried, as are the silkies and the new girls. Even though supposedly the rooster does not determine the sex, I will be using new boys this year since Drumsticks passing so hopefully something will give and I will get more pullets. I'm not hoping for a miracle and all pullet hatches, I'll cry tears of relief if I can get close to the 50/50 split. That being said, I have 3 eggs developing from Chiquita, if they hatch, Rosie has already named them, and they are girly names. We will NOT think any boy thoughts at all about those babies. There had better be a girl in that mix or there will be a boy running around with the name of Fifi.

 

[bgmathteach]

This is what a half naked and wet chicken looks like. She has plenty of options to stay dry - but no she is out in the rain. Mud everywhere!
View attachment 2983523View attachment 2983524

Hmmm, Mum...which is my better side?

 

[Marie2020]

I am not sure the rain is helping with her ‘do’.
View attachment 2983733

She's looking like a cool punk rocker too me. We all have our own style

 

[Ponypoor]

I have read on here somewhere and in some other articles that it is the hen not the rooster that controls sex of the offspring. If that is the case, then last year the guilty culprits were Holly, Bunny and Clover. Of my pure marans, which was the majority of what I hatched, and the majority of male chicks those were the mommas. I managed to hatch 4 chicks from Butter and 3 lived, 2 girls 1 boy. Momma hen has had 2 clutches of her own chicks, first clutch had 1 girl and the 2nd had 3 out of 10. The Henrietta chicks I hatched were about roughly around 60% males. I only hatched 3 chicks total from Daisy my other marans and had fertility issues out of her. Of the 3 that hatched I got 3 girls and only kept 1 Clover. Daisy only laid 2 eggs that I know of last year and her eggs are hard to miss, neither one hatched. Corona and Baby are Daisy's granddaughters so hopefully they will produce more girls. This year the cochins are untried, as are the silkies and the new girls. Even though supposedly the rooster does not determine the sex, I will be using new boys this year since Drumsticks passing so hopefully something will give and I will get more pullets. I'm not hoping for a miracle and all pullet hatches, I'll cry tears of relief if I can get close to the 50/50 split. That being said, I have 3 eggs developing from Chiquita, if they hatch, Rosie has already named them, and they are girly names. We will NOT think any boy thoughts at all about those babies. There had better be a girl in that mix or there will be a boy running around with the name of Fifi.

I had a Roxanne, and right now Dixie chick

I was overly optimistic...

 

[Ponypoor]

I’m going to go see Chaco today. Here’s some Coco tax: View attachment 2983467

How was Chaco today? My gals r fes up with winter... Me too... Chickens three!

 

[Ponypoor]

Nope. I just gave her a good brushing and a few apples.

Do you ride much? I am so hoping for an early spring, so I can go for a ride! So sick of cold and snow...

Whining tax:

Pangoo Rooster-brat looking snazzy last Fall

 

[BY Bob]

The 'Fugly' stage is mine, too. 'Fugly' was stated/made up with love

I can see the cockerel stance there on all but 1!!! I did read an article once that temp. and humidity played a bit of a roll...but I can't find it at the moment. However, if I remember correctly...it only seemed to adjust things 15-20% (I wonder if it actually influenced the hatch rate of each sex, versus affecting the sex itself????)...though no where near your 100% boy hatch. That must be all the mum's fault. Were the eggs all from one hen...or one or two that were closely related? If so, this year I think I would try a different hen.

(@BY Bob might know better, but I was thinking that some human males ONLY have male offspring (or only female), or their offspring are really skewed to one sex or the other. And in humans, the male contribution determines the sex of the offspring. In chickens, it is the female contribution that determines the sex of the offspring....maybe try different hens....OR, do an experiment...half incubator eggs from same hens, half from hens not related to the others...and check hatch sex rate for each half?

It seems that this is so. At least according to a study referenced in the NY Times. I have not reviewed the study for accuracy and potential limitations.

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/health/06real.html

 

[Ponypoor]

Send any extra apples to me. POBOX # ———-

Would you like some road apples

 

[featherhead007]

How was Chaco today? My gals r fes up with winter... Me too... Chickens three!

She enjoyed her massage and brushing. Cleaning her hooves, not so much.