HELP! IMPURE HENS

[KEarthman]

We have 11 BCM hens, that were supposed to be pure. Turns out 2 must not be because we got 2 yellow chicks. We sell hatching eggs, so we need to figure out which of these hens needs to be pulled out of the BCM pen. All I can think of at the moment is to separate 1 hen at a time, take her egg, band her, and incubate that darn egg and see what happens. Then repeat the process until we find the culprits. Because if we try to incubate 1 from each hen at the same time, we wouldn't be able to keep that straight, right? Please help!!

 

[nuthatched]

Let's see individual pictures of the hens. And the rooster. Where'd you get them?

 

[TesoroSena]

Mark the eggs with a soft lead pencil

 

[NatJ]

We have 11 BCM hens, that were supposed to be pure. Turns out 2 must not be because we got 2 yellow chicks. We sell hatching eggs, so we need to figure out which of these hens needs to be pulled out of the BCM pen.

The rooster has the gene too.
If you remove the hens that produced yellow chicks, no more off-color chicks will hatch this year. But someone breeding sons of that rooster to daughters of that rooster will get some yellow chicks too.

Because if we try to incubate 1 from each hen at the same time, we wouldn't be able to keep that straight, right? Please help!!

Mesh bags, or baskets made of hardware cloth, might help. That way you could tell which chicks came from which eggs. Mark the eggs according to which hen they came from, incubate them normally until lockdown time, then sort them into the bags or baskets to hatch. Make sure to tie the bags shut firmly, or securely close the baskets, so the chicks don't get out before you get to see them.

You should hatch several eggs from each hen if you want to check, because the hens in question are probably producing about 1/4 yellow chicks and 3/4 chicks that look right (although some of the "look right" chicks will also carry the wrong genes, just like their mother and father do.)

 

[Ponyiqandhens2]

Band each hen with a seperate color or combo.. then make a list with id bands and a number number the eggs hatch

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Can you get genetic testing done like you can for the blue-egg gene? That might be easier if there is a genetic test for feather color or something?

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Can you get genetic testing done like you can for the blue-egg gene? That might be easier if there is a genetic test for feather color or something?

Looks like there is a test for a recessive white gene (looks kind of similar to albino in mammals) - $30 from this vendor

https://iqbirdtesting.com/whitegene

So that could help you determine who (besides your rooster) has it if the issue is a recessive white gene mutation.

Looks like there is no “breed id” dna test for chickens like there is for dogs? At least not according to forums on here.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Looks like there is a test for a recessive white gene (looks kind of similar to albino in mammals) - $30 from this vendor

https://iqbirdtesting.com/whitegene

So that could help you determine who (besides your rooster) has it if the issue is a recessive white gene mutation.

Looks like there is no “breed id” dna test for chickens like there is for dogs? At least not according to forums on here.

There are plenty of other genes that can result in white chicks. Without knowing what it is, it wouldn't really be worth testing since it could just result in all hens being 'negative'

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

There are plenty of other genes that can result in white chicks. Without knowing what it is, it wouldn't really be worth testing since it could just result in all hens being 'negative'

Makes sense. Oh well…would have saved a lot of time and work if it were a good option.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I have White Marans, they still lay dark brown eggs.
Maybe you could just sell your eggs as "Maran Eggs".