I think my hen might have hatched 9 cockerels? Help?

[shanadienne]

At least I'm not the only one this has happened to... My sister just came up with this weird theory that Sam had nine males "on purpose" because I got pullets from a hatchery last year. Does that make any sense??

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

No....

 

[shanadienne]

I agree, I think my hen just happened to ovulate 9 boy eggs in a row.

Anyway, thank you, everyone who commented! I'll update if any of them end up laying eggs. I wouldn't put it past Sam to hatch an intersex chicken...

 

[Tenrec]

At least I'm not the only one this has happened to... My sister just came up with this weird theory that Sam had nine males "on purpose" because I got pullets from a hatchery last year. Does that make any sense??

Some species of animals actually can do this, which is super beneficial to the fitness of the offspring (if you hatch males when there's a dearth of males, then you're going have your genes in a considerable amount of the next generation). However, I have never heard of chickens doing it, and I feel if they were able to, it'd be a big deal.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Have you checked if they're growing spurs yet? I hope that helps determine the gender

 

[shanadienne]

Have you checked if they're growing spurs yet? I hope that helps determine the gender

I did notice in the past that some of them have bigger spurs than others. I haven't checked lately though.

Some species of animals actually can do this, which is super beneficial to the fitness of the offspring (if you hatch males when there's a dearth of males, then you're going have your genes in a considerable amount of the next generation). However, I have never heard of chickens doing it, and I feel if they were able to, it'd be a big deal.

I suspect if they could, the meat and egg industries would have gotten in on it by now and we'd know about it...

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Have you checked if they're growing spurs yet? I hope that helps determine the gender

That means absolutely nothing at this age, and even mature hens can grow spurs.

 

[shanadienne]

That means absolutely nothing at this age, and even mature hens can grow spurs.

I agree. My most rooster-like cockerel has no spurs at all, and the henniest-looking one (#2) has pointy little spurs growing.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That means absolutely nothing at this age, and even mature hens can grow spurs.

Correct. And all the chicks have the little spots where they will or wont get spurs in the future.

 

[drumstick diva]

Interesting hatch in terms of variety but, bad mojo to have 9 roos out of 9 chicks.