Incubating Eggs that have gotten cold experiment??

[DarkWater1929]

Hi! I recall that, a few years ago, some folks here had a theory that eggs that had gotten very cold prior to being incubated, were more likely to be pullets, if they hatched at all. The idea was that male eggs died of cold more readily than female. It was speculated, as I recall, that this might be nature's way of controlling the ratio of roosters to hens in the world. Does anyone recall this?

Did the experiment(s) take place? What was the result?

 

[EmmaRainboe]

It has been talked about very recently as well. I may be wrong but I believe @CluckNDoodle may be doing an experiment on that right now.

 

[JaeG]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/drop-temperature-can-change-sex-chickens-1238516.html

The precise technique has been patented but temperature can play a role in the sex ratio, although in the second generation of this experiment all embryos that changed sex went on to only produce male offspring. Probably not something you want in your backyard flock, but it could be very beneficial for the poultry industry.

 

[DarkWater1929]

It has been talked about very recently as well. I may be wrong but I believe @CluckNDoodle may be doing an experiment on that right now.

Thank you! I tried a few searches, with no luck. I will try again.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I incubated duck eggs that were refrigerated for some time. I hatched out 2 out of 3. 1 is a female and 1 is a male. So I'm not sure you'll get all females, but its always worth a try!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I hatch alot of fridge eggs it is all about 50/50.