New Babies

Clwalls83

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Finally was able to get some babies. Started out saying we only need 3 or 4.... ended up with 10. They made it their first night pretty good. Due to snow storm and threat of loosing power we did bring them inside off the porch in a box. But we've got 2 of each midnight majesty marans, chocolate orphingtons, olive eggers, sex links, Brahmas. Was supposed to be all girls bc I dont want fertilized eggs... now my questions are is there just a way to figure out if we got all girlie or not? And if we ended up with boys how do we ensure not getting fertilized eggs in the future?
 
Did you get red or black sex links? For black sex links you're looking for a solid blackhead on the chick instead of on the chick, indicating female, instead of having a light colored, typically yellowish, spot on the top of the head which would indicate male. For red sex links you're looking for females to be red downed whereas males will be white/yellow downed. Midnight Majesty Marans are also a black sex-link, so you are looking for solid black heads rather than having any sort of spot or dot on the top of the head.
For your other breeds it's going to be a matter of time will tell. There are clues that can be seen as early as the first couple of weeks that can give you early indications, but they are not set in stone. Generally speaking by 4 to 6 weeks experienced keepers can reliably begin to differentiate gender.... it can be harder for newbies and take several more weeks for the characteristics to become so obvious that anyone can see them. I would suggest around the 5 to 6 week mark you start posting some photos of your chicks and we will start to help you sort through their sex.
As for avoiding fertilized eggs the only way to guarantee that is to not keep any rooster that you may end up with with your hens.....that said, there is no difference between a fertilized or unfertilized egg until it is incubated....they are perfectly safe to eat and, if you have ever had farm fresh eggs chances are you've eaten a fertilized egg and not known it
 
Did you get red or black sex links? For black sex links you're looking for a solid blackhead on the chick instead of on the chick, indicating female, instead of having a light colored, typically yellowish, spot on the top of the head which would indicate male. For red sex links you're looking for females to be red downed whereas males will be white/yellow downed. Midnight Majesty Marans are also a black sex-link, so you are looking for solid black heads rather than having any sort of spot or dot on the top of the head.
For your other breeds it's going to be a matter of time will tell. There are clues that can be seen as early as the first couple of weeks that can give you early indications, but they are not set in stone. Generally speaking by 4 to 6 weeks experienced keepers can reliably begin to differentiate gender.... it can be harder for newbies and take several more weeks for the characteristics to become so obvious that anyone can see them. I would suggest around the 5 to 6 week mark you start posting some photos of your chicks and we will start to help you sort through their sex.
As for avoiding fertilized eggs the only way to guarantee that is to not keep any rooster that you may end up with with your hens.....that said, there is no difference between a fertilized or unfertilized egg until it is incubated....they are perfectly safe to eat and, if you have ever had farm fresh eggs chances are you've eaten a fertilized egg and not known it
Honestly I m not sure if the sex links are red or black they were only labeled as sex links. All my babies are dark( black and brown) except the 2 of the yellow ones.
 
We just put them back on the porch, I know they were kinda cramped in their slumber party box for the night.
 

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Since you're too light Birds account for your light brahmas, it would appear you got black sex links in addition to your midnight Majesty that are also sex links. Do any of your dark birds have a DOT on the top of their head?
 
midnight majesty marans,
Probably from Hoover Hatchery. According to the Hoover write-up, the males are barred so they should be black sex links. If they are males they should have a white spot on the head. Females should not have that white spot.

chocolate orphingtons
Not sex links so cannot tell.

olive eggers
Could be any color or pattern. Different possible crosses from Hoover's. Can't tell sex.

sex links
Hoovers have various sex links, some black some red, some golden. Doesn't narrow it down for me enough

Hoovers have 3 different possible Brahmas. They are not sex linked so no way to know sex

if we ended up with boys how do we ensure not getting fertilized eggs in the future?
Once you identify any boys eat them, sell them, give them away, or house them separately from the girls. Once the girls start laying if there is a cockerel or rooster with them the eggs will be fertilized.

What are your objections to fertilized eggs? Maybe we could help you with that end of it?
 
Probably from Hoover Hatchery. According to the Hoover write-up, the males are barred so they should be black sex links. If they are males they should have a white spot on the head. Females should not have that white spot.


Not sex links so cannot tell.


Could be any color or pattern. Different possible crosses from Hoover's. Can't tell sex.


Hoovers have various sex links, some black some red, some golden. Doesn't narrow it down for me enough


Hoovers have 3 different possible Brahmas. They are not sex linked so no way to know sex


Once you identify any boys eat them, sell them, give them away, or house them separately from the girls. Once the girls start laying if there is a cockerel or rooster with them the eggs will be fertilized.

What are your objections to fertilized eggs? Maybe we could help you with that end of it?
Just raising for the eggs atm. Would like to get to a point where we could "bred" and sell them as well. But my biggest fear is collecting eggs going to eat one and finding a baby chick.. think that will ruin me... lol
 
Just raising for the eggs atm. Would like to get to a point where we could "bred" and sell them as well. But my biggest fear is collecting eggs going to eat one and finding a baby chick.. think that will ruin me... lol
It takes three weeks at a high enough temperature for a fertilised egg to develop into a chick and hatch. Just collect eggs regularly and you'll be fine.
 

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