roosters to hens in an egg batch

[vonny]

Just wondering is there a rough ratio of hens to roosters born? Might be a silly question but was just wondering if there is a natural selection thing happening where more hens then roosters are born.

 

[spish]

i dont think there is..... think its just pot luck (well with my chickens it is!)

my first hatch this year was 6 hens to 4 roos
2nd hatch was 1 hen to 6 roos
3rd hatch 3 roos 3hens
4th hatch (so far fingers crossed looks to be..) 9 hens 2 roos
5th batch of eggs is due to hatch on the 16th so i'll see then what they are...

 

[BYC_In_Long_Beach]

My Last hatch was 5 hens & 6 roos.

 

[le neige homme]

Usually it's about 50/50, but sometimes it's roughly half-n-half.

 

[gryeyes]

Well, I'd much prefer the half-n-half to the 50/50, seems like better odds.

 

[Chickenfarmer 1-2-b]

I hatch twice, 6 chicks each time. The first batch got 1 hen, 5 roos. The second batch all 6 roos. What is the odds of that. We are enjoying the eggs from our only hen the past 2 wks. I guess things could be worse.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

I'm with you greyeyes, I would prefer the half-n-half to 50/50. The half-n-half could have a little give in the numbers, or so it seems after a few glases of wine.

Seriously, that is the normal, given a large enough and equal hatches to note the difference. However there are some hens that will throw more males or more female chicks. So I try to watch which hens are throwing what. I mostly get males from my Turkens and EE's, which is fine with me. My Sicilian Buttercups are hatched at a larger number, so they are a half n half ratio.
I have 22 5 week olds in the brooder house and sad to say I still haven't counted to see what is what, at this point it doesn't really mater. I know I have 14 S BC though, so I assume I have around 7 of each. The rest, when they are 14 weeks old, I will choose 2 hens and 1 Roo to keep and cull the rest when they are 16 weeks old or so.

If you are going to hatch, you will have to keep them all or cull a few. Its that simple.

Chickenfarmer, soon it will get hot and the molt comes and no eggs. Around here that is for 3 weeks for each breed, that is why I like to keep at least 3 different breeds. You need some more hens, that one is a breeder of males.

 

[eggseroneous]

First hatch this year was 15 hens, 13 roos.
Second batch 5 hens 7 roos
Third batch 7 hens, 4 roos.

 

[Bedste]

Can you sex them at hatch or do you have to wait till they crow?

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

It is ideally 50/50. I've had hatches that were in that ideal range, but I've also had all rooster and all hen hatches. Adding ACV to the water is supposed to encourage more female chicks, but I have not tested that theory.