OK, but you all have to promise not to laugh at me and tell me it is an old wives tale!!!!!!There are a couple of threads about it and the originater basically got ripped to shreads about this method. That being said, I've seen it work and would be curious for you guys to try it on your chicks -keep records -and then compare results. Apparently the Amish do it too so that might be why I believe in it...I have a Pennslyvania Dutch/German heritage and grew up in Ohio near Amish country. And, it doesn't hurt to try, right!
First try it on yourself, your kids/siblings, your dog, etc to get the hang of it: 1. Put thread into the eye of the needle and tie off a knot keeping the thread about 7 inches long. 2. Put the needle into the eraser of a pencil. 3. Place the pencil point over your wrist (with your palm up and open). 4. Let the lead/graphite touch your skin and then raise it above about half an inch or an inch. 5. Wait for it to stop spinning or twisting and then it will start swinging in either circles or back and forth lines!
-It should swing in circles or back and forth like a bracelet for a FEMALE
-For a pullet or dog it will swing in circles above their neck (or back and forth along their "collar")
-It should swing back and forth (along the arm) for a MALE
-For a rooster or male dog, etc it will swing back and forth along their backbone!
It worked for everyone in my family including our animals. Try it, it's fun and spooky in a way.Maybe that's why my son said it was witchcraft. I think our bodies give off hormones and energy levels which the "pendulum" picks up somehow. (IMHO) Some people say they do it to see if a pregnant lady is carrying a boy or girl...but HOW DO THEY KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THE BABY IS LAYING inside the uterus!!!!!!!!! Anyway, that's my theory why that may not work on an unborn baby-hehe.
Let me know if you guys try it and what your results are if you do. The "test" showed I have 4 hens and 2 roosters. That would be fine with me! Oh, and their behavior totally backs up the test. The two little "roos" run right up to my hand whenever I reach in the bator, like they are challenging me. I call them the "gatekeepers".
Nice pictures.Wow - Your "chicks" are getting so big and are almost feathered out. Didn't yours hatch less than a week before mine? Silkies are slower in feathering probably.
The "coop" looks great! You did a good job supervising your Dad on his work! And, the daffodil picture is lovely enough to put in a calendar.
Any more pips (last I read you had 5)?
Good for you. Make sure your camera batteries are charged so you can post pictures of the hatchlings!
BTW-the first guy that was going to sell me silkie eggs totally flaked out.But, I found someone else near me that I'm planning to get about 6 Americauna (EE) eggs and hopefully black silkie eggs from. He has a FB page and I know where he lives, so if he doesn't get back with me, I'll show up on his doorstep and hold him at gunpoint until he hands over the eggs. OK, just kidding about the gun! Yeah, I will get to join you in another incubation, hopefully.
You guys ARE addicted and need to start a new batch on Sunday, right? I had so much fun with hatching buddies that I'm hoping we can start at the same day next round.
He's a pretty little thing, if I may say so myself. 
Okay, so not that bad... I hope...
