SEX & GENDER

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

What determines a baby chicks gender?

 

[junebuggena]

For chickens, gender is determined by the hen. No other factors contribute. The hen chromosomes are ZW. Some of her eggs will be Z, some of her eggs will be W. A rooster is ZZ, he only has one option to contribute.

 

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

So a pullet only happens when the hens egg is a W?

 

[junebuggena]

Yep.

 

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

Thanks for the info. So does the hen just lay Z's and W's at random?

 

[junebuggena]

It's predetermined before the hen ever hatches out of an egg. Female chicks are born with all the eggs they will ever lay, just like in humans. The hen has no 'control' over which 'gender' eggs get released. Some hens do seem to produce more males, and some hens tend to produce more females.

 

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

It's predetermined before the hen ever hatches out of an egg. Female chicks are born with all the eggs they will ever lay, just like in humans. The hen has no 'control' over which 'gender' eggs get released. Some hens do seem to produce more males, and some hens tend to produce more females. 

ok thanks. Im about to start selecting breeders from the flock, so im trying to gather some info