Sexing eggs!

[Guyswithchicks]

Well I'm close to completing the first round of trialing. The final lot of eggs are due to hatch later today or tomorrow.
So far this is what I have..... Batch number 1 resulted in 11 live chicks from randomly selected eggs. At this stage there are 5 definite males and 5 definite females. 1 I am not sure.
The second and third batches were also from randomly selected eggs but resulted in only 13 live chicks due to clumsy broodies squashing the popped eggs. It is a bit early to tell yet for sure but I think there are 7 males and 6 females.
The fourth, fifth and sixth batches have resulted in 27 live chicks and are too young to sex. They range from only 10 to 1 day old. All of these chicks are from rounded eggs that I selected by eye not from measurements.
I have a further 23 eggs due to hatch anytime all are selected eggs so I will keep you posted.

 

[lindalouly]

Im on day eleven of my first hatch ever in our home made incubator... Thirteen round eggs are set... So far it looks like four arent viable... but i do not have a trained eye. Either way, the kids and I are having fun with this.

 

[CherriesBrood]

Good luck with that.  IMO, it takes a lot of training, and it's easy to hurt the chick if you don't know how to do it right... then again... the best way to learn is by doing.  But, here's the followup question:  If you are able to vent sex them, and do it accurately, (considering that the hatcheries are typically 90% or less with their accuracy) WHAT will you do with this information?  How will it benefit you in your management?  Will you immediately cull the males?  Or separate them out into a grow out pen?  (I can't see the benefit there, as they would be raised the same as females, and could be separated when they declare themselves by secondary sex characteristics.)  Or will you sell them?  Not much market for DP cockrels.  

I've watched videos of professionals vent sexing them, plus I have done it before, so I know how. And I'm doing what Linda said below you. I'd never think of culling them, I'm not like that. I do however already have four roosters so I wouldn't be able to keep anymore males so I'd have to rehome them.
Sorry it took me so long to get back, they hatched longer than expected. Ok so I have one Golden laced Wyandotte and one barred rock. I'm pretty positive that the barred rock is a male because it already has a pointy comb, and plus when I vent sexed it, it had a little dot just like the professionals said that males will have. Now on the golden laced Wyandotte there is no comb at all, and when I vent sexed it I didn't see any sign of it being a male. I can't be 100% positive though. The golden laced Wyandottes egg was very circular however, and the barred rocks egg was not (entirely) round. So maybe that played a factor in it.

Here are some pics. of them. Tell me what you guys think.

Penny (Golden laced Wyandotte)

She's the curious one.

Dixie [pronnonced Dix- eye] (Barred Rock)

 

[the jolly onion]

I love following along with all of the posts in this thread. I wont be hatching again until spring, but im taking eager note of the eggs my favorite hens are laying (dh is convinced i'm mad), and am quite pleased to note they lay consistently rounded eggs. For what its worth

 

[lazy gardener]

CB, it would be great if you could do a close up video of your vent sexing.

 

[CherriesBrood]

Well I'm not quit sure how to post a video, but I'll try, you have to hold them a certain way, or else you'll hurt them. If you want you can just go on to YouTube and watch the video of the professionals doing it. Let me find the name real quick.

 

[CherriesBrood]

Here it is, now they tell you / show you how to properly vent and wing sex day old chicks and I find that it works with mine!

 

[CherriesBrood]

So what were everyone's else's outcomes of this?

 

[lindalouly]

Can't wait to watch your link when I get home. My birds are do in 9 days.. If they hatch.

 

[Lozuufy]

Here it is, now they tell you / show you how to properly vent and wing sex day old chicks and I find that it works with mine!

That's so cool! Thanks for posting the link to that video!