Sexing eggs!

[KirstieJG]

Well, this morning I have just given a broody silkie six lovely round copper black maran/oliver egger eggs to sit, I'm hoping forlovely dark green egg layers. Im only going to set round eggs this year as the vast majority of results seem to indicate that there is a general likelhood of a higher female to male ratio. Lets keep pulling in the figures peeps. There's definitely more positive experiences than negative ones.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed, it can't be an all or none, b/c if it was, the hatcheries would be setting nothing but round eggs. But, if this method can tip the scales in the direction of a higher hatch of pullets, (which it has for me) I'm satisfied with it.

 

[rainerlynn]

This is just for fun. I am on my third incubation this spring. I have had a time of it as this is the first year that I am hatching with an incubator. My first hatch gave me only 1 out of 17 eggs. That was a tough pill to swallow as it hit my arrogance hard; I believed that if a chicken could do it then it must be easy. Now I have had to face the sobering thought that a chicken is better at something than I am! But, the last hatch was 3 out of four ducklings, 3 out of four bantams and 1 out of 1 buff sussex! Yippeee They are now two weeks old and, this is the important bit, I set all non-pointy eggs. They should be, according to science, pullets. I have no idea what they are yet gender-wise but I will announce it on here. If anyone else also wants to set non-pointy eggs and tell me what they got, I would love to hear about it. The key is not the roundness or length of the egg but the least difference in the circumference at each end of the egg. see photo diagram. Sorry its sideways but basically, in the picture egg A would be a roo and the others pullets. Who is with me in this egg-speriment?

 

[melnjerm]

Here is my (possibly) ambiguous clutch of Legbars at 10 and 11 days. So far, the feathers coming out all look the same. Except for my little mutant that looks like he/she may have some frizzle in it.

 

[KirstieJG]

They are lovely! Keep us informed of gender, did you set all non-pointy or a mixture?
I dont know about leghorns as Ive never kept them but I did notice the little tail feathers on your photos, I'd have those pegged as pullets but then I am an optimist!

 

[chickengr]

as I mentioned before one of my pullet lays pointy eggs. I did choose less pointy ones and this is what came out:


I am still not sure if it is boy or girl. looks girlish but might be getting saddle feathers and the wattles are a bit bigger than at the other chick who I believe is a girl. they will be 2 months old on sunday (in 5 days).

 

[KirstieJG]

well I guess its more than possible that a particular hen lays mostly boy eggs, after all a friend of mine has 5 boys so we humans work like that too sometimes!

Having said that, I have no idea how you sex your hatchling there, it does look quite pink around the face its true.

 

[chickengr]

well I guess its more than possible that a particular hen lays mostly boy eggs, after all a friend of mine has 5 boys so we humans work like that too sometimes!

Having said that, I have no idea how you sex your hatchling there, it does look quite pink around the face its true.

with this chick I might wait for either egg or crow. NNs sometimes get red around the face and neck but it vanishes later (hormones). I asked at the other threads, most people think it is a girl. but I am not sure yet. I do hope so.

 

[melnjerm]

They are lovely!   Keep us informed of gender, did you set all non-pointy or a mixture?
 I dont know about leghorns as Ive never kept them but I did notice the little tail feathers on your photos, I'd have those pegged as pullets but then I am an optimist!

I did do a mixture. Those are the one's that I used calipers to measure each egg. I'm prayin' for girls!!

 

[KirstieJG]

@melnjerm Sorrry, I just back tracked through the comments again, these are all the head spot chicks that seemed to be all male, gosh I hope not unless you raise meat birds?