Sexlinked Silkies??

[sonew123]

has anyone done this yet? I mean since Chris suggested a study? I have a bator filled with uhhh..20+ silkie eggs and I have been running on the low side. Only because I'm gone alot and I'm afraid of long temp spikes-It's a hovabot 1602N with turner.-still air- Right now my eggs are on day 17 for 3 of my BO x RIR's and 14 for the rest...temps I know are supposed to be 101-102 but I feel better at 100-101-which is where I've been keeping it-humidity at 35-40%. I'm torn between the egg carton method and the normal just put it flat on it's side in turner-less bator? I will tell everyone what and how it comes out-all though as we al know the sex of them will be a long time from now to determine..

 

[White Valley Acres]

I don't usually tell folks this, but here I go on the internet, no less,

...anyway, I have found - repeatedly - that if I lower the temperature in my incubator lower than recommended I always get a much greater proportion of pullets to cockerals. Perhaps it's a fluk, but it's been a reliably repeatable one. This is why I prefer to not use a broody. I know it's the case with reptiles and people tell me the sex of chicken eggs is already determined at fertilization as in mammals, etc., but chickens aren't mammals, and it really does work. I have done this with many batches of chicks. It is funny to me that when I do hatch under a broody the results are usually 50-50. When I break the clutches up over several hens, and even breeds, and use the incubator at standard hatching temps the percentage of males is much higher. Why, I'm not certain. I imagine this method of lowering my temps will get lots of dissention, perhaps understandably. But sometime maybe you could try it with eggs that your own chickens have laid so you don't lose any valuable eggs you have bought. Just a tip...

What's your incubation process? I'm curious about trying it with some ebay hatching eggs if possible. Would you be willing to share your secret?
I may have missed it in an earlier reply...