She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[sjturner79]

What a neat experiment! Are you going to play with rotation to find out if you can effect the gender ratio next, because I do believe this will work!

I am not interested in playing preselect for gender at this time, as I have plenty of people that will take spare roosters near me. I am culling for comb type in the next few hatches, but I'm not going to start eggs in this setup even if I get them all to hatch.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

That would be me doing the egg shape/gender experiment.  And, I challenge Ronott1, and others that say it doesn't work, to disprove the theory.  Set all round eggs, or for that matter, since you say it doesn't work, set all pointed eggs, and post your results.  Sounds hokey, but I can't dispute my increased pullet rate with the egg shape selection:  Was getting 40% pullets before, increased rate to 60% pullets in the last 3 hatches.  I don't like to be argumentative, but when someone says it doesn't work, in spite of positive results that those who play with this theory are getting, I have to stick in my 2 cents worth.  So, no matter what your opinion, if you have your own eggs from your own flock, play around with it.  Yes, I have a small sample in my 3 hatches, (gotta start somewhere, right?)  So... come on folks, play with it!

I think it's all very interesting. One of the large reptilian species does change the outcome with temperature adaptation using compost nests. I've read that hens can be very intuitive ahout their clutches. We are trying to in essence be hens when we are incubating.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

I am not interested in playing preselect for gender at this time, as I have plenty of people that will take spare roosters near me. I am culling for comb type in the next few hatches, but I'm not going to start eggs in this setup even if I get them all to hatch.

Still, you have a working demonstration of a potentially awesome class room experiment. Good luck with everything!

 

[lazy gardener]

Reptiles are an interesting lot. Gender can be affected by incubation temp in some species. Also, from my reading, and experience, baby guppy gender will weigh heavier towards male if there are no males in the tank, and heavier to female if there is an over abundance of males in the tank. Temp may weigh into it as well. Those super pretty guppies that you see at the pet store, sometimes all males in the tank? They're dosed with testosterone. I don't remember if that changes the entire group of fish to the male coloring and pattern. Been a long time since I've needed to research tropical fish, but... interesting none-the-less.

@ sjturner 79: I'm glad you have a ready market for your cockrels. While I process my extras, every pullet that I hatch, is one less cockrel who will be sucking up the feed until he gets big enough to process. I can sell excess pullets, and hope to come out even on the feed bill, but cockrels are a feed deficit to me, unless they are able to free range. Unfortunately, predator losses, and recent changes in my land use are limiting my free range. I'm glad your system is working well for you. That's really, what we're all trying to do... find a method of husbandry that best matches our style. What type of comb are you selecting for? I am working towards all small combs, either rose, pea or walnut, no feathered feet, colorful egg basket. All but one of my chicks from this summer were able to be gender id'd at hatch based on comb style/color, leg color, feather color. Of all my pullets, only 6 were black sex linked.

 

[RubyNala97]

Not mine, but think these are the crocks...

Ok, got it! I think my grandmother has one...I'll rumage her cabinets next time I'm there, oh next week actually for turkey dinner!

Yes. There are veins around the yolk

I was glad I wasn't the only one too.  Yes, I wouldn't have thought it would still have unabsorbed yolk. Being malepositioned could be the reason. It just isn't ready and why it's not progressed. If the egg is opened too much and that is unabsorbed yolk, there's a bigger chance of the chick coming out and once it's out with that much yolk, chances are it'll rupture and then the chick won't have much of a chance. I would leave it alone, and let nature play this one out. 

Yup, you're right on!

Okay I tried making the pip hole bigger and did see some blood. I was ready with the corn starch so I am very thankful for you guys.

Oops! Hit reply to soon. I stopped and took warm water on a cotton swab and moistened the bottom part of the membrane again and the veins seem to be receding, so that is good. I hope I didn't mess it up.
Oh, and it started cheeping when I was holding it up to look at the veins. . It didn't sound distressed.

I put it back in the bator at that point. Happily and hopefully.

Here are more pics:

More eta: u can't see its beak in the pic but it is right there at the hole. That was the most blood we saw. My partner was taking the pics for me.

Thanks you all so much. Thumbs up!

How's that baby?

I would love to try this and get mostly pullets. Which eggs are the ones are the ones you believe to be pullets? The round?

X2. I only have 2 laying hens right now. One lays longer, pointier eggs and one lays small round ones. So I would pick the latter, right?

I think it's all very interesting. One of the large reptilian species does change the outcome with temperature adaptation using compost nests. I've read that hens can be very intuitive ahout their clutches. We are trying to in essence be hens when we are incubating.

Yes, we have gargoyle geckos and depending on a difference of incubating +\- 5 degrees, you can aim for males or females. I said to the kids that I wish that was true for my chicken eggs!!

 

[PeckinGorgeous]

Thanks for asking y'all The baby still hasn't changed much. The membrane was getting tough and leathery so little by little(mmxmm) I peeled off she'll and outer membrane just to see and ran into a spot where I could see a vein so I threw another wet sponge in and set it back on the warm, wet rag and am waiting more. It is struggling and cheeping. Seems to be stuck BC of the position it's in.

 

[FridayYet]

That would be me doing the egg shape/gender experiment. And, I challenge Ronott1, and others that say it doesn't work, to disprove the theory. Set all round eggs, or for that matter, since you say it doesn't work, set all pointed eggs, and post your results. Sounds hokey, but I can't dispute my increased pullet rate with the egg shape selection: Was getting 40% pullets before, increased rate to 60% pullets in the last 3 hatches. I don't like to be argumentative, but when someone says it doesn't work, in spite of positive results that those who play with this theory are getting, I have to stick in my 2 cents worth. So, no matter what your opinion, if you have your own eggs from your own flock, play around with it. Yes, I have a small sample in my 3 hatches, (gotta start somewhere, right?) So... come on folks, play with it!

I think it would be fun to see what my girls throw. I have two OE/EEs that lay similar green eggs, but one lays a definitely more pointed egg. If I did that experiment, it would tell me if one hen tended to pass on one gender more, but not if the egg shape was the influencer.

But I'll for sure take notes in the spring and we'll see what happens. No reason not to have fun with it!

 

[sjturner79]

Reptiles are an interesting lot.  Gender can be affected by incubation temp in some species.  Also, from my reading, and experience, baby guppy gender will weigh heavier towards male if there are no males in the tank, and heavier to female if there is an over abundance of males in the tank.  Temp may weigh into it as well.  Those super pretty guppies that you see at the pet store, sometimes all males in the tank?  They're dosed with testosterone.  I don't remember if that changes the entire group of fish to the male coloring and pattern.  Been a long time since I've needed to research tropical fish, but... interesting none-the-less.  

@ sjturner 79:  I'm glad you have a ready market for your cockrels.  While I process my extras, every pullet that I hatch, is one less cockrel who will be sucking up the feed until he gets big enough to process.  I can sell excess pullets, and hope to come out even on the feed bill, but cockrels are a feed deficit to me, unless they are able to free range.  Unfortunately, predator losses, and recent changes in my land use are limiting my free range.  I'm glad your system is working well for you.  That's really, what we're all trying to do... find a method of husbandry that best matches our style.  What type of comb are you selecting for?  I am working towards all small combs, either rose, pea or walnut, no feathered feet, colorful egg basket.  All but one of my chicks from this summer were able to be gender id'd at hatch based on comb style/color, leg color, feather color.  Of all my pullets, only 6 were black sex linked.  

I am currently selecting for any non-single comb, but in 2 generations I will be going to only pea and walnut, and silkie, and once I get good walnut comb blue layers, I will select walnut or silkie only.

 

[PeckinGorgeous]

I hate to think that it is in there suffering or something. My friend doesn't know what to tell me, either.

 

[scflock]

I hate to think that it is in there suffering or something. My friend doesn't know what to tell me, either.

Ok, I'm going to pretend to be old sc for a while

First off, you said this is the only one not hatched out of shipped eggs? I don't know how many total you had, but only missing one in a shipped batch is incredible. You're doing something right

Going with how this thread started, don't blame yourself if it doesn't make it. I would have given up on it yesterday. It's been pipped in the shell for a long time, and the pics make it look under developed. I'm not saying it won't hatch and thrive, but it looks like you have done everything you possibly could to give it a chance. Some just aren't meant to hatch