Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[rancher hicks]

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I was talking with the Science teacher today about temps affecting the sex of chicks. He said that, that 's the way it is with reptiles but he didn't know about chickens. I do know this hatch will have hatched on the low temp side. The last hatch never went below 99.0 and go about 100.0 . I don't recall how much but not alot.

In the English Practical Poultry it's suggested to hatch about 100.0* With this Gen. 1588 it's supposed to be already set to 99.5. I do know that room temp affects it. When the room is 80* the incu stays at 99.0 or above. When the room drops to 70* like it has when the heat is off it drops to the 98.'s. Practical poultry says to put your incu in an unheated room. It just seems to me that, that would be to cold.

Right now the room temp is 80* and the incu is at 100.0 I've got to do some research, cuz if there is a way to get more female that's what I'm gonna shoot for.

 

[popcornpuppy]

rancher hicks, let us know what your research shows! Alot of folks think temp affects developing sex but have no proof. I personally think it is posible, but have not done the research myself.

 

[joletabey]

I'd like to know more about that, too, Rancher hicks, because one of the reasons I am worried about getting a 'bator is because we can't seem to regulate temps in any room in the house, and it can drop from upper 80's in the days to the low 50's here in the mountains- and I REALLY, REALLY need to know, because now Kathy is going to have Lavender Orp eggs and I just KNOW she would sell me some and I can feel myself
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G off the cliff. I'm doomed.

So what kind do I get?

 

[speckledhen]

The female bird determines the sex of the chicks. It's already determined when the egg is laid.

The only way temperature may affect what sex hatches is if the males aren't as affected as the females when there are temperature extremes in the bator. as some research seems to show; so, the females would perish and thereby, more males would hatch, but the temp doesn't make the chick male or female. You follow what I'm saying?

 

[joletabey]

Cynthia, so how much temperature fluctuation can you have in a room and not have it be detrimental to the hatch? Or does it depend on your 'bator? Sorry for my ignorance. . . . but are there 'bators that can hold inner temp so well that it wouldn't matter what is going on in the room?

 

[speckledhen]

The styro bators do better when the room temp stays over 70 degrees, in my experience. Below that and you have trouble regulating it. Warmer is better, but I rarely ever incubate eggs in summer, so I don't know how a hot room would affect the incubator.

My super insulated Fridge-a-Bator seems to hold temps well no matter what, much more steady than any styrobator.

 

[kathyinmo]

I incubate in my lower level studio. The temp is usually in the 60s. I don't have too much problem with that. It may help that I do use the Sportsman (cabinet style) for the first 18 days of incubation. I hatch out in the styrofoam HovaBators. I do often cover them with towels though. I also think it helps that I do not open them. I keep them closed, and add water (as needed) through tubing into the bator. I have learned to love my HovaBators, when I used to think they were not quite as good as I wanted. They really aren't so bad, and are reasonably priced. Mine both have circulated air, and I think the still air bators are more troublesome.

I can not believe this .... 5 eggs! The Lavenders have given us 5 eggs today ... their first day of laying, and they all decide to lay? I am shocked! I have 6 pullets in this pen (+3 Light Sussex pullets), and these are out first eggs ever from them.

Dellie news ....
OK, I did it! I gave my 2 broody cochins some Delaware eggs! I sure hope they do well. I'm excited about this. My plan is to sell these when they hatch, as I do not need anymore right now. (Though I KNOW the family is gonna argue this point!) I have a few interested buyers waiting, so I thought I may as well let the girls set! BTW .... my # 1 roo (I thought was too young to mate) is with the Dellie girls and is already active.

 

[Dingleberry]

here is my Della (Easy to rermember name and breed to)

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:

Hi Carrie !

You have a lovely Della there! Is she friendly? Thanks for sharing her picture with us!

 

[speckledhen]

Della is pretty! Nice chunky girl with good leg color and tail black. Thanks for joining us Delaware dominated crazies!