I’m glad I found this thread, I had two hens who wanted to set and I was curious after I read that Shape Index study on higher SI values giving 30% higher chance of female chicks. I wondered if I got a range of SI for each hen and only used her highest SI values if it would improve the chance of getting females. I recorded hen’s name, date laid, time laid, weight, width, length & SI on every egg from each hen for a few weeks to get a range of SI for each hen.
(I refrigerated all eggs at 38-43 F for 1-16 days except for one egg I put under the hen straight from laying. I forgot to turn them until the last couple days of the 2nd batch. The 16 day egg hatched fine, a 2 day & a 4 day cooled eggs died).
I have 4 English Orpington hens (slow feathering), 1 hatchery Barred Rock-Dominique? with a Rose comb (fast feathering) & a Cream Legbar rooster (fast feathering), so since the Orpington hens are slow feathering I was able to sex their chicks at hatch.
My info:
Rezz - Silver Laced - range of SI is 72.22 - 82.86.
I set 7 eggs: 80.53 - 83.86 SI. (Her eggs are oval & teardrop)
Weights: 57.5g - 61.2g (61.2 died in nite & 58.0g needed hen’s & my assist)
Hatched: 6 females & 1 female died in egg.
Theebee - Gold Laced - range of SI is 71.28 - 77.78. (All her eggs are pointy teardrops)
I set 3 eggs: 77.78 SI.
Weights: 59.0g - 61.0g (60.3 died & 61 needed hen’s assist)
Hatched: 2 females & 1 female died after hatching.
Zara - Silver Laced - range of SI is 77.78 - 82.35.
Set 1: 79.98 SI. (Her eggs are all teardrop)
Weight: 52.6g
Hatched: 1 female.
Onyx - Barred Rock - range of SI is 71.07 - 75.66. (Her eggs are all oval)
Set 2: 76.66 SI.
Weights: 59.6g & 60.3g
Hatched: 1 male & 1 female (possibly).
Nibbler - Silver Laced cross - range of SI is 71.78 - 80.58. (Her eggs are large teardrops)
Set 2: 76.05 - 80.58.
Weights: 63.9g & 66.6g
Hatched: 0 both infertile.
Results 9/9 female Orpington cross chicks, or 11/11 if you count dead ones, and 1/2 female Barred chicks. Total 10/11 female chicks or 12/13 female chicks if you count dead ones.
(The Barred possible male had 3 bright white stripes at hatch & white ring on neck, narrow white barring at 2 weeks but rose comb is getting pink. And possible female had only 2 pale white stripes at hatch and smaller defined head spot, at 2 weeks ahe’s black with white wing tips & just a touch of white barring starting at shoulders. Both equally fast feathering. Will update if I’m wrong.)
Not enough data with my small test but it appears not to work as well on hatchery hens as on English Orpingtons. I’ll read more of these threads to see what hens others used.
I got my Orpingtons & Cream Legbar from Papa’s Poultry if anyone else has his hens & wants to try this I’d be interested in their results.
The first batch of chicks is 4 weeks old & the 2nd batch is 2 weeks old. 5-7 will need homes so I’ll have to do a rehoming post soon. I wish I could keep them all but I already have too many pet chickens hanging out on the doorstep begging for treats.
The button quail "boy" and "girl" I still can't tell which gender each is - they seem to take a little longer than the Coturnix to mature, or at least to grow a bib if they are boys.
Good Luck!
