The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[ki4got]

Quote:
I've tried this with my own eggs and Leigh's, and it just don't work. sorry...

most of the eggs I've set this year are pointy, a few rounded, I have hatched a total of 3 cockerels in the SFH so far. cochins just the opposite, all are very round, I've gotten mostly cockerels

 

[The Yakima Kid]

I think the egg shape tale goes back about as far as Aristotle, and has apparently been disproved many times. However, there are some ways to sex chicks at home.

http://www.poultry.uga.edu/extension/tips/documents/07 2000 BY tip K B.PDF

 

[The Yakima Kid]

http://www.extension.org/pages/65437/sexing-day-old-chicks-on-small-and-backyard-flocks#.U3aYtjoU-M8

 

[misbhaven]

And what if the egg is pointed at both ends I have one hen that lays eggs that are almost diamond shaped sometimes...hard to tell which end is the fat end on those...

 

[joyfulkeeper]

They finally made their appearance! 5 so far we think! We are all giddy with excitement! After my 12 yr old son saw them, we spent the next couple of hours watching them peek out from mama's feathers.

First pictures

 

[Kassaundra]

ok, took a break from laying on the ground with my head in the coop watching the broody. she and I both snoozing a little. 5 chicks so far!! the two sulmtaler eggs that got snuck in there are left, maybe probably not fertile since the rooster was culled a week or so before they were laid, and one other egg left. mama hasn't kicked the eggs out yet. Babies are still in feathers, but peek out. I'm still over the moon.

anyway, look at what I just found in mother earth news:

this is new to me, I sure would have liked to have tried it with this hatch. Writer said they got 23 pullets out of 23 eggs by going for the oval eggs and not anything slightly pointed.

In humans the sperm determines gender of the baby I haven't researched it but if it is the same in other animals and birds that would seem unlikely.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I agree with the folks that observe each hen lays a characteristic egg, in terms of colour, speckledness, nobbies (whatever you call those little calcium bumps), and overall shape and size. It's like a fingerprint really. My favourite egg is blue, large and very pointy (Angelica) and my second favourite egg is blue, small and very chubby rounded (Maude). Never varies. Very predictable delicious breakfast hard boiled eggs every day.

 

[LindaB220]

There's also been a rumor that fermented feed leads to more pullets. Anybody feel like that's true??

Yes, it was a hot topic back in the '70's. Drink Apple cider vinegar to ensure you're having a girl. I googled it and it seems to be yes. Beekissed said she mainly has pullets. Kassaundra said it did nothing for her chick ratio. Both have been fermenting over 2-3 yrs I'd like to think yes.

.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Don't know! But the last time I had a broody I set 3 of our own eggs. 100% pullets.

Forgot to say my flock is on lacto-fermented feed. But I've only hatched my own eggs this one time so I have no standard to compare to.

 

[lalaland]

Would you expect the broody mama to be exhausted? Maybe the chicks kept her up all night hatching...she can hardly keep her eyes open unless the chicks are out from under her. She has already taught some of them to eat, and I had to grab some dirt and feed for them - I was thinking I had a day or two for that. Still at 5 chicks, 3 eggs left...probably duds but I'll let her decide how long to keep the eggs.

She hasn't gotten up, still sitting on the eggs.

I am having a ball, it is so much fun to see the babies burrow under her feathers.



here you can see one beak sticking out with the two chicks out and about


and another....


You know I have the mystery rooster from that woman....he is the dad. Two welsummer moms, two astrolorp moms, two amercana moms - one of those might be a dud egg.