So... I'm always experimenting. I needed to set a batch of eggs for next year's layers, and recently read that the more round eggs (as opposed to longer and narrower) are usually pullets.
This didn't make a lot of sense to me, because we've noticed that most hens lay a fairly similar egg, in color and shape, every day. To the point that we often know who laid an egg any particular day.
But, why not try it and see?
So, I picked out the fattest, roundest eggs every day, and set 39 eggs. When I candled them at 8 days, I found 4 "clears"... unfertilized... and tossed them.
They started hatching Tuesday, the first 2 emerging a day earlier than I expected, and the rest finishing up through this morning. At noon, I tossed the last 2 eggs... one had pipped, but died before hatching, and the other appeared to have died sometime earlier.
While hubby put the finishing touches on their pen, I counted and sexed them, using the wing feathering method. (I double checked with vent sexing under my big lighted magnifier as well, but that's... tricky!
I was shocked to find we had 33 healthy chicks, and 29 pullets! I marked them as I checked them, and went through them 3 times, thinking I was missing something. Not that I can tell... but we'll see!
It's tempting to try another batch, but this gives us all the layers we'll need! I may set half a dozen pointy, narrow eggs, timed to hatch when the first batch of Cornish X chicks are being delivered... I can use 6 extra cockerels for dog food.
I'll be interested in seeing if I'm just crazy... I haven't feather sexed chicks before, but it's pretty obvious when you compare them.
And one more discovery... we have two roos, a Slow White and a nice, Partridge Rock cross. Both 1 year old. 28 of the chicks are white... I can tell who rules the roost!
Summerthymek
This didn't make a lot of sense to me, because we've noticed that most hens lay a fairly similar egg, in color and shape, every day. To the point that we often know who laid an egg any particular day.
But, why not try it and see?
So, I picked out the fattest, roundest eggs every day, and set 39 eggs. When I candled them at 8 days, I found 4 "clears"... unfertilized... and tossed them.
They started hatching Tuesday, the first 2 emerging a day earlier than I expected, and the rest finishing up through this morning. At noon, I tossed the last 2 eggs... one had pipped, but died before hatching, and the other appeared to have died sometime earlier.
While hubby put the finishing touches on their pen, I counted and sexed them, using the wing feathering method. (I double checked with vent sexing under my big lighted magnifier as well, but that's... tricky!
I was shocked to find we had 33 healthy chicks, and 29 pullets! I marked them as I checked them, and went through them 3 times, thinking I was missing something. Not that I can tell... but we'll see!
It's tempting to try another batch, but this gives us all the layers we'll need! I may set half a dozen pointy, narrow eggs, timed to hatch when the first batch of Cornish X chicks are being delivered... I can use 6 extra cockerels for dog food.
I'll be interested in seeing if I'm just crazy... I haven't feather sexed chicks before, but it's pretty obvious when you compare them.
And one more discovery... we have two roos, a Slow White and a nice, Partridge Rock cross. Both 1 year old. 28 of the chicks are white... I can tell who rules the roost!
Summerthymek
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