frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Definitely!
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I only had one broody hatch one chick this year. It was a roo. But, though he's the son of the meanest roo of all time, he's well behaved so far. So he's here for now.
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Hopefully he will continue to behave! (or face the stewpot)
Lazy Gardener
Super Self-Sufficient
My 2 hatches resulted in 10 + 12 chicks, with 16 pullets and 7 cockerels. (total of 25 eggs set) Favorable gender stats IMO are a result of my ongoing gender selection based on egg shape.
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
I've heard about that before but never really knew how to do it or if it works. You seem to have good luck with it - can you expound on it - please, please, please!
Lazy Gardener
Super Self-Sufficient
Here's the thread I started on the topic several years ago.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nutrition-and-gender-and-inducing-broodiness.958517/
In a nut shell, I've had fairly consistent results with this method: My pullet ratio with random egg selection has consistently been about 40%. By doing egg shaped selection, my pullet ratio has consistently improved to 60%. Does this always work? Are there other factors involved? Who knows? But, I will say that it cost nothing to experiment along these lines. Based on 4 years of experimentation, my results have been consistent except for one hatch in which I had an overall poor hatch.
I gather about a week's worth of eggs. If I have a hen who lays a distinctive egg, so I can pick her eggs out from the rest, that works to an advantage. In that case, I line her eggs up, and choose the eggs which have the closest length to diameter ratio. In other words, those eggs are more round, not as oblong. My flock is large enough that there are very few hens whose eggs I can identify. In that case, I lay the eggs out on the table, and choose the roundest eggs, eliminating about 2/3 of them from the "to be hatched" pile. If I have eggs which MAY belong to a particular hen, I line those up for comparison, and choose from those. Studies have also shown that larger eggs tend to produce cockerels. In my experience, I've found that large eggs have a poorer hatch rate anyways. So, I eliminate those.
I also put my flock on increased protein and multi vits several weeks before I intend to collect hatching eggs.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nutrition-and-gender-and-inducing-broodiness.958517/
In a nut shell, I've had fairly consistent results with this method: My pullet ratio with random egg selection has consistently been about 40%. By doing egg shaped selection, my pullet ratio has consistently improved to 60%. Does this always work? Are there other factors involved? Who knows? But, I will say that it cost nothing to experiment along these lines. Based on 4 years of experimentation, my results have been consistent except for one hatch in which I had an overall poor hatch.
I gather about a week's worth of eggs. If I have a hen who lays a distinctive egg, so I can pick her eggs out from the rest, that works to an advantage. In that case, I line her eggs up, and choose the eggs which have the closest length to diameter ratio. In other words, those eggs are more round, not as oblong. My flock is large enough that there are very few hens whose eggs I can identify. In that case, I lay the eggs out on the table, and choose the roundest eggs, eliminating about 2/3 of them from the "to be hatched" pile. If I have eggs which MAY belong to a particular hen, I line those up for comparison, and choose from those. Studies have also shown that larger eggs tend to produce cockerels. In my experience, I've found that large eggs have a poorer hatch rate anyways. So, I eliminate those.
I also put my flock on increased protein and multi vits several weeks before I intend to collect hatching eggs.
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I know it's only because I sometimes have grain but one of my sheep comes running when I go visit them and it makes me happy 
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
@Lazy Gardener - that's really pretty cool. Lots of variables I know, but hey, if it's working - it's working! I might give it a shot one of these days.
@NH Homesteader - Noooooo - they come running because they love you!!
@NH Homesteader - Noooooo - they come running because they love you!!
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Well we've had a grand old time... We made friends with some of the workers, made enemies out of others lol . One worker messed up the vinyl siding. The boss told him to fix it and he ignored him. We pitched a fit and one of the other guys was assigned to fix it. So the idiot who messed it up worked inside yesterday. He messed up all the trim so... We pitched a fit and the other workers fixed it. And now the idiot is banned from our house lol.
They have to fix the vinyl the idiot messed up on the other side and finish very few things in the house and we'll be done. Except we need to paint. It's awful white on white in here! But we'll be done with workers. Oh, we're complaining to the manufacturer about the factory installed part of the roof so if that gets settled they'll be back to give us a whole new roof. Sigh.
DH is almost done making snow, the house is almost done... And I feel like I'm very close to having a routine... or being able to relax for 5 minutes... nah, probably not.
They have to fix the vinyl the idiot messed up on the other side and finish very few things in the house and we'll be done. Except we need to paint. It's awful white on white in here! But we'll be done with workers. Oh, we're complaining to the manufacturer about the factory installed part of the roof so if that gets settled they'll be back to give us a whole new roof. Sigh.
DH is almost done making snow, the house is almost done... And I feel like I'm very close to having a routine... or being able to relax for 5 minutes... nah, probably not.
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Oh my gosh - what an f'ing idiot! Good thing he's banned from your house! Painting the colors you want will really make it "yours." Maybe not so fun - but still a good thing.
Give it another few (or more) days - you'll get there!
Give it another few (or more) days - you'll get there!
