Air sac determines sex.

[Boop2006]

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

It usually is. Just trying something different. I may have a whole flock of cockerels to butcher.

 

[horselover1999]

This study, as well as other articles I have read, indicates the male does not determine the sex of the chick. This is determined by the female. It compared the sex determination process to that of bees. The queen lays the eggs. According to what the larva are fed, a drone, queen, or worker bee will hatch. A hive will have different size cones and the queen measures the cones with her antenna before laying an egg. If a queen dies, the workers will select an egg/larve and begin feeding and prepping it to become the next queen. It sex is determined by conditions, not sperm. Many insects reproduce in the same way, per the articles I have read. It's worth a shot, at any rate. Just trying something old/new.

There are some species of reptiles that determine gender based on conditions (alligators and crocodiles, possibly other lizards). I learned in one of my classes that there is a species of flightless parrot, the Kakapo, that can choose the sex of the embryos based on environmental conditions. While all of these are distantly related to to chicken, they are not chickens. If the kakapo was able to be raised commercially, I think they would evolve quickly to have a 50/50 gender split.

 

[Boop2006]

Im going to be hatching some silkie eggs soon and I will see if anything comes of it! It would be amazing if it is true!

I will post the results, but it could be a little while.

 

[Boop2006]

I call it View attachment 4047500
Too small of a sample size used in the study. Plus, other obvious inaccuracies.

I'm just a granny tryin different things...legally! ; p

 

[Boop2006]

Check out the sexing method I posted, & use. It's a method I came up with, & it's pretty accurate.

I will! I want to compare that with the 'hanging the chick by the feet' method. A male is supposed to hang straight, the hen will curl. If held by the head, the male will hang straight and the hen will pull up the feet.

 

[aart]

I will post the results, but it could be a little while.

Great.....just 21 days, eh?
I will reiterate, would be excellent to outline the air sacks and take some pics

 

[Boop2006]

If such a thing were true commercial hatcheries would be using it so they wouldn't hatch out male chicks

I wonder if they get a tax deduction for the destruction of male chicks? Is that a loss?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I will! I want to compare that with the 'hanging the chick by the feet' method. A male is supposed to hang straight, the hen will curl. If held by the head, the male will hang straight and the hen will pull up the feet.

That is as accurate as flipping a coin for each chick

 

[SourRoses]

I will! I want to compare that with the 'hanging the chick by the feet' method. A male is supposed to hang straight, the hen will curl. If held by the head, the male will hang straight and the hen will pull up the feet.

Please don't do uncomfortable things to chicks like hanging them from the neck / feet.
The possibility of damaging them is high. And it could be very traumatizing.

When a chicken is more mature they can be carried by the legs when necessary (like a struggling cockerel on the way to slaughter), but their bones are thicker and they are all-around more developed. Even that is not without risk, just a judgment call for the safety of the handler.

 

[Boop2006]

Great.....just 21 days, eh?
I will reiterate, would be excellent to outline the air sacks and take some pics

Great.....just 21 days, eh?
I will reiterate, would be excellent to outline the air sacks and take some pics