Marking eggs to track hatchling.

[ManOverBoard]

What makes you think this egg contains a male chick?

I can't remember where we heard it, but it's a very pointed egg. I believe it's an old wives tale with some but not complete accuracy.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I can't remember where we heard it, but it's a very pointed egg. I believe it's an old wives tale with some but not complete accuracy.

Ah, yes, I've heard this "old tale" as well. When it hatches, and later, when it crows, please report back and let us know if it was indeed a male, would you?

 

[NatJ]

I can't remember where we heard it, but it's a very pointed egg. I believe it's an old wives tale with some but not complete accuracy.

The one time I tracked a few chicks by which shape egg they came from, I got 2 males and 2 females from the 4 eggs that were long and pointy.

Based on that as well as other people's experience, I would say it is no more accurate than random guessing. Which would give you a 50/50 chance of getting a male from that egg.

Eggshell shape is a certain amount inherited. If your pointy egg does produce a cockerel, and you use him for breeding, his daughters will be more likely to lay pointy eggs. If you make a point of hatching mostly pointy eggs, or mostly round eggs, over time you will have a flock that lays more eggs of one shape and less of the other shape, but they will not produce more male or more female chicks than usual.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The one time I tracked a few chicks by which shape egg they came from, I got 2 males and 2 females from the 4 eggs that were long and pointy.

Based on that as well as other people's experience, I would say it is no more accurate than random guessing. Which would give you a 50/50 chance of getting a male from that egg.

Eggshell shape is a certain amount inherited. If your pointy egg does produce a cockerel, and you use him for breeding, his daughters will be more likely to lay pointy eggs. If you make a point of hatching mostly pointy eggs, or mostly round eggs, over time you will have a flock that lays more eggs of one shape and less of the other shape, but they will not produce more male or more female chicks than usual.

Science!

 

[RubelliteRose]

Eggshell shape is a certain amount inherited.

Yes, this! The only 2 hens that I have who lay long pointed eggs are mother and daughter.