Just thought I'd add this up to see if others are having similar experiences with their birds at this time of year, but it seems every bloody chick born is a HEN

Now normally i'd be thankful that i have a bunch of hens in my nests, but it seems (since i breed for mutation, so those which aren't being kept for a specific reason get sold as pets) all the ones which are not the mutation I'd like to keep are hens!!!(meaning they're harder to tame, to sell and in a MUCH lower demand as pets) and all those which I keep due to their genetics are males (even though like most of us the ones with certain genetics we'd like to breed with are usually needed in hens) :doh: It's driving me insane!

My percentage of hens to cocks at the moment is through the roof! roughly 90% hens to 10% cocks!

I hope the number of cocks equal out better soon! :@ or atleast give me wanted mutations in hens instead of cocks!

Aww I know your frustration selling females lol. At the moment im roughly 60/40 with females in the lead but we'll wait and see. Hope things pick up for ya!

I am not expereincing that.

 

Nest 1 - 1 hen, 1 cock - so 1:1

Nest 2 - 0 hens, 2 cocks - so 1:3

Nest 3 - 0 hens, 3 cocks - so 1:6

Nest 4 - 4 hens, 0 cocks - so 5:6

 

Pretty balanced for me.

 

What determines gender of birds? If it is simply passing on genes, or do environmental conditions also affect it. Birds and reptiles share a common history. With some reptiles, temperature plays a large role. Does it also play a role with birds?

I have a lot more hens in my chicks than cocks. I am producing 1 cock to 3 hens at the moment - however, this suits me fine

i wondered that also Dave? I know their chromosomes are reversed to people where as a mans sperm carries either X or Y to our egg which is X and determines the sex from which sperm arrives, so makes me wonder with their chromosomes being the opposite whether it nature or nuture which brings along the sex??

Though you may see it as a negative, many breeders would give their right arm to breed more hens than cock birds!

haha oh beleive me I know Renee

if these were show pairs i'd be glad to have copious amounts of hens being hatched, but for pet types it makes it harder if they're not the desired mutations of what i would've kept

OMG all these hens you guys have....been to a few breeders was after hens and NOOOOOOOO luck at all.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR I always have a shortage of cocks!!!