Pullet versus Cockerel ratio at hatch

[teresa]

Just curious: What has been your hatch ratio this crazy weathered year? I have 3 different sets of chicks with 3 different sets of parentage. One set has 6 chicks and two other sets have 4 chicks. As of right now...each set has 1 cockerel and the remainder are pullets. I like them odds. I hope the cockerels are nice ones (sure they are knowing their parentage) as I have enough space for 3 (maybe 4) sets of trios or quads. these guys are starts for my breeding stock.

On a side note - how long can cockerels remain together in a pen before they get too aggressive? Of for that matter...how long can they all (girls and boys) remain together before the testosterone begins to flow and problems start?

[d12chandler]

I have more pullets this year also. If the males are in a pen that has all males and they have been together they will ok. It's when you take one out and say go to show and come back and try to put him back in the pen it will all break out.

don

[teresa]

Thanks Don, I was wondering on how to best house everyone as they got bigger and I was waiting for them to grow out. That helps a lot.

Teresa

[aveca]

You guys are so lucky hatching lot of pullets, i am the queen of the rooster hatch..i get a big box of roosters every year..

[bluetick]

I thought it was the year of the rooster... One little guy started to practice his crowing when no bigger than a Nerf football.

[gayle]

Read the article on the thread Hatch Those Eggs
orpingtonclub.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gpd&action=display&thread=301

There are breeders who claim that how the temp is regulated on your incubator may determine the number of males or females that will hatch in your incubator.

[aveca]

Thank you..going to read that right now!

I read an article about aligators , if they want every egg to hatch female, they run it at something like 100 if they want all males they run it 101..i had always wondered if that could somehow be adapted to chickens... my hovabator therm is tricky to adjust just so..

[harrys]

I heard the same wise tale. Just remember aliigators are prehistoric reptiles and chickens may have lost that capabilities. I have never had much problems getting pullets to hatch just about 50%. Just gave away about 25 black LF Orpington pullets for free and hope the people decide to join the club and show eventually.

[aveca]

So Harry, when are you going to come up here and help this small group of people getting started in orps? Lots to learn, and were poking and hoping a lot, done good at the shows, we need somone to come advise and put some polish on..lots of polish...