[evie2]

Ok this is my really daft question but I've been thinking about it for some time now.  In some animal species the temp the egg is incubated at determines the gender of the young; is it the same for chickens?

[tesni]

I have no idea but not a daft question - really interesting!  will read knowledgeable responses with interest 

the only stupid question is the one you don't ask 

[evie2]

Just gogled and found this

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_the_incubation_temperature_determine_which_sex_a_hens_egg_will_produce

 

[GrannieAnnie]

Surely if that were true, we could all end up with pullets if we didn't want any cockerels!?

[evie2]

That's what I thought Grannie but wanted to ask anyway  

[Aunt Sally]

The gender of chickens is genetically determined.

What that link was saying was that a high incubation temperature tended to give the male chicks a better survival rate than the female chicks.

It may be true but not of any real use to breeders of pullets.

[GrannieAnnie]

I remember when one of our forum members said wouldn't it be good if pink eggs were pullets and blue eggs were cockerels!

How I wish I could manage that one, I'd be a millionaire!!!!   

[joyfull]

Best get some croad langshams then Annie and start up a breeding program crossing them with your araucanas - you never know it might work 

[sunshineband]

Or take up breeding crocodiles , where gender is dependent on incubation temperature 

[joyfull]

Don't fancy collecting eggs from a very possesive broody croc 

[evie2]

I said it was a daft question, I'll make sure I don't ask any more for a while

[GrannieAnnie]

Don't do that Evie, we need something to lighten our lives at times, didn't they tell you when you joined........
....
.....
We're all MAAAAAAADDDDDDD     :blink:

[joyfull]

this is what chicken keeping does to you Evie - sends you all mad in the end 

[Aunt Sally]

Speak for yourselves, wooden dolls are never mad - a little splintery and rotten sometimes perhaps 

[GrannieAnnie]

You're not rotten Auntie, you keep yourself well oiled!!