[tosca100]

We decided to put some of our eggs in the incubator to try to increase our layers for next year. The eggs were from our ex-batts and the cockerel is a Shumen (Strong Australorp influence) My question is, will the chicks be sex linked? We have two dark and two yellow and I'm thinking the yellows might be boys.

Anyone know?

[tosca100]

Trying out an unheated brooder for the first time as the weather is so warm. They seem to have go the hang of it and are lively.



Sleeping


Going to be red-heads it seems

[Mum2mj]

Very cute 

[Helenaj]

I would never have considered an upturned mop head as a brooder -what a clever idea!

They are very, very cute though!

[GrannieAnnie]

I'm not going to be much help here I'm afraid Tosca.  We did have a member once who was good at working out colouring whether the parent stock are from the gold (dark) or the silver (light) spectrum, but I can't remember who it was.

The only problem with your particular crosses are that even if you knew the breeds they crossed to get your hens, the commercial breeders also breed genes from other breeds into those parents to get more eggs, more docility etc into those birds.

You may just have to wait until the boys start to crow! X

[tosca100]

You're right of course. Just thought it was worth an ask.

And it won't make any difference, looking forward to seeing how they turn out. At the moment, cute as only tiny chicks can be

[Sassy]

My Grandmother used an old fashioned ( now ) mophead to brood chicks - usually still attached to the mop handle!