Sex Predetermination in Fowl Using some Egg Parameters in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Chicken egg is a miracle of creation which comes in different sizes, shapes and colours with the ability to hatch young chicks. In any poultry venture, the hatched chick sex ratio is paramount in attaining maximum profitability. Unfortunately, the most popular technique of chick sexing is the Japanese vent examination technique that requires specialist and high-tech facilities that may increase cost of production. Therefore, in a quest to develop a less ambiguous technique, egg parameters were studied to predetermine sex in fowl prior to hatching. A total of 450 freshly laid fertilized eggs were distributed into egg colour, weight and shape treatment groups accordingly. Data on egg hatchability, hatched chicks weight and male to female sex ratio were collected. Results indicated that 50g egg weight hatched 7 cockerels: 13 pullets ratio, 55g eggs (21 cockerels: 22 pullets), 60g eggs (5 cockerels: 3 pullets), Conical eggs (37 cockerels: 14 pullets) and Oval eggs hatched 19 cockerels: 45 pullets. Other parameters measured were White egg colour (5 cockerels: 3 pullets), Silvery Brown eggs (13 cockerels: 17 pullets), while the only Spotted Black egg hatched a pullet. Since the treatment groups hatched both sexes, egg parameters may be a more ambiguous method in fowl chick sex predetermination.