Arkansas Blue egg layers

Pics
They were developed in a graduate research project to be commercial blue egg laying hens. High production and good feed efficiency a very important in commercial birds. I think it was just too hard to get people to eat blue eggs :idunno

I'm downsizing my flock and just don't have the room for the kind of work it would take to get these birds back up on their feet again.
Would you say the University used a commercial Leghorn like Novogen Whites x Araucanas or Ameraucanas?

Seen a couple Hatcheries listing Novogen White chicks.
I just seen some AB stock in California, the males have a Rose Comb not Pea type of Comb.
Which is confusing since seeing so many AB with peacombs.
I never read the University using RCWL as the cross used.
 
Last edited:
My understanding is that they used white leghorns and BBS araucanas. They don't really have a rose comb, I've heard it referred to as a messy pea comb, which describes it pretty well I think.
It is a cute little comb! Perfect for cold weather.
 
My understanding is that they used white leghorns and BBS araucanas. They don't really have a rose comb, I've heard it referred to as a messy pea comb, which describes it pretty well I think.
I can see them having a sloppy pea comb kinda like Easter Eggers. When I've crossed Single Comb x Pea I've gotten that type.
Ones I seen I believe are from KernH on here, they look like they're Rose type.
Big cushion with lots of points on top.
Wondering if some hidden genetic background has popped up over time.
I just seen Kern posted pictures in Facebook Group called "Blue Eggs, Breeds that lay blue and Blue Eggers"
I really don't like posting others pictures without permission.
So hopefully Kern see's this and posts his AB flocks for you to see.
I remember he wanted eggs from you a couple years back.
Since most of the original AB stock has been depleted or lost entirely, having Kern still breeding his stock is reassuring to those that want to continue with AB's.
I know here in California there's been a new interest in all the crosses created using Commercial High Production Leghorn x Araucanas or Ameraucanas. Other than
Arkansas Blues I think Whiting's True Blues, Prairie Blue Bells & Azur (known to be in Canada and the UK) were also created with this cross.
 
It's a tremendous amount of work developing a commercial egg layer breed. First of all you have to consider type, color, egg color, and egg production. You have to breed a lot of birds and do a lot of culling to achieve something that is standardized, while avoiding some of the pitfalls like selecting egg color over productivity.
 
It's a tremendous amount of work developing a commercial egg layer breed. First of all you have to consider type, color, egg color, and egg production. You have to breed a lot of birds and do a lot of culling to achieve something that is standardized, while avoiding some of the pitfalls like selecting egg color over productivity.
Totally agree I don't have that much room to even start such a program.
Now a days with cost to feed livestock takes funding like the Arkansas University had. You get paid to do what you love.
Now that's a dream job.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom