Jim,
Let me know if you want those Blues cockerels we discussed. They will be going to auction next week otherwise. They are precocious! I saw one last night trying to breed one of the pullets and heard another practicing crowing. I would say two to three weeks and the pullets will be...
I know that blue to blue breeding in my birds does not give only blue. I can testify that the splash in these have the brightest colored splash I have seen.
I think it is because the white on the splash is a true brilliant white. It doesn't seem to have any yellow undertones.
They due breed true in that the birds are going to be the same, but all blue will give you blue, black, splash coloring if my understanding of the genetics is correct.
Mine will be around check you for treats if they aren't too busy hunting their own food when I let them out to free range, but they will not be jumping up on you for petting, etc. They also do not crowd around your feet in the pen like my RIR or Rhodebars do.
My girls have started laying. Fertility is 90% at one week. The only eggs pulled are those I suspect froze in the nest. However, with the weather as cold as it is, it will probably be a little while before I start shipping any eggs. I will start at the top of the waiting list and go down via...
I have found it depends upon socialization and the individual bird. Mine were extremely friendly as they were raised with Araucana and Faverolles until I added an outside cockerel that was nervous as they come. He has caused the entire coop to be extremely skittish. He isn't at all aggressive...
I have one hen that has just started back laying (4 eggs in 4 days with no extra lighting) after molting so it will be a little while before I can ship eggs again. Hopefully the others will kick in soon.
None of the blue egg laying brown leghorns have been been released. I have been told they are a "project" for a graduate student. Hopefully sometime in the near future these will be available.
Right now my birds are all molting. My pens look like someone had a pillow finght. I'll post when mine start back laying. It may be spring since I do not use additional lighting or heat.
I have a splash pullet that laid her first egg today also. I'm not sure what her age is because she was just an extra egg that I put in with another hatch. It was interesting to compare the color with the hens that hatched last May. The hens haven't molted yet and have definitely faded some...
I lost one of my hens yesterday. She was dead under the roost with her neck broke when I went to collect eggs and feed and water last night. Apparently she startled under the roost and flew into it and broke her neck. For some reason, I have noticed that all of my splash are much more flighty...
The University dispersed their flock so the only way to get the U of A line is from someone that currently has them. The originator Whiting Farms only sells locally.
If you want eggs/chicks there are a few people on there that have these of a laying age. I'm sure you will find someone that...