Are their any breeders doing a production rate blue egg layer project?

[venymae]

Hello all, I am looking for blue egg chickens but I'm looking for production quality. I don't care about the looks I just want them to lay a lot of large blue eggs or as close to that as I can get. I've had Easter eggers in the past whose rates were three to four medium eggs a week. I'm looking for something more like my production Red who lays six to seven eggs a week and they are jumbo sized. Not sure if this is been done or maybe I need to move to the country and start my own breeding project, but if you have been breeding for egg production in blue eggers let me know! I am looking for a good color and good quantity

 

[NatJ]

I have no personal experience with these birds, but the description sounds like what you're asking for:
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/whiting_true_blue.html
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/whiting_true_green.html

In the stats section on each page, McMurray lists Cream Legbars as "Fair" layers, Ameraucanas (Easter Eggers) as "Good," something else as "Better," and the Whitings as "Best."

(The main reason I haven't tried them: they tend to be sold out for all dates in the near future. But if they turn out to be what you want, it would be faster to order months in advance than to actually create your own breed over several years' time.)

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I have no personal experience with these birds, but the description sounds like what you're asking for:
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/whiting_true_blue.html
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/whiting_true_green.html

In the stats section on each page, McMurray lists Cream Legbars as "Fair" layers, Ameraucanas (Easter Eggers) as "Good," something else as "Better," and the Whitings as "Best."

(The main reason I haven't tried them: they tend to be sold out for all dates in the near future. But if they turn out to be what you want, it would be faster to order months in advance than to actually create your own breed over several years' time.)

I can vouch for the WTB's. I've had mine for almost 2 years, and she still lays 6+ eggs a week, her longest streak was 18 days straight. Her eggs are large sized, but not huge.

 

[venymae]

I have no personal experience with these birds, but the description sounds like what you're asking for:
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/whiting_true_blue.html
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/whiting_true_green.html

In the stats section on each page, McMurray lists Cream Legbars as "Fair" layers, Ameraucanas (Easter Eggers) as "Good," something else as "Better," and the Whitings as "Best."

(The main reason I haven't tried them: they tend to be sold out for all dates in the near future. But if they turn out to be what you want, it would be faster to order months in advance than to actually create your own breed over several years' time.)

I guess I should have been more clear. I am looking for a true breed, not a hybrid. So a bird that will breed true down the line. I've made my own OEs before using production RRs hens and an Araucana cock. They laid very well, and had cute rumpless bootys , but won't breed true (like the whitings, EEs, etc.). I'm looking for someone who has taken a blue laying breed and bred specifically for egg color and quantity, not for looks.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I guess I should have been more clear. I am looking for a true breed, not a hybrid. So a bird that will breed true down the line. I've made my own OEs before using production RRs hens and an Araucana cock. They laid very well, and had cute rumpless bootys , but won't breed true (like the whitings, EEs, etc.). I'm looking for someone who has taken a blue laying breed and bred specifically for egg color and quantity, not for looks.

WTB's breed true for egg color

 

[venymae]

WTB's breed true for egg color

Interesting, because there are quite a few reviews on the website the link goes to that said several of theirs laid tan eggs. Maybe not a good place to get them? I will have to research the breed more. Thank you!

 

[venymae]

I can vouch for the WTB's. I've had mine for almost 2 years, and she still lays 6+ eggs a week, her longest streak was 18 days straight. Her eggs are large sized, but not huge.

Wow that's amazing!! What was the color like for her first year of eggs?

 

[NatJ]

Interesting, because there are quite a few reviews on the website the link goes to that said several of theirs laid tan eggs. Maybe not a good place to get them? I will have to research the breed more. Thank you!

There are two versions:
Whiting True Blue (supposed to breed true for blue egg color, according to the hatchery.)
Whiting True Green (where I see more reviews mentioning brown eggs, and I do not see a statement about breeding true for egg color.)

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

Blue eggs are dominant so even one gene (heterozygous) will lay blue eggs, the tend to be lighter blue. If you breed two heterozygous together the offspring come out 25% will be homozygous for blue eggs, 50% heterozygous, and 25% will be homozygous recessive meaning white eggs.
It will be alot of test breeding to root out the heterozygous birds. But doable.

Green eggs are just blue eggs plus brown finish. Brown eggs are white eggs with brown finish. The brown finish is a much more complicated genetics.

This is another breeding project I'd love to do!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Wow that's amazing!! What was the color like for her first year of eggs?

They're a pale sky blue, have been since she started laying, and she never laid a "pullet" egg, her eggs have been consistent since she started at around 19 weeks. Not the best lighting, but hers is second to last. She is an amazing bird, very smart and friendly!