Arkansas Blue egg layers

[1muttsfan]

The blue egg color gene O (dominant, blue) and o (recessive, white) is autosomal, not sex-linked. Sometimes being homozygous (OO) produces a deeper shade of blue.

If your AB rooster is OO (2 copies of the dominant blue egg gene), you will get all blue egg layers if crossed with a white egg layer (oo). All will be heterozygous for blue eggs (Oo)

If he is Oo, the offspring will be split between blue (Oo) and white (oo) layers.

The only problem with using very light colored birds such as splashes, Cal Greys or Delawares in sex link crosses is that the new hatched chick colors are very similar, and males and females can be harder to tell apart. I had some gold-based autosexing Delaware crosses that all pretty much looked yellow at hatch.

 

[johnderosa1]

The blue egg color gene O (dominant, blue) and o (recessive, white) is autosomal, not sex-linked.  Sometimes being homozygous (OO) produces a deeper shade of blue.

If your AB rooster is OO (2 copies of the dominant blue egg gene), you will get all blue egg layers if crossed with a white egg layer (oo).  All will be heterozygous for blue eggs (Oo)

If he is Oo, the offspring will be split between blue (Oo) and white (oo) layers.

The only problem with using very light colored birds such as splashes, Cal Greys or Delawares in sex link crosses is that the new hatched chick colors are very similar, and males and females can be harder to tell apart.  I had some gold-based autosexing Delaware crosses that all pretty much looked yellow at hatch.

If the AB is pure, wouldnt it be OO? Ive not heard of anyone getting white eggs from them. If they some of them were Oo some offspring would produce white eggs

 

[ronott1]

If the AB is pure, wouldnt it be OO? Ive not heard of anyone getting white eggs from them. If they some of them were Oo some offspring would produce white eggs

Yep, no white eggs!

 

[1muttsfan]

I sure hope so!

I think the fact that they were thoughtfully developed by an expert in chicken genetics would help ensure that he did what needed to be done to make them what he had intended.

 

[caj1985]

I have just been informed by my employer (I work for a poultry company.) that due to the threat of AI, I have to immediately dispose of all my birds. This has to be done prior to March 15th. I am going to see if I can locate local people to take over my different flocks. My biggest concern will be my Arkansas Blues as the other purebreds I have can be easily replaced by someone else's flock. The gene pool is so small on these that I hate the idea of removing any from breeding availability.

I have several houses that we have built over the last four years.

 

[ronott1]

I have just been informed by my employer (I work for a poultry company.) that due to the threat of AI, I have to immediately dispose of all my birds. This has to be done prior to March 15th. I am going to see if I can locate local people to take over my different flocks. My biggest concern will be my Arkansas Blues as the other purebreds I have can be easily replaced by someone else's flock. The gene pool is so small on these that I hate the idea of removing any from breeding availability.

I have several houses that we have built over the last four years.

WOW!

I hope you can find a place for them. Do you have fertile eggs yet?

 

[Metella]

caj1985 - NO !!!!!

This is terrible news

I would love all the AB - I have two pure right now - a hen and a roo, both came out grey/splashed - look very much like your avatar picture .... but this is a breed I want and such difficulty getting started last year.

I have a snap lock coop good for 15+ birds which I wanted to use for my AB flock - but have kept my two in general circulation since there was just the two of them. I am also 1/2 way finished with a larger "main coop"

If you are interested - pm me and we can trade phone numbers and info - I'm happy for you to interview me before making a decision.

 

[caj1985]

WOW!

I hope you can find a place for them. Do you have fertile eggs yet?

I have some in the incubator at the moment checking fertility with the blue cockerel that won't be going anywhere. The black hen in with the new roo hasn't settled down to laying yet after her trip and the change of environment. LOL They are both in shock at the weather changes we have here.

 

[caj1985]

caj1985 - NO !!!!!

This is terrible news

I would love all the AB - I have two pure right now - a hen and a roo, both came out grey/splashed - look very much like your avatar picture .... but this is a breed I want and such difficulty getting started last year.

I have a snap lock coop good for 15+ birds which I wanted to use for my AB flock - but have kept my two in general circulation since there was just the two of them. I am also 1/2 way finished with a larger "main coop"

If you are interested - pm me and we can trade phone numbers and info - I'm happy for you to interview me before making a decision.

Where do you live? I hate to subject the two newbies to another USPS trip this soon.

 

[farmhand]

Feeling bad about your news. I can understand why your company would make this decesion but it's so hard to let go of something that becomes part of you.
Maybe you could co-opt with someone in you area. Kinda the same as now from the company's view through