Arkansas Blue egg layers

[dheltzel]

My thoughts exactly. And you avoid the breeding out of the dominant white gene. My next hatch I have to factor in that I need to hatch twice as many chicks from my hens that are carrying 1 dominant white gene because 50% will also hatch white(with a black or blue cockerel that is). Luckily at this point in my breeding, I have 2 birds like this, and 4 that are either black or barred blue egg layers from this project cross. At least with the California Greys you would have all black (blue based black I hope? I don't know enough about the Calif Grey) so you can hatch out enough to focus just on culls instead of eliminating(selling) 1/2 at hatch because of dominant white then factoring in culls for better production/type.

But I have so much fun hatching and selecting birds I really cannot complain.

If you use a black roo over CA greys, you can easily sex the chicks, if the head spot is not clear, wait until the wing feathers are present at a few days and any with white tips are male. I am doing this cross with Barred Hollands covered by a black Ameraucana roo and the color phenotypes would be the same.

Don't use a blue or splash roo if you want the sex the chicks by color, any blue chicks will not sex well at all because the blue fades the black so much the barring can't be seen. I made a lot of those blue hybrids and am having to raise them up for a long time before I can separate the cockerels.

 

[caychris]

If you use a black roo over CA greys, you can easily sex the chicks, if the head spot is not clear, wait until the wing feathers are present at a few days and any with white tips are male. I am doing this cross with Barred Hollands covered by a black Ameraucana roo and the color phenotypes would be the same.

Don't use a blue or splash roo if you want the sex the chicks by color, any blue chicks will not sex well at all because the blue fades the black so much the barring can't be seen. I made a lot of those blue hybrids and am having to raise them up for a long time before I can separate the cockerels.

You have barred hollands do you have a BH roo.

 

[dheltzel]

You have barred hollands do you have a BH roo.

Yes, I even have some extras free ranging around the farm, but I'm all the way across the country from you.

 

[caychris]

Just wondering if I might get hatching eggs sometime

I got some from Parish Farmgirl (FB Name) that are due to hatch on Sat but only 4 made it to lock down

 

[dheltzel]

Just wondering if I might get hatching eggs sometime

I got some from Parish Farmgirl (FB Name) that are due to hatch on Sat but only 4 made it to lock down

I sent you a PM so this thread could go back to Arkansas Blues . . .

 

[caychris]

I sent you a PM so this thread could go back to Arkansas Blues . . .

yeah did not mean to hy-jack I'm patiently waiting on my Ark Blues from Ron.

 

[Manningjw]

Just wondering if I might get hatching eggs sometime

I got some from Parish Farmgirl (FB Name) that are due to hatch on Sat but only 4 made it to lock down

4 out of how many? Out of 12 that's not too bad for shipped eggs!

 

[caychris]

4 out of how many? Out of 12 that's not too bad for shipped eggs!

14 but 2 were cracked 1 had a small not leaking hole that was sealed with wax. There were many clears and a couple of blood rings

 

[farmhand]

My question is; if Arkansas Blues are such good layers, why is it so hard to get eggs?

 

[enola]

I think all of the flocks are still very small.