Back At The Chicken Shack

[Lauravonsmurf]

Gorgeous girls

Thank you, hubby and I are figuring out what breeds to replace. More Phoenix are definitely on our list. We want to add a few more blue egg layers & replace the Swedish Black Hens.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Ok I am looking at my options for Blue Eggs.

I have never had better Blue Egg Layers then my Star Wars theme named Hens too EE Hens.

EEs are absolutely hit & miss on what you get. Now these girls we purchased from the feed store, they were chosen based on having the “chipmunk” cheeks, pea comb & the “wild chick” markings that tends to make messing up the sexing at the hatchery less likely. The feed store we got them at orders from Ideal normally.

EEs from other sources I have gotten have turned out to be green layers mostly.

So my options are or were? Trying to figure out what I want.

Parking My Notes from the Great InterWeb here:

Araucana

Eggs​

• Araucanas lay approximately 3 eggs per week or 150-200 eggs annually.
• The eggs are typically medium in size.
• Araucanas are renowned for their beautiful light blue eggs.

Breed​

• This breed originated in Chile and is known for its distinctive appearance.
• Araucanas are a medium-sized breed and bantam varieties are also available.
• They’re known for their tufted ears and lack of tail (rumpless), Araucanas have a unique look. They typically do not have feathered legs or beards/muffs, their skin color is usually white, and they have a pea comb.

¡Tufted Ears are a lethal gene!

• While they come in various colors, the most common are black, white, and lavender.
• Araucanas are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) in the following colors: black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, self blue, silver, wheaten, and white.
• Araucanas generally have a lifespan of around 6 to 8 years depending on their care and environment.

Ameraucana

¡EEs often sold under this name, though this practice from hatcheries is beginning to change!

Eggs​

• Ameraucanas are known to lay around 3-4 eggs per week, which is about 150-180 eggs per year.
• The eggs are typically medium-sized.
• Ameraucanas are celebrated for their sky-blue eggs.

Breed​

• The Ameraucana breed was developed in the United States. They originate from the Araucana chickens of Chile but were bred to eliminate some genetic issues.
• This breed is medium-sized, with bantam varieties available as well.
• Ameraucanas are recognized for their beards and muffs. They also have a pea comb and slate-colored legs, and do not have feathered legs.
• The American Poultry Association recognizes a range of colors, including black, blue, blue wheaten, brown red, buff, self blue, silver, wheaten, and white,
• Similar to other chicken breeds, Ameraucanas generally have a lifespan of around 6 to 8 years depending on their care and environment.

Arkansas Blue

¡May not exist anymore, may have become part of another blue egg strain as stock sold to a hatchery, more research needed!

• They are known to produce 200-300 eggs a year.
• The Arkansas Blue is a medium-sized bird and is a suitable breed for backyards of various sizes.
• These birds are not particularly fond of being around people (which might be a consideration if you're looking for a pet-like interaction with your chickens).
• As for space requirements, like most chicken breeds, they would appreciate enough room to move around and forage.

Butter Blues (Whiting)
Butter Blues are a single-combed blue egg
layer with a bright, distinctive look and plenty
of personality. Their eggs run a bit smaller than
some of our highest-production blue lines, but
they deliver consistent color and a steady
laying rate. Socialize them early for the
friendliest birds; they tend to be lively, talkative,
and can hold their own in the flock.

Egg Color: Blue

Egg Size: Large

Egg Production: 250-280 eggs/year

Temperament: Active, flighty

Broodiness: Unlikely

Cream Legbar

¡I had these, as well as crosses for Olive Eggers, I did not get very blue eggs, the Olive Eggers were hardy though!

Eggs​

• Cream Legbars typically produce around 5 eggs per week.
• Their eggs are medium-sized.
• They’re known for laying eggs that are light blue to light green.

Breed​

• This breed was developed in England and is a mix of Leghorn, Barred Plymouth Rock, and Araucana.
• Cream Legbars are medium-sized chickens. There is also a bantam variety of this breed.
• They have a single comb, yellow legs, and are adorned with a crest. They do not generally have muffs/beards or feathered legs.
• The primary coloring of Cream Legbars includes a barring of creams and grays. This chicken breed is not recognized by the American Poultry Association.
• Cream Legbars have a typical lifespan of 6 to 8 years depending on care and environmental conditions.

¡I did try raising the Sport Whites of these and they failed to thrive!

Creole Blues

Creole Blues are a Whiting-developed project
line designed to boost hardiness and
production in a crested, pea-combed bird. Egg
color can range from light blue to teal green,
depending on genetics. They are robust,
personable birds and tend to be a little hardier
and more fertile than Cream Legbars. They are
color sexable at hatch.

Egg Color: Blue-teal
Egg Size: Large
Egg Production: 200-225 eggs/year
Temperament: Friendly, calm
Broodiness: Unlikely

Easter Egger Standard & Bantam

¡I have only had Standard ones, egg colors from non Ideal ones have been green or brown so far. Hatchery lines on these seem to run a big range. I obviously have not ordered enough birds from enough different hatcheries to have a good idea of their lines, nor do I know how bantams produce!

I have done independent research on these as I had one early on. Hatchery line breeding practices makes a huge difference in if you are getting birds from the the bigger breeding pool of Chilean birds used to produce Auracana & the Americuana or something else completely.

Eggs​

• Easter Eggers typically lay about 4 eggs per week, which adds up to around 200-280 eggs annually.
• The eggs are generally medium to large.
• What sets Easter Eggers apart is the variety in egg color – they can lay eggs in shades of blue, green, cream, and even pink. Each hen will only lay eggs in one color and this remains consistent throughout her lifetime.

Breed​

• Easter Eggers are not a breed per se but a hybrid chicken derived from different breeds.
• They are medium-sized chickens, with a bantam variety also available in some cases.
• Easter Eggers display a wide variety of appearances, often sporting muffs, beards, and a variety of feather colors and patterns. Their leg color can also vary, and they typically have a pea comb.
• Easter Eggers are not recognized by the American Poultry Association.
• As with many chicken breeds, Easter Eggers generally live around 6 to 8 years depending on their care and environment.

Prairie Bluebell Hoover Hatchery

Prairie Bluebell Egger® lays a novel blue egg but produces higher quality eggs than a pure Araucana. This breed was created by crossing Araucanas and White Leghorns, this creates a chicken that lays a large quantity of eggs that have blue shells. The Prairie Bluebell Egger® is an active bird that is very good at foraging. They are lightweight and do not eat as much as larger breeds. Plumage color varies considerably among individuals, so you can count on having a great variety of beautiful color patterns. Purpose: Egg Layer Production: 240 Medium Blue Eggs/Year Temperament: Active, Athletic, Alert Mature Weight: 4-5 lbs. Hardiness: Cold and Heat Hardy Broodiness: Rarely Comb Type: Pea Comb

Whiting True Blue

Consistent production of blue eggs. What sets Whiting True Blues apart is their adaptable nature. Whether you live in a cooler or warmer climate, these hardy chickens are likely to thrive making them an excellent choice for various homesteads. Some of their characteristics are:

• They lay an average of 6 eggs a week or 250 a year.
• They lay beautiful blue eggs ranging from pale sky blue to deep turquoise.
• They’re medium-sized chickens known for their hardiness and adaptability.
• Whiting True Blues' friendly and docile nature makes them a joy to raise.
• Whiting True Blues are fairly active and enjoy free-ranging. They need a coop for shelter and nesting but also require a good amount of outdoor space for exercise and foraging.

Mesa Blue

Mesa Blues are a proprietary Whiting Farms
breed developed for high production of blue
eggs. They breed true, carry a single comb, and
reliably lay clear, pale blue eggs. Available in
four distinct color varieties, they combine
strong laying performance with a practical,
well-balanced builda€"an excellent choice for
keepers who want dependable output and a
standout egg basket.

Egg Color: Blue

Egg Size: Large

Egg Production: 230-260 eggs/year

Temperament: Active, flighty

Broodiness: Unlikely

Moon Dust Whiting (Pewter Blue)
Like Whiting True Blue but mutated pewter blue recessive feather color from one hen that is sex linked.
Egg Color: Blue

Egg Size: Large

Egg Production: 225-250 eggs/year

Temperament: Friendly, calm

Broodiness: Unlikely


Ok there are more strains no doubt. Seems lots of hatcheries trying to stabilise strains of blue & green egg layers as unique lines or hybrids. But this will get me started.

the Whiting True Blue started with Leghorns & Americuana crosses, probably this is why sometimes they had single comb

Arkansas Blue I think started as White Leghorn and Araucana

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

I had to trim these today…

After the trim, way safer now.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Just a few pictures of the garden & hens.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Found Princesses Nest… I don’t think any of the eggs are any good. But I want to move her this weekend out of the free roaming yard to a cage. So I won’t bug her till then. My hens are convinced the empty flower pots are nesting boxes She isn’t the only one using my empty pots, she is the only broody one. She wants babies.

 

[gullinkambe]

Found Princesses Nest… I don’t think any of the eggs are any good. But I want to move her this weekend out of the free roaming yard to a cage. So I won’t bug her till then. My hens are convinced the empty flower pots are nesting boxes She isn’t the only one using my empty pots, she is the only broody one. She wants babies.View attachment 4325465

Off course they think it's a nest, it's perfectly hen-sized! Even got a nice bit of dirt in it

She's a beauty btw, love her coloring!

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Off course they think it's a nest, it's perfectly hen-sized! Even got a nice bit of dirt in it

She's a beauty btw, love her coloring!

She is hot mad at me for taking her eggs away. I do believe she is a silver. But she has been all puffed up all day just mad as can be. Poor girl wants babies so bad.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

I took some pictures between the down pours… flock out getting the worms…

Eggs I know are fresh… the light one is actually blue

Thinking of harvesting some grape leaves for eating tomorrow