Basic genetic question from a newbie...

[JAL]

I have a small group of 9 hens, 3 pullets, and a roo - all EEs but have strong Ameraucana characteristics. All eggs are blue inside but some have a very slight green hue on the outside. At least one of the new pullets lays a pure blue egg without any overlay.
If I select the bluest eggs for a broody hen, will I be able to limit the brown overlay, or do genes lurk for a couple generations? A picture is attached - cell phone pics are not the greatest. The top shell has the brown overlay and light greenish tint The bottom shell is exactly the same inside and out.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Look at the variation seen EVEN among purebred Ameraucana.. it varies by line and variety..

If I select the bluest eggs for a broody hen, will I be able to limit the brown overlay, or do genes lurk for a couple generations?

See post #6 in the following link for a semi detailed explanation..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-blue-and-green-egg-breeding-out-the-tan.838129/

 

[NatJ]

I have a small group of 9 hens, 3 pullets, and a roo - all EEs but have strong Ameraucana characteristics. All eggs are blue inside but some have a very slight green hue on the outside. At least one of the new pullets lays a pure blue egg without any overlay.
If I select the bluest eggs for a broody hen, will I be able to limit the brown overlay, or do genes lurk for a couple generations? A picture is attached - cell phone pics are not the greatest. The top shell has the brown overlay and light greenish tint The bottom shell is exactly the same inside and out.

Hatching the bluest eggs (little or no brown overlay) is probably the best strategy in that case.

But you might still see some brown wash, depending on what genes the rooster gives, and how they combine with the genes the hen gives. If any of the genes are recessive, they can keep getting inherited without being visible, and only show up later when a chick inherits the same gene from both parents.

If you are able to keep track of which chicks come from eggs from which hen, you can track whether daughters of some hens lay better eggs than daughters of other hens, and preferrentially breed more daughters from the best ones. ("Best" in this case being less or no brown overlay.)

 

[JAL]

Thank you so much! That was exactly what I needed to know and could not find a definitive answer elsewhere.
(Thank you also for the picture of the chart. That is a very wide range of colors.)

 

[JAL]

Thank you NatJ. I will work on using the bluest eggs and see how it goes! I really appreciate the input!