blue egg genetics

[Cedarknob]

Okay, let's assume the ameraucanas are pure for the blue eggshell gene (O/O). Therefore all their offspring will inherit a copy. Assuming that the rooster has one copy of the blue eggshell gene and one copy of not-blue eggshell (O/o+), about half the offspring will inherit two copies of O and about half will inherit only one copy. So based simply on that, all will lay an egg with a blue eggshell; some will have more blue as they have two copies of the gene. Now a green egg is made by adding a layer of brown pigment over the outer surface of the eggshell, Assuming all ameraucana ancestors contributed very little in the way of brown egg genes, it is all up to the australorp parent and what all genes he carries, and realize that his offspring will not inherit more than one copy of each. Australorps are not known for laying a dark brown egg, and with at most one copy of each of the brown egg genes, that will be even lighter. So, from the ameraucanas, expect pale green eggs; some may appear closer to blue; it just depends on what that individual bird inherited.

Okay now pair the same rooster to an RIR, who lays darker eggs, and has no copies of the blue eggshell gene. About half of the birds will be O/o+ and the other half o+/o+. They will all inherit brown egg genes from both parents; since RIR eggs tend to be a slightly darker brown than australorps' the O/o+ birds' eggs are likely to appear more green, but once again, it really can vary from one bird to another, depending on the exact genetic soup that bird inherits. So, about half green, about half brown.

Never mind, you edited out your error.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: LOL! Caught it just after I clicked on SUBMIT.

 

[nicalandia]

There's better than a 90% probability that the pullets with pea combs will lay green eggs

its closer to 95% chance but, thats all he needs to know to cull any single comb hens or birds, would you keep all of the single comb birds just to see if you are lucky and get that one single comb green egger?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Well, maybe they want to breed in single combs? Once you have the crossover, the gene is linked to single comb for that bird. Pretty sure that is how it was done with the legbars.

 

[nicalandia]

Well, maybe they want to breed in single combs? Once you have the crossover, the gene is linked to single comb for that bird. Pretty sure that is how it was done with the legbars.

maybe they do maybe they dont, he was not that specific... single comb blue eggers are a long shot, and once the gene crosses over is impossible to tell if a hen will lay olive green eggs or dark brown eggs(if a green egger is the main goal) because the breeder will be breeding back to dark brown egger to get more olive eggers, the breeder would need to keep ALL single comb hens and wait for them to start laying eggs, then cull the brown eggers and keep the olive eggers... thats a lot of hens to keep

 

[cmfarm]

I am actually just planing on selling them. I just wanted to know how to advertise the egg color that they will produce. So I can tell people the ones with single combs will most likely lay brown eggs. I may keep a few to sell as POL pullets in the spring, and to see what kinds of colors I get with the eggs.

 

[nicalandia]

I am actually just planing on selling them. I just wanted to know how to advertise the egg color that they will produce. So I can tell people the ones with single combs will most likely lay brown eggs. I may keep a few to sell as POL pullets in the spring, and to see what kinds of colors I get with the eggs.

thats correct... if you want more green eggers just keep the pea comb hens and cross them back to Marans, or any other dark eggers...