Blue egg layers?

[Mountain Peeps]

Are auracnas, ameracanas & EEs the only pure bred blue egg layers? (I know EEs can lay an assortment if colors. ) I'm not looking for a very detailed answer

Thanks!

 

[KendyF]

Well some would say EEs are not pure breed, as they are not recognized and do not have standard attributes in their off-spring. The others on your list can be questionable depending on spelling, and breeders. Legbars lay blue eggs, and I think there are others. (How is that for a nice short answer.)

 

[DCchicken]

There are several pure breeds for blue eggs: auracnas, ameracanas, Cream Legbars, and Arkansas Blues. Easter Eggers are not a breed. They are a hybrid and you are not guaranteed to get a blue egg.

For sure laying capability of blue eggs, the Arkansas Blue wins hands down. I have some that just started laying at 14 weeks. Plus because they are based upon a research grade Leghorn, they are small in size and eat very little. And they lay a large egg. The problem is finding a breeder with eggs or chicks willing to sell. I went through several egg shipments before I got a flock of them going.

But I also like my Cream Legbars. But they don't start laying for 24 weeks or later.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thank you both so much! That is perfect!

 

[DCchicken]

Since it is hard to find picture of an Arkansas Blue. Here you go:

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Since it is hard to find picture of an Arkansas Blue. Here you go:

Ok wow! I've never even seen this breed before! Thanks!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

There are several pure breeds for blue eggs: auracnas, ameracanas, Cream Legbars, and Arkansas Blues. Easter Eggers are not a breed. They are a hybrid and you are not guaranteed to get a blue egg.

For sure laying capability of blue eggs, the Arkansas Blue wins hands down. I have some that just started laying at 14 weeks. Plus because they are based upon a research grade Leghorn, they are small in size and eat very little. And they lay a large egg. The problem is finding a breeder with eggs or chicks willing to sell. I went through several egg shipments before I got a flock of them going.

But I also like my Cream Legbars. But they don't start laying for 24 weeks or later.

X 2 - except that even the Arkansas Blue being a "breed" would be an interesting discussion - here is an interesting discussion https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/624359/blue-egg-layers-from-university-of-arkansas

 

[DCchicken]

X 2 - except that even the Arkansas Blue being a "breed" would be an interesting discussion - here is an interesting discussion https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/624359/blue-egg-layers-from-university-of-arkansas

Well that's true for every chicken breed. Some are just standardized and approved by the APA. However, just because the APA doesn't recognize them doesn't negate the fact that they do in fact breed true. I have 15 rare breeds. Not a single one, including the English Orpingtons are recognized by the APA. Yet some of my breeds like Ayam Cemani and Svart Hona breed true and sell for thousands of dollars. So "breed" is a strange word with chickens. It's more about appearance and standard features than true "breeds" in other animals.

 

[Manningjw]

I agree, it doesn't need to be recognized by APA to be considered a breed. We have to keep in mind, there are many different APA type organizations with their own specific breed standards. An English standard White Leghorn will not meet breed standard for APA for example.

 

[Manningjw]

For those of you interested here is the new link to the Arkansas Blue Egg layers thread, the previous linked thread was closed by it's author: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/874920/arkansas-blue-egg-layers

There are a handful of people maintaining the breed across the country but I am hoping I will be one of them next year. I will be combining them with my own breeding plan with essentially the same stated goal as the Arkansas blue layers but using Blue Ameraucanas instead of Araucana.