Breeding Darker Eggs

[bigredfeather]

I am wanting to get my Black Austalorp and Buff Orpington hens to lay darker eggs. If I cross breed these with a Welsummer, will it create a hen that lays darker eggs? I'm am still uneducated about cross breeding, so please don't think this is a stupid question. It may not even be possible to get darker eggs by cross breeding, that's why I'm asking the experts.

Thanks.

 

[Krys109uk]

Wouldn't it be easier to get a dark egg laying breed?

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
Yes it would probably be easier, but I'm trying to work with what I have.

 

[PlumTuckered]

I don't know the answer but we recently rescued a Cuckoo Maran roo and my RIR eggs have gone from a nice light-medium brown to a very dark brown. The only change in their lives is adding the CM Roo to the yard so I figure he's got to be the reason. My RIR hens are 2.5 yrs old. I always thought that the Hen had the only influence on egg coloring, now I'm thinking I was wrong LOL

Michelle

 

[Krys109uk]

The cock bird does not affect the colour of egg that existing birds lay. He can only affect the offspring.

 

[PlumTuckered]

Quote:
Exactly what I thought till this happened. Hmmm I wonder why my girls' eggs got so much darker?

Michelle

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Hormones? Eggscited about having a man in their lives?

 

[PlumTuckered]

Quote:
LOL! They've always had a roo with them so I don't think that's it.

Michelle

 

[Wynette]

Bigred, yes, if you bred your girls to a roo bred from a dark egg laying line, their offspring should lay darker. Good luck!

It's fun doing these little home projects!