Breeding EEs and Sexlink chickens

[Shadowfire.vixen]

Hi everyone.
So I’m going to be starting my flock over after moving and was thinking of starting to lay the base for a future breeding flock.
I’m thinking if I create a mixed flock of blue egg layers like Super Blues or Amaracuanas and a barred breed either PBR or Dominique with two roosters; RIR and Araucana (if I can get one). I could breed EEs and Black Sexlinks, maybe with later generations Olive Eggers.
Does anyone think this would work or any suggestions?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I will suggest... starting with true Ameraucana or Crested Cream Legbar... so you KNOW you have both blue egg laying genes and no brown mixed in already like EE... otherwise you are starting with unknowns.

I prefer Rocks over Dominique as their egg size is bit better and love their personality. We also eat our extra's and carcass size is better. Rose comb also just isn't MY favorite. So knowing what YOU like best is a good place to start. Of course CCL aren't gonna give the BEST carcass size, but they are still table worthy IMO... IF that's what you wanna keep.

You can do sex links in any number of solid colors, they don't have to be just black... AND CCL are ALREADY auto sexing! Not completely sure how work them in with sex linked though... are you clear on the difference between the two term already?

Will a lighter brown egg layer like Rock or Dom give you the "olive" color you are looking for... or just make it look tainted? Or do you need the dark brown of Welsummer or Marans to get it right?

Regarding keeping roosters... you might find certain breeds are easier to deal with. A real Araucana might be cool!

It's great to have a goal in mind. Keeping birds that really appeal to you is key for me... I would skip the Red, just not a good enough reputation... other than laying ability. But flock dynamics really effect enjoyment of the keeper.

Anyways, just a few thoughts of mine.

I hope you have a glorious and grand adventure!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

For creating Black Sex Link Easter Eggers I suggest getting 2 solid colored (black, buff,) true Ameraucana cocks and putting them over Dominique, Cuckoo Marans, Barred Plymouth Rocks or any other barred/cuckoo birds you come across. This cross will yield sex links that will lay olive eggs and varying shades of green. Of course if you can also add other breeds into the flock and create non sex linked F1 Easter Eggers which will lay blue or green eggs.

 

[Sneebsey]

I'd avoid the rose comb, definitely, as it will hide the pea comb that is very closely linked to those blue eggs you want. Your EE will throw single combed offspring when bred to a single combed Cockerel, but by only retaining pea combed birds, you'll have a far better chance of blue eggs.

If you wish to create sex-links with these, you can develop your barred female line, working toward birds pure for both barring and blue eggs, then cross those hens with any Cockerel without barring. A black ameraucana would work well for blue eggs, black copper marans for the olive.

It sounds like a fun project. Be sure to start with production type birds as opposed to show stock, as you will no doubt want to push egg production with a mix like this.

 

[aart]

If you want OE's...skip the EE's.
BTDT...half lay brown.
Just bred Marans over Cream Legbar...sexlinked, guaranteed OE's.
BUT...CL blue was weak/pale, and olive is more khaki than dark green.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Your EE will throw single combed offspring when bred to a single combed Cockerel,

Nope... not mine, not a single straight one.... from my EE hen cross FBCM... almost all were bearded with feathered legs and PEA combs... my first generation gave basically Marans brown egg. It was just a test for fun hatching. Honestly all the EE cross boys I hatched acted like Stew Pidasso's and were gone to the freezer soonest. Handsome boys they were!

Some lines of Am's also have pale blue eggs. None of my EE have ever laid brown this far... half would be an awful lot and I would never buy (EE) from that specific hatchery again.

@aart I do think khaki is a splendid color to add to the basket though. Please share how the Marans cross CCL came out sex link, maybe my brain just isn't working right now or possibly one I haven't realized yet? Thanks. Hey now you can add blue back and maybe get mint!


Great info sharing guys!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

This is an Australorp x Crested Cream Legbar cross. I'm not really sure what color you would call the egg she lays, sage maybe? If you crossed a Dominique or Barred Rock with a blue egg layer they would lay a similar shade. The other egg is from an Australorp. ETA: Australorp Rooster x Cream Legbar hen. Thanks @aart!

 

[aart]

Please share how the Marans cross CCL came out sex link,

Solid colored cock(BCM) over barred pullet/hen(CCL)= male chicks with white head spot and females without head spot.
3 males and 3 females:

Australorp x Crested Cream Legbar cross

Male x female?(how it should be stated) should give sexlinked chicks too.

 

[Shadowfire.vixen]

I guess I’ll clarify a little.
I’m just looking at first gen crosses right now. ( I have no line breeding experience except fish)
I’m wanting to know if the roosters would “share” or is there some kind of dividing of the hens?
Would telling which hens eggs are from which rooster be too hard? Keep separate flocks?
Then separately if I have the crossing right.
Like Sneebsey pointing out the problems with pea vs rose combs. (Thanks Sneebsey I didn’t know about that!)
I have WPR and RIR hens one each and like their character and eggs.

Crosses intended
PBR x RIR (rooster)= Black Sexlinks
PBR x Araucana (rooster)= EE with less blue,
Ameracuana x Araucana (rooster)= EE blue
Ameracuana x RIR (rooster)= EE less blue
Possible second gen to create Olive Eggers? How with these breeds or not possible?

I’m writing all the facts suggestions down in a notebook.
The barred blue egg layer idea is interesting. I’ll work up to something like that eventually.

 

[Shadowfire.vixen]

And I apologize for the atrocious spelling on some of the breeds. My iPhone hates the breed names!