Delaware x Ameraucana = EE; Anybody doing this?

[austineight]

So they will look like black sex links instead of Easter Eggers? Confused.

 

[austineight]

Thanks everybody. I'm looking more for the Easter Egger look of pea combs, slate legs and beards in funky colors. Doesn't need to be sex-linked because I'm going to be keeping all of them. I guess I was under the impression that a lot of the Am genes for appearance come through when it is crossed. I've had a couple red sex link hatchery chicks and was not a fan. Heck, maybe I should just start building up a flock of pure Ameraucanas instead.

Ridgerunner, great discussion about what people breed for. Thanks for that. I do not plan on showing my birds, but am interested in slowly culling ones that are obviously not SOP, but with more of a production bent (small scale production). I've had chickens for a few years and have always loved reading about genetics, but haven't had the space to really get my chicken nerd on... until NOW!

Maybe it would be simpler to tell y'all what I'm looking for. Because I'm not 100% set on breeds.

1. Because I want to start selling eggs asap I am thinking I need to order large quantities from a hatchery. Cackle is not very far away from me, so I was thinking of ordering from them.
2. I want to be able to hatch my own replacement layers, and process mature roos for meat. My bf and I both have experience processing chickens, ducks, guinea, etc. I don't want to raise cornish cross, nor do I particularly like Freedom Rangers.
3. I want good layers and I want multicolored eggs for marketing.
4. I want to have heritage breed layers for sustainability, marketing, and because then I can breed my own without relying on buying more every year or two.
5. I *do* have a soft spot in my heart for EEs, they've been some of the best chickens I've had. Good foragers, good layers, good temperaments, plays well with others, thrifty.
6. I want to take this opportunity to learn more about and experiment with breeding!

So with all that being said, I need a dual purpose heritage bird. I've never owned a New Hampshire, but am not really interested in Orpingtons or RIR. If it were up to me I would have ALL grey birds (lav) all the time..... but that's just me being silly. (sorta)

I like Ams, so will get some for more of a hobby style breeding project anyway... In addition to the bantam wyandottes I already have....uh oh..

 

[nicalandia]

So they will look like black sex links instead of Easter Eggers? Confused.

well black sexlinks that have beard and pea combs..

 

[austineight]

Yeah. Ha. I was thinking about it more today and realized yeah.... EE with coloring like black sexlink. Thanks!

 

[nicalandia]

Yeah. Ha. I was thinking about it more today and realized yeah.... EE with coloring like black sexlink. Thanks!