Easter Egger club!

[junebuggena]

I thought that by breeding an EE with a brown egg laying hen it would make an Olive Egger? I'm still new at EE's as well, or is it only by breeding a pure bred blue egger to a brown egger?

LOVE learning how they all work!!!

You need to cross a pure for blue breed (not a given with Easter Eggers) with a very dark brown laying breed, like Welsummer, Marans, or Barnevelder to get Olive Eggers. It's that extra dark brown coating that produces the Olive shade green.

 

[BertandMary]

You need to cross a pure for blue breed (not a given with Easter Eggers) with a very dark brown laying breed, like Welsummer, Marans, or Barnevelder to get Olive Eggers. It's that extra dark brown coating that produces the Olive shade green.

is it the roo that needs to be the brown egg layer or the hen?

 

[junebuggena]

is it the roo that needs to be the brown egg layer or the hen?

Doesn't matter.

 

[junebuggena]

Both the rooster and the hen will contribute genes for egg shell coloring.

 

[BertandMary]

Both the rooster and the hen will contribute genes for egg shell coloring.

ok thanks. Been trying to figure that out for a while. We've got Marans and Blue Ameraucana in the bater so we should be good next spring.

 

[jhomestead]

Here is a helpful chart about breeding for egg color (for the more visual folks, like myself).

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/232005818280198103/

 

[NomanChicken]

 

[amanda1]

We are broken-hearted to find out our Twilight is a cockerel. He's just 5 weeks old today. What are the chances I will be able to find him a good home? The sooner the better, we'd be less attached.

 

[junebuggena]

We are broken-hearted to find out our Twilight is a cockerel. He's just 5 weeks old today. What are the chances I will be able to find him a good home? The sooner the better, we'd be less attached.

Easter Egger cockerels are one of the easier breeds to rehome. List him for free, and don't ask questions.

 

[Sylvester017]

We are broken-hearted to find out our Twilight is a cockerel. He's just 5 weeks old today. What are the chances I will be able to find him a good home? The sooner the better, we'd be less attached.

It's a shame but something all of us owners face - unwanted cockerels. I've had to re-home a couple myself but had people lined up way in advance for those times I might think I have a cockerel or get one mis-shipped by a breeder. I know a Silkie breeder who charges from $100+ to over $300 for their pullets but the roos are all given away free--no questions asked. Sad but true about the plight of cockerels. I feel your pain!