easter egger - what to cross?

[chickengr]

hi, I have different pullets and I would like to breed easter eggers. it is more convenient to me to get a blue/green egg male. what would do better: a true rumpless araucana or ameraucana?

I already have a chic which is a silky/araucana cross, is she considered an EE?

 

[GitaBooks]

Sounds like a fun project.

Easter Eggers do vary a lot, as they are cross-breeds, they usually show a similar shape to them. They often have a beard, a long tail that curves up in hens, green/grey legs, a pea comb, and a similar weight to them. Because of these reasons, creating an Easter Egger means selecting for good egg laying, egg color, as well as the birds appearance.

Ameraucans look more like Easter Eggers and are easier to acquire then Araucanas.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions.

Best of luck!

 

[torilovessmiles]

Just my opinion, go with a Ameraucana. Araucanas are more expensive, rare, and because they have no tails they tend to have lower fertility rates.
Easter Eggers don't really have a standard, so a silkie/ameraucana could be considered an Easter Egger, technically. I don't know if I'd sell her as one though. Like GitaBooks said, you'll want them to look somewhat similar to hatchery EEs. Perhaps Salmon Faverolles would be a good hen to use in your project, too!

 

[GitaBooks]

Just my opinion, go with a Ameraucana. Araucanas are more expensive, rare, and because they have no tails they tend to have lower fertility rates.
Easter Eggers don't really have a standard, so a silkie/ameraucana could be considered an Easter Egger, technically. I don't know if I'd sell her as one though. Like GitaBooks said, you'll want them to look somewhat similar to hatchery EEs. Perhaps Salmon Faverolles would be a good hen to use in your project, too!

Salmon Faverolle x EEs would be really cool!

However, keep in mind 5 toes and feathered legs are both dominant traits and will show up in the cross.

 

[torilovessmiles]

Salmon Faverolle x EEs would be really cool!

However, keep in mind 5 toes and feathered legs are both dominant traits and will show up in the cross.

True, but since EEs don't have a standard I think feathered legs or possibly an extra toe would be a pretty minor difference. Pea comb is dominant to single, so they'd be pea-combed, unless I'm mistaken! It would be less of a difference than a Silkie-feathered EE! lol! Also, those traits could be bred out by only continuing to breed 4 toed and clean-legged birds. There are actually 3 genes that control leg feathering. 2 are incompletely dominant, and one is recessive. So it would be pretty easy to phase out when breeding to other (clean legged) breeds.
I think Belgian D'anvers would make a great cross for Bantam EEs, too!

 

[chickengr]

Sounds like a fun project.

Easter Eggers do vary a lot, as they are cross-breeds, they usually show a similar shape to them. They often have a beard, a long tail that curves up in hens, green/grey legs, a pea comb, and a similar weight to them. Because of these reasons, creating an Easter Egger means selecting for good egg laying, egg color, as well as the birds appearance.

Ameraucans look more like Easter Eggers and are easier to acquire then Araucanas.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions.

Best of luck!

Sounds like a fun project.

Easter Eggers do vary a lot, as they are cross-breeds, they usually show a similar shape to them. They often have a beard, a long tail that curves up in hens, green/grey legs, a pea comb, and a similar weight to them. Because of these reasons, creating an Easter Egger means selecting for good egg laying, egg color, as well as the birds appearance.

Ameraucans look more like Easter Eggers and are easier to acquire then Araucanas.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions.

Best of luck!

Just my opinion, go with a Ameraucana. Araucanas are more expensive, rare, and because they have no tails they tend to have lower fertility rates.
Easter Eggers don't really have a standard, so a silkie/ameraucana could be considered an Easter Egger, technically. I don't know if I'd sell her as one though. Like GitaBooks said, you'll want them to look somewhat similar to hatchery EEs. Perhaps Salmon Faverolles would be a good hen to use in your project, too!

thank you.

I can get both ameraucana and araucana cheap - from a friend. but it seems that ameraucana fits better. I also ordered a faverolles pullet. the others I have are: minorca, marans, brahma and naked neck. would I get a good layer if I cross golden comets to ameraucana?

I don't mind if they have 5 toes, feathered legs or a crest, I like unusual things so unusual chickens are just fine. I will take a photo of my silky/araucana cross and post it tomorrow. she is adorable. she was an accident and the breeder didn't want her and I am very happy to have her. I hope she will lay blue eggs.

 

[torilovessmiles]

thank you.

I can get both ameraucana and araucana cheap - from a friend. but it seems that ameraucana fits better. I also ordered a faverolles pullet. the others I have are: minorca, marans, brahma and naked neck. would I get a good layer if I cross golden comets to ameraucana?

I don't mind if they have 5 toes, feathered legs or a crest, I like unusual things so unusual chickens are just fine. I will take a photo of my silky/araucana cross and post it tomorrow. she is adorable. she was an accident and the breeder didn't want her and I am very happy to have her. I hope she will lay blue eggs.

Breeding in Golden Comets would contribute excellent egg production, as would leghorns. If you use leghorn, I'd go brown for the coloring
The Marans may lead to olive eggers, but I'm not sure on their genetics. I think it may take a couple generations of breeding to get the blue shell and brown pigment.
Keep us updated through your project!

 

[chickengr]

Breeding in Golden Comets would contribute excellent egg production, as would leghorns. If you use leghorn, I'd go brown for the coloring
The Marans may lead to olive eggers, but I'm not sure on their genetics. I think it may take a couple generations of breeding to get the blue shell and brown pigment.
Keep us updated through your project!

I have 2 white leghorns only. tried to find brown but no luck. as it is hot here and no hawks, etc. some white EE would be fine. I want olive eggers too, that is why I will use marans. I guess golden comets will make olive eggers, too as their eggs are dark brown. I found this:

my pullets are young and ameraucana male is hatching, so my project will be for the next year.

 

[chickengr]

this is my silky/araucana cross:


her mom is a buff silky and her dad is a rumpless araucana.

 

[GitaBooks]

this is my silky/araucana cross:


her mom is a buff silky and her dad is a rumpless araucana.

Beautiful colors!