EE Genetics, egg color

[gus2pp]

I have two EE pullets, and two leghorn pullets (one exchequer, and one light brown) coming in to lay. I got what looked like a first timers white egg... But upon closer inspection it appears to be very light cream color. The outside of the shell is not the same color as the inside. Clearly the egg came from one of the EE pullets, am I right in assuming that? I've never owned EE, or Leghorns. I read somewhere recently that if an EE had slate colored legs they carry the gene for blue eggs. I'm not bothered by having a hen who lays cream colored eggs, I just like learning about the genetics.

 

[Kelsie2290]

It might still be from the leghorns, a lot of the colored leghorns don't seem to lay "White" eggs, at least not those chalk white eggs you get from the commercial birds, the colored ones often seem to lay more of an off white or tinted egg... EE leg color doesn't seem to have much to do with whether or not they carry the blue egg shell gene.

 

[gus2pp]

It might still be from the leghorns, a lot of the colored leghorns don't seem to lay "White" eggs, at least not those chalk white eggs you get from the commercial birds, the colored ones often seem to lay more of an off white or tinted egg... EE leg color doesn't seem to have much to do with whether or not they carry the blue egg shell gene.

Good to know. Thank you!

 

[donrae]

Leg color isn't related to egg shell color at all, but the comb style can be. The genes for the pea comb and the gene for the blue shell gene are supposed to be very close on the DNA, and I've read there's something like a 97% chance they get passed along together. So, take a look at your hen's combs. A straight combed bird is more likely to lay a brown/cream egg, a pea combed bird more likely to lay blue or green.

 

[Michael OShay]

Leg color isn't related to egg shell color at all, but the comb style can be. The genes for the pea comb and the gene for the blue shell gene are supposed to be very close on the DNA, and I've read there's something like a 97% chance they get passed along together. So, take a look at your hen's combs. A straight combed bird is more likely to lay a brown/cream egg, a pea combed bird more likely to lay blue or green.

X2 on that.

 

[gus2pp]

Leg color isn't related to egg shell color at all, but the comb style can be. The genes for the pea comb and the gene for the blue shell gene are supposed to be very close on the DNA, and I've read there's something like a 97% chance they get passed along together. So, take a look at your hen's combs. A straight combed bird is more likely to lay a brown/cream egg, a pea combed bird more likely to lay blue or green. 

Interesting. All this is so fascinsting. Both of my girls have pea combs, so I'll keep an eye out for blue or green still. Thanks for the info!