Egg Color Question(s)

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: It is probably going to take so many generations to get all the characteristics you want that you should start with as diverse a gene pool as possible. Several pens each of your initial crosses, then you can cross the F1s from different pens to keep a wide set of genes.

 

[suki'smom]

First, white eggshell is recessive to blue, so going from a green egglayer is prbabl more difficult.   Going from a blue egglayer might be easier as you don't have to deal with all the myriad genes for brown egg coatings.

All the other genes for brown versus white are a mix of dominance.  

Can you tell me what traits you are wanting as a goal?

I am looking to create a heavier bodied, dual purpose, cold hardy white egg layer. I have my brown egg breeds in mind and one white egg breed in mind.

Unfortunately going from a blue egg layer does not leave me with very many breeds to go from. The breeds it does leave me do not have all of the desired traits.

i would do both for at least 2 gens.

Thank you for your insight. That does make sense.

Yes I was planning on starting with many, many birds. Especially of the original crosses. I am hoping to get my starting birds from several different breeders as well to keep the gene pool as wide as possible. I'll be sure to keep good records and the different lines in seperate pens so I know what came from where.

 

[Chris09]

I am looking to create a heavier bodied, dual purpose, cold hardy white egg layer.

Sound like you need some Dorking fowl.

Chris

 

[suki'smom]

Sound like you need some Dorking fowl.

Chris

I do like some qualities of the Dorking fowl, but they have qualities I do not like as well. Perhaps they would be a breed to include in my project