Egg color question

[Minky]

So last spring was my first spring as a chicken owner, and I had a broody hen and a rooster---so I hatched out 9 chicks under her. The rooster was a Cream Leg Bar (pure), and the moms were blue laying Easter Eggers (didn't mate any of my green layers) and one Buff Orpington hen.

The pullets from this hatch are now laying and the two that were from the buff Orpington both lay buff coloured eggs, even though their dad was a Cream Leg Bar.

How is this possible??
Thanks

 

[Kris5902]

I’m not sure, but I’m definitely following along for the answer!

 

[Cyprus]

Dad is not pure, then.

He carries a white egg gene from the Leghorn influence that makes up the breed.

 

[rebrascora]

Agreed. The only possibility is that your Legbar rooster is not pure. What makes you think he is? Where did you get him?

 

[Minky]

Ok, well I didn't breed dad, so can't argue that (although he did come from a breeder!)

So on your theory that dad wasn't pure and had white/blue gene.

My two current roosters (dad was not good with kids so was given to a guy with no kids)
are from him. One looks just like a Buff orpington rooster, and the other looks like he came from my blue laying EE.

So..... is the following correct? (because Im trying to mate them with the correct hen)

RUSTY the ROO (BO /CLB ) could have WHITE /BROWN or BLUE/BROWN egg genes to pass on.

FRECKLES the ROO ( EE/CLB) could have WHITE/BLUE or BLUE /BLUE egg genes to pass on.

So- if I mate my blue egg layers with Freckles. (will all be blue)
If I mate my Brown egg layers with Rusty (50% chance of brown/50% green)

Is that correct?

ALSO- a few of my hens lay lovely brown speckled eggs. Will this gene pass on? So is it possible to get green and blue speckled eggs?

 

[Minky]

Sorry- to clarify for myself-
Rusty (mom was BO, dad "impure" CLB) would have either brown/white OR
brown/blue . And therefore would pass down ONE of these? 50% chance he passes on BROWN, 25% blue, 25 % white?

Freckles (mom was blue laying EE, dad "impure CLB) would have blue/blue or blue/white.
So 75% chance passing on a blue egg gene, 25% passing on white egg gene?

Is this right?

thanks

 

[Notaneggspurt]

This link might be of some help:
https://scratchcradle.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/gms2-breeding-for-blue-eggs/
From comments on various other posts I've seen it mentioned that people will choose the breeding pairs from those that hatched from blue eggs AND that had pea combs. My understanding is when an EE is bred with most any other breed any egg color is possible.

 

[Minky]

thanks --yes, lots of possibilities... ugh... I guess I will just see what I get! LOL

 

[Cyprus]

Ok, well I didn't breed dad, so can't argue that (although he did come from a breeder!)

So on your theory that dad wasn't pure and had white/blue gene.

My two current roosters (dad was not good with kids so was given to a guy with no kids)
are from him. One looks just like a Buff orpington rooster, and the other looks like he came from my blue laying EE.

So..... is the following correct? (because Im trying to mate them with the correct hen)

RUSTY the ROO (BO /CLB ) could have WHITE /BROWN or BLUE/BROWN egg genes to pass on.

FRECKLES the ROO ( EE/CLB) could have WHITE/BLUE or BLUE /BLUE egg genes to pass on.

So- if I mate my blue egg layers with Freckles. (will all be blue)
If I mate my Brown egg layers with Rusty (50% chance of brown/50% green)

Is that correct?

ALSO- a few of my hens lay lovely brown speckled eggs. Will this gene pass on? So is it possible to get green and blue speckled eggs?

Sorry- to clarify for myself-
Rusty (mom was BO, dad "impure" CLB) would have either brown/white OR
brown/blue . And therefore would pass down ONE of these? 50% chance he passes on BROWN, 25% blue, 25 % white?

Freckles (mom was blue laying EE, dad "impure CLB) would have blue/blue or blue/white.
So 75% chance passing on a blue egg gene, 25% passing on white egg gene?

Is this right?

thanks

Correct
Freckles is best choice.
Speckling is not genetic.

 

[Minky]

Ok, thanks so much for your help everybody....

If speckling is not genetic, how do you breed for it? How do some hens always speckle their eggs. I love it. I have a few hens that make swirls and blotches that look really lovely.