Future plans for 2025! Breeding for large meaties, barring, lacing and EE

[DemeterAD9]

This EE pullet thinks she needs to lay under the lean-to connected to the garage, also found a tiny brown egg in it yesterday so I'm thinking there is another layer among the flock. I figured she was the one laying blue eggs but finally caught her last weekend.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Brown EE lays bigger and bluer eggs than the white EE.

I am certain at least one BJG is laying (cream colored eggs) and another brown layer as well. I have a suspicion the prairie blue bell is laying the darker brown eggs, pretty sure brahmas and BJG should be laying cream eggs.

I've seen one light brahma squatting and the first OE layer and the white EE has stopped giving me eggs for over a week now. Despite that I'm getting on average 6 eggs a day.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Caught the buff Brahma in the nest box and I'm pretty sure she laid this longer light cream egg. 26ish weeks old.

One BJG is laying light brown eggs while another lays light cream eggs, I need to get some zip ties on their legs so I can tell who is who. They started a few weeks ago so let's say 24ish weeks old.

BJG's egg on the right, tend to be darker on the fat end.

I know at least 12/19 are laying but there is likely a couple brown layers I have yet to catch in the nest boxes. I've had up to 11 eggs in one day. One light Brahma may have laid 2 soft shelled eggs, the bresse is laying but inconsistently. Pretty sure she dropped a double yolker on the roost last night, I hope she is okay. Someone had a fart egg, was a brown layer. I am waiting for the prairie blue bell, dark brahma, 1 light brahma, the frizzle, SLW, and possibly one more BJG to lay.

 

[RememberTheWay]

Laced/barred pullet's second egg. I was hoping she'd lay colored eggs but oh well. I had to kick her out of the garage a few times and throw treats into the run to lock her in, she was looking all over and squawking to find a good spot. Skin tone egg covered in white dots, pretty none the less.
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I will also note I saw one BJG squat for the blue copper maran.

Pretty sure the white dots are actually what's called the bloom.... If I'm remembering correctly

 

[DemeterAD9]

Pretty sure the white dots are actually what's called the bloom.... If I'm remembering correctly

Could be the bloom but in my admittedly limited experience I thought the bloom looks more powdery and can be washed off. Like the egg on the left in the post above would have a heavy bloom, you can sorta see where the bloom was disturbed/wiped off while it was still wet.

I may try scrubbing the next white speckled egg, there are at least 2 now that lay very similar eggs. It's gonna be a challenge to pick out which eggs come from who when I want to start hatching

And as an update, the SLW is laying. I'll have to get a picture of her and her egg next time I catch her. Same with the one light brahma.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Made a mistake in the who laid what guessing games. Buff Brahma lays these small light brown eggs. They sometimes have the white specks like the laced/barred girl. The egg I thought was laid by her last time seems to be from the SLW.

This should be from the non banded light brahma. Been wondering who is laying the round eggs. Some times they are speckled.

Currently working out who I want to hatch from and getting my dates lined up for when to start collecting and setting eggs. I've already put in an order of 5 breeds I really like (only 1 hen each) and 10 broilers from Meyer hatchery, due to arrive at the end of March. I'll be timing my hatch with their arrival and may as well fill my incubator which holds 20-24 eggs depending on size. Assuming a few won't hatch, 50% will be male, and I only want to keep a couple females... I need to start writing things down and asking around if anyone wants some fresh layers for their flock. I just keep reminding myself that there are much worse money-wasting hobbies than raising lots of chickens

 

[pecky33]

Only have one pullet at laying age so not there yet! Will be putting plans into action come spring. In all honesty the genetics, especially the abbreviation and what not, are all a foreign language to me right now. I just need to know what is dominat, recessive, partially/co dominant etc. I learn best when I see the results myself. If all goes well I will have some results in ~7-8 months.



Now for some updates, the EE cockerel was killed by something, not yet sure what but I've since clipped wings and put out traps (so far caught 1 possum). Honestly was going to butcher him anyways as he was getting too pushy for my liking. The blue copper maran (who I'm calling Pretty Boy) has taken his position and so far he's been a good boy. He doesn't chase the pullets and I've only seen him mate the one laying pullet. Photos don't do him justice, he's a nice bird.
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The first pullet laying is this girl who lays a deep coppery olive egg. Will be trying to keep track of who lays what with photos so here it is. Decent size for her 6th egg. I know they look brown in the photos (next to duck eggs for reference) but the inner shell with the membrane pulled back is definitely blue. I noticed the egg I fried up was fertile, she'll be moving forward in the EE/OE project.
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For the meaties I'm thinking I'll end up keeping the BJG seeing as Pretty Boy has it out for the white large fowl mix roo. BJG cockerel is good at keeping to himself, he and the BJG pullets stick together more often than not. Many are looking a bit scruffy as they are going into their final molt at 15-16 weeks, hoping for eggs once all is said and done in a few more weeks.
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Bonus photo of my lovely barred/laced pullet. Her comb and waddles are getting pretty red, so hopefully soon I'll get to see what she lays. She and 5 other pullets including the silver laced girl are at the 16 week mark.
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Gorgeous eggs!

 

[pecky33]

Pretty sure the white dots are actually what's called the bloom.... If I'm remembering correctly

The bloom is the delicate outer covering over the entire egg, it has nothing to do with color. Those color spots must have another name…

 

[RememberTheWay]

Actually they do effect color. We will just have to agree to disagree.

To the person who has the hen laying these eggs. What happens with the white speckling when you wash the egg? Does it disappear while white and then come back once dry?

 

[pecky33]

Actually they do effect color. We will just have to agree to disagree.

To the person who has the hen laying these eggs. What happens with the white speckling when you wash the egg? Does it disappear while white and then come back once dry?

Huh. Okay!