How can I breed a black sex-link for white eggs?

[Eliza1313]

I have read up a little on breeding sex-links. I know I need a barred hen that is not autosomally barred and a solid dark colored rooster.

I have Barred Holland hens, the are white egg layers. I know if they are crossed with a Blue Ameraucana rooster the resulting chicks will produce blue eggs.

I am trying to find a suitable rooster from a white egg laying breed to cross. However all the pictures of chicks, I have seen, of the black colored breeds already have white on the tops of their heads. This would defeat the ability to use the black sex-link trait.

Thanks

 

[keesmom]

Have you checked this thread?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/261208/sex-linked-information

Scroll down to black sex links. It lists many breeds you can use to create them including white egg laying breeds (Andalusians, Anconas, Minorcas, etc).

Black Minorcas, black Leghorns (if you can find them) or Andalusians would be a start.

 

[donrae]

you should be able to use a brown Leghorn rooster. The Leghorn blood would also boost production and egg size in the offspring pullets.

 

[Eliza1313]

I had read it. After posting I looked at it again and saw about the Andalusians, and went looking for chick pics.

I was just looking online at hatcheries to see the dark colored birds they had listed. The Black Minorcas chicks I saw had white on their heads though. Another breed I was looking at were the Black Sumatras, again white near the tops of the head. (I would like the Sumatras anyways).

Think I will go with the Blue Andalusians.

 

[Eliza1313]

donrae - Have you tried the brown leghorn cross? Just trying to go with something that is easy to see the spot.

If I can use a brown leghorn roo, that means I can order through a different hatchery and get more birds I want. Including the Sumatras and some geese.

And jumping tracks, where did you get your Blue Ameraucanas from?....I am going to need more Barred Hollands.

 

[keesmom]

I was just looking online at hatcheries to see the dark colored birds they had listed. The Black Minorcas chicks I saw had white on their heads though. Another breed I was looking at were the Black Sumatras, again white near the tops of the head. (I would like the Sumatras anyways).

Sumatras and Minorcas should not have white spots on the head. None of the ones I have ever seen have them.

 

[Eliza1313]

The pics did not show the white spot like with the barred patterns, but they showed white markings on the face and neck. Which could make it difficult to see the spot.

 

[Toddrick]

While a Brown Leghorn rooster should work when crossed with a BR, I am not so sure it will produce white eggs, unless they have a dominant gene or something.

My Red-X-Buff cross produced one hen that laid eggs identical to the mother (small, cream), and one that laid small light brown eggs. Neither were the color or size of the sire's breed (large, brown).

I asked someone else and they said their crosses seem to inherit egg characteristics from the hen. Not sure how scientific this is, but at best I suspect you'd get a random mix of egg colors.

 

[keesmom]

While a Brown Leghorn rooster should work when crossed with a BR, I am not so sure it will produce white eggs, unless they have a dominant gene or something.

The OP has barred Hollands. They produce white eggs.

 

[dheltzel]

The pics did not show the white spot like with the barred patterns, but they showed white markings on the face and neck. Which could make it difficult to see the spot.

If the head spot is ever difficult to see, wait a few days and look at the tips of the wing feathers, white tipping is a sure male, black to the tip means female. That's how I confirm sex on my black sexlinks that use BH hens covered by a black Ameraucana. I have made mistakes picking females until they are 4 or 5 days old, then it's unmistakable.

I think your best bet would be a black minorca, that should also help correct the smallness (egg and body) of the current BH's.