how do i get the most unique colors?

[truebluehikaru]

i was focusing on pure breeds that lay colors like ameraucana, isbar and black copper marans for guaranteed colors, but now i'm thinking that it's the mixed breeds like barnyard mixes or easter eggers, where you can get some really unique colors.

should i just get easter and olive eggers and hope for pretty colors? i really want a rainbow basket. i'm so excited about raising chickens but i can't decide anything...!!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You won’t get dark brown eggs like BCM lay from an Easter Egger. I think otherwise you could get a wide variety from OEs and EEs.

 

[Amer]

should i just get easter and olive eggers and hope for pretty colors?

That's a safe bet. If you buy a lot you can sell off the extras when they grow up. And avoid breeding from solid black, blue, lavender, white, or splash roosters if you want lots of colorful offspring. The black base is very dominant.

 

[truebluehikaru]

That's a safe bet. If you buy a lot you can sell off the extras when they grow up. And avoid breeding from solid black, blue, lavender, white, or splash roosters if you want lots of colorful offspring. The black base is very dominant.

i should mention i can’t have a rooster, otherwise i’d have loved to breed for colors :/ that’s a good idea to sell them if they get older. but are the hens okay with being separated from their flock?

 

[truebluehikaru]

You won’t get dark brown eggs like BCM lay from an Easter Egger. I think otherwise you could get a wide variety from OEs and EEs.

planned to get like some BCM among others as a definite add and then the rest can be OEs or EEs.

what about people with “project pens”, who breed for speckled or bloom etc, does that seem worth buying?

 

[RubelliteRose]

If you have some local breeders breeding for speckled or bloom eggs, that is a good choice. My first 2 EEs were from Hoovers. One lays a pretty green egg and the other lays light tan. Out of my first 3 OEs, I think they were also from Hoovers, only 1 laid an olive egg. One of the other two lays a speckled tan egg and the other lays a khaki colored egg. Make sure to post pictures of whatever you end up getting - we love egg pictures on BYC!!

 

[Amer]

i should mention i can’t have a rooster, otherwise i’d have loved to breed for colors :/ that’s a good idea to sell them if they get older. but are the hens okay with being separated from their flock?

Of course!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

i really want a rainbow basket.

I'll just add that white should probably not be discounted as part of that "rainbow basket".. it really makes the other egg colors pop!

I have gotten peach and pinkish colors from Cochin.. but they were only noticeably that color in comparison to the other eggs.

 

[WingItRanch]

If your goal is a nice variety of colors in the egg basket, I'd recommend adding a white egg layer so your blue eggs pop more. Often times the blues will be a pastel subtle color (don't let pinterest fool you). I just added Olive Eggers to my flock this year and wow. They are much more green than I expected.

Example:

 

[WingItRanch]

I'll just add that white should probably not be discounted as part of that "rainbow basket".. it really makes the other egg colors pop!

I have gotten peach and pinkish colors from Cochin.. but they were only noticeably that color in comparison to the other eggs.

Wow we posted the same thing about adding a white egg to basket at the same time. Great minds!