how do i get the most unique colors?

[truebluehikaru]

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!!

thank you. maybe i’ll check out the local breeder then. and for sure will post pics!!

 

[truebluehikaru]

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:
View attachment 4195351

beautiful!! which ones are the pinkish eggs?? i agree, i think i’ll also get some chickens that lay white, too. i can’t remember which breeds exactly but there’s a few more that lay white or cream that i was interested in. and yes trying not to get swayed by pinterest… part of me is a little suspicious of some breeders i see online bc they could also have just looked so pigmented in the lighting (esp for blue in shadows!)

 

[WingItRanch]

beautiful!! which ones are the pinkish eggs?? i agree, i think i’ll also get some chickens that lay white, too. i can’t remember which breeds exactly but there’s a few more that lay white or cream that i was interested in. and yes trying not to get swayed by pinterest… part of me is a little suspicious of some breeders i see online bc they could also have just looked so pigmented in the lighting (esp for blue in shadows!)

All of mine came from Ideal hatchery, not breeders. If you can't have roosters, I personally would stick with hatcheries because they have professional sexers. Unless you get a sex link or auto sexing breed, you'll have to rely on vent sexing which is not 100% accurate so you should have a plan in case you accidently get cockerels.

The pinkish ones are Plymouth Barred Rocks. They lay light brown but sometimes have a bloom that makes them look pink. No chicken will lay pink eggs. Another pinterest lie...

 

[truebluehikaru]

All of mine came from Ideal hatchery, not breeders. If you can't have roosters, I personally would stick with hatcheries because they have professional sexers. Unless you get a sex link or auto sexing breed, you'll have to rely on vent sexing which is not 100% accurate so you should have a plan in case you accidently get cockerels.

The pinkish ones are Plymouth Barred Rocks. They lay light brown but sometimes have a bloom that makes them look pink. No chicken will lay pink eggs. Another pinterest lie...

thank you for your advice. so i guess my next question is, id love the experience of hatching my own chicks, and i already went out and got an incubator, but is it best if i just get sexed and vaccinated chicks then? idk what id do with the roosters. i thought maybe i can give them to my neighboring towns who are allowed to have roosters. worst come to worst, i’d at least have them donated to a soup kitchen but i’d hate to do that. or maybe keep them indoors until i find someone to take it?

 

[AshVau22]

My 1st chicken came from Valley Hatchery sexed. The breeds are listed below that gave me this beautiful basket of colors. Minus the big speckled one that my turkeys eggs lol. Even getting sexed chicks isn't always 100%. Out of mine 4 were roos.

Blue Ameraucana
White Leghorn
Barnevelder
French Black Cooper Maran
Cinnamon Queen
Sapphire Gem
Easter Egger
Olive Eggers

 

[WingItRanch]

thank you for your advice. so i guess my next question is, id love the experience of hatching my own chicks, and i already went out and got an incubator, but is it best if i just get sexed and vaccinated chicks then? idk what id do with the roosters. i thought maybe i can give them to my neighboring towns who are allowed to have roosters. worst come to worst, i’d at least have them donated to a soup kitchen but i’d hate to do that. or maybe keep them indoors until i find someone to take it?

As long as you have a plan for the roosters, you can hatch. 50/50 on those odds. I would double check that your soup kitchen would even accept them. There might be some health regulations that prevent it. I'd also look at Facebook groups in your area to see if there's a ton of people trying to get rid of their excess roosters. People in my area can't get rid of them for free.

If you're not opposed to it, you can always process and eat them yourself.

 

[Amer]

Yeah, I'd recommend getting sexed chicks.