How to tell if a easter egger roo carries the blue egg gene?

[stephmarie333]

Hi everyone. I'm trying to breed for varied and fun egg colors for my barnyard mix flock. I have an easter egger rooster (sold as an "americana" from hoovers hatchery so just an easter egger from what I understand now) I was wondering if there were any ways to tell if he carries the blue egg laying gene other than just testing out his genetics through trial and error. Is the earlobe theory true?

Also- even if it doesn't carry the blue gene if I mix it with cream legbars I got from a breeder the offspring will still have a chance to lay blue eggs right?

Thanks in advance. I'm trying to learn genetics and breeds but I get overwhelmed with all the info online and I can't tell what's true as sometimes info is conflicting.

Picture of the roo in question

 

[nuthatched]

There are tests you can have run, I think it's call birdiq.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Yes you can test for blue egg genes now.
Yes bred to true Legbars the offspring will lay blue (or possibly green) eggs

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

There are tests you can have run, I think it's call birdiq.

This?

https://iqbirdtesting.com/chickenbreeders

 

[Slothinc]

Testing is the only reliable way unless you breed him to a non blue layer, hatch out a bunch of chicks, grow them up, and see what color the hens lay. If blue/green then he does carry it. That will take a lot of time. I have used The Silkie Lab for testing and the blue egg color test is only $25 and she has very fast turn around. It will tell you if he has one, two or no blue egg genes.

To answer your other question, if bred to pure CCLs, (they will be homozygous for the blue egg gene if bred correctly), then all of the offspring will have at least one blue egg gene from the mom, so they will lay blue/green.

 

[Amer]

As others have said there is testing available.
The earlobe "theory" is unfounded, however, it is true that the pea comb gene is linked to the blue egg gene. However, it can break linkage, which is why the blue egg gene is linked to the single comb gene in Legbars.
Considering your EE has a nice little pea comb, I'd consider it extremely likely that he has at least one copy of the blue egg gene, but he probably has two.

 

[stephmarie333]

Thank you all so much for the info. I dont know why it didn't occur to me that a DNA service for chickens could exist but I'm glad I know now. I will definitely get him tested so I know 100% what he's got

 

[flockofdovz]

OMG, I just saw someone post an identical rooster on Craigslist a few days ago! Note, we did exactly what you are describing. We crossed a homozygous blue-egg rooster with our flock to get green and blue eggs. Took 7 months to see the first results. Two of the daughters that laid amazing hues of green were k!lled by a fox in an unexpected attack after they surpassed various barriers. It was so sad since they had both just started laying that week...We kept those first eggs to refer back to. So, if you do venture into breeding, make sure you have a very secure pen/run...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you all so much for the info. I dont know why it didn't occur to me that a DNA service for chickens could exist but I'm glad I know now. I will definitely get him tested so I know 100% what he's got

Please report back on your results! So sorry to hear about the fox, that's disheartening. A good idea to predator-proof ALL chicken facilities! Electric fencing or netting is often recommended even if you think your fencing and housing are secure.