June Hatch-A-Long

[LadiesAndJane]

That’s part of the story for olive egger. How deep do you want to go?

the best sure fire way to get a true “olive egger” is to use a dark brown layer and a pure (two-copies of the blue gene) blue layer. 100% will lay “olive.”

I put that in quotes because.... most people believe that the darkest parts of the egg color are a sex linked trait. As in.... mothers pass the trait to sons and sons pass it along to daughters.

in order to get the true olives, the dark ones that are so pleasing... you’ve got to use a cockerel that hatched from a very dark egg.

if your hen lays a dark egg and the male is the blue gene carrier, you won’t carry as much of the darkness through to the next generation.

Thanks, I love details!
So a pure bred ameraucana and a Marans cross would work?
(I have both).

 

[gimmie birdies]

I know what you mean Fort cluck, I love LO looks, but, tan eggs bore me.

 

[SharW75]

We have two pips this morning!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

That’s part of the story for olive egger. How deep do you want to go?

the best sure fire way to get a true “olive egger” is to use a dark brown layer and a pure (two-copies of the blue gene) blue layer. 100% will lay “olive.”

I put that in quotes because.... most people believe that the darkest parts of the egg color are a sex linked trait. As in.... mothers pass the trait to sons and sons pass it along to daughters.

in order to get the true olives, the dark ones that are so pleasing... you’ve got to use a cockerel that hatched from a very dark egg.

if your hen lays a dark egg and the male is the blue gene carrier, you won’t carry as much of the darkness through to the next generation.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I’d rather use pine shavings. You just turn them and they’re way cleaner. I couldn’t imagine using puppy pads or paper towels. They looking disgusting after 5 seconds!

Pine shavings once they are dirty you can put in the compost pile to make soil for the next year's gardens. Puppy pads are not good for compost and anything that creates waste (trash) I do not like to use

I agree in principle! In an ideal world I would have the chicks outside, but they are in my living room, and shavings create way too much dust. Hope to have a garden with compost in the future!

 

[FortCluck]

I know what you mean Fort cluck, I love LO looks, but, tan eggs bore me.

I had an olive eggers but she had reproductive issues and died. She laid the prettiest eggs ever.

I need another one. She was a crested legbar and black copper maran cross.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thanks, I love details!
So a pure bred ameraucana and a Marans cross would work?
(I have both).

Yes, this is what I have set in my incubators right now. They will be F1 Olive Eggers I think it's called for first generation.

 

[FortCluck]

I agree in principle! In an ideal world I would have the chicks outside, but they are in my living room, and shavings create way too much dust. Hope to have a garden with compost in the future!

Chicks only live 3 days inside my house and that’s it. Then they go to the brooder in the shed with everyone else and no heat... GASP I know... They don’t need heat when my shed is 85+ and they have siblings to warm them up.

I’ve lost 0 chicks from my own hatching. I’ve lost about 8 from TSC. That tells me a lot about these hatcheries that’s why I don’t buy chicks from anyone anymore unless TSC cuts me a deal I can’t refuse.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I agree in principle! In an ideal world I would have the chicks outside, but they are in my living room, and shavings create way too much dust. Hope to have a garden with compost in the future!

The pine pellets don't create nearly the amount of dust that the shavings do and they cut down on smell too.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Yes, this is what I have set in my incubators right now. They will be F1 Olive Eggers I think it's called for first generation.

Can't wait to see what they look like. What color are the parents? I am hoping to breed the blue birchen marans with blue ameraucanas.