Lt Brahma's grand mummy stepped out on grand pappy

[wolfwalker]

Or,

I have 2 out of 4 light Brahma's that lay a blue-green egg. These were bought from Murry McMurry 2 years ago, so Hatchery quality birds. Except for the egg color they are pretty good as far as the SOP.

So, I've been thinking (To much hatching most likely started the thoughts), knowing the hen sets the egg color, I've added a Light Brahma rooster to my Murry McMurry order. While the chances of getting a roo related close enough to carry the blue-green egg gene are so slim as not to be mentioneds I am wondering how difficult it would be to set the egg color in any offspring from these hens.

 

[Gray Farms]

You sure they aren't Easter Eggers? I'd like to see a picture if possible.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Roosters influence egg color just as much as hens do.
If you have hens laying blueish green eggs they aren't pure brahmas.
Most likely they're a Brahma mix and carry one gene for blue eggs and one gene for non blue.
All their offspring have a 50/50 chance of passing on the blue egg gene and it is dominate to non blue. So in theory about half their offspring will lay a shade of blue or green depending on how much brown egg genes also get into the mix.

 

[wolfwalker]

You sure they aren't Easter Eggers? I'd like to see a picture if possible.

Very sure.

 

[Gray Farms]

Legs are white so they aren't pure Brahma.

 

[wolfwalker]

All their offspring have a 50/50 chance of passing on the blue egg gene and it is dominate to non blue. So in theory about half their offspring will lay a shade of blue or green depending on how much brown egg genes also get into the mix.

How many generations do you think it would take to get a consistent blue-green egg by line breeding?

 

[wolfwalker]

Legs are white so they aren't pure Brahma.

I'll double check when i go back to feed, but pretty sure the legs are an off yellow with a heavy white / black feathering.

But I already knew they weren't pure because of the egg color, no matter what the hatchery stated. Hence my thread title

I am more interested in seeing if i can keep the egg color in future generations, while keeping the look of the Brahma going.

 

[Gray Farms]

I'll double check when i go back to feed, but pretty sure the legs are an off yellow with a heavy white / black feathering.

But I already knew they weren't pure because of the egg color, no matter what the hatchery stated. Hence my thread title

I am more interested in seeing if i can keep the egg color in future generations, while keeping the look of the Brahma going.

Cross these girls to a White Ameraucana male.

 

[The Moonshiner]

How many generations do you think it would take to get a consistent blue-green egg by line breeding?

Two generations but the hard part isn't getting there but identifying which ones are the right ones when you get there.
Breed just the hens that you know lay the greenish eggs to a light Brahma rooster.
That will give you about half the offspring that carry a blue egg gene.
Breed a blue egg gene cockerel back to the hens or to some of the blue egg gene pullets.
With that cross you'll get around 25% that will carry two genes for blue eggs. Those will breed true for greenish eggs.
The hard part is knowing which carry the blue egg and then whether they carry one copy or two.
With the first cross the pullets can be figured out when they start laying. Only move forward with the ones that lay green eggs. For the first cross generation cockerels you'll have to test breed them. Breed several cockerels to hens that you know lay brown or white eggs then you have to wait for those to start laying. You'll have to make sure you know exactly which chicks come from what cockerel and hatch several pullets from each cockerel. If any of those pullets lay a blue/green egg then you know their father carries a blue egg gene.
You then cross the known to carry blue gene cockerels to the hens/pullets that lay green eggs.
Thats gonna give you about 25% that don't lay green eggs, 50% that lay green but only have one gene. And about 25% that have two genes for blue.
You'll then have to test breed and track all of those. Breed each to known brown or white egg layers. Produce several chicks and wait till they lay. If all chicks produced from a bird lay green eggs you have a parent that has two copies. If any of the offspring lay white or brown eggs you'll know that parent only had one gene and not two.
Once you identify the hens and roosters that carry two blue egg genes then you're ready to breed those to produce all offspring that lay green eggs.
Thats simple enough huh?

 

[wolfwalker]

Cross these girls to a White Ameraucana male.

I am curious on why I would cross with a white Ameraucana if I want to keep the Brahma look