Need to order more hatching eggs….

[Anon112]

I’m only interested in egg color because it contributes to my dopamine levels and as someone with ADD, it keeps me engaged. Both finding them and making them. The girls are primary but the egg-citement of making or finding colors keeps it new and engaging. Or perhaps “egg-engaging” lmao.

I don't know if you'd want to let a broody hatch, but I am IN LOVE with the egg colors that came from my Easter Eggers having babies. One of them lays green eggs that are olive and speckled. The other lays these eggs that are almost purple? (Though the purple fades, so maybe it's the effect of the bloom?).

 

[LtDanFan]

I don't know if you'd want to let a broody hatch, but I am IN LOVE with the egg colors that came from my Easter Eggers having babies. One of them lays green eggs that are olive and speckled. The other lays these eggs that are almost purple? (Though the purple fades, so maybe it's the effect of the bloom?).

I thought about that but i have an abundance of blue egg layers, so i’m afraid all i would get is blue eggs because my current rooster is a cream legbar cross (I have CCL, OE, EE and BYM hens that could have been his mother, but only had a CCL roo and he is definitely not pure bred CCL) and as such i thought he only carries a blue egg gene. At least if i understand egg genetics, that is. I’m not complaining about getting all blue eggs, but i also like being able to tell the hens apart so i kind of like having different breeds.
Plus, hatching under a broody makes me nervous because while i have a couple of ladies that like to spend time in the next box (vs the others that drop it and go), they don’t act as “broody” as i have heard “broody” to be. i can move them out of the nestbox quite easily, they dont attack me or seem bothered when i do and how would i tell which eggs are incubating and which i can collect for eating (like mark them somehow?).
Finally, i really like watching the eggs develop and hatch. I also like handling the chicks so they get used to people and being touched. Maybe its the control freak in me, but i worry that leaving things to those crazy broads that live in my yard would be akin to scattering grass seeds willy-nilly in the yard and hoping for a well-manicured lawn.
Perhaps I’m wrong?

 

[FrostRanger]

I thought about that but i have an abundance of blue egg layers, so i’m afraid all i would get is blue eggs because my current rooster is a cream legbar cross (I have CCL, OE, EE and BYM hens that could have been his mother, but only had a CCL roo and he is definitely not pure bred CCL) and as such i thought he only carries a blue egg gene. At least if i understand egg genetics, that is. I’m not complaining about getting all blue eggs, but i also like being able to tell the hens apart so i kind of like having different breeds.
Plus, hatching under a broody makes me nervous because while i have a couple of ladies that like to spend time in the next box (vs the others that drop it and go), they don’t act as “broody” as i have heard “broody” to be. i can move them out of the nestbox quite easily, they dont attack me or seem bothered when i do and how would i tell which eggs are incubating and which i can collect for eating (like mark them somehow?).
Finally, i really like watching the eggs develop and hatch. I also like handling the chicks so they get used to people and being touched. Maybe its the control freak in me, but i worry that leaving things to those crazy broads that live in my yard would be akin to scattering grass seeds willy-nilly in the yard and hoping for a well-manicured lawn.
Perhaps I’m wrong?

They certainly don't sound broody ATM and whether you get a broody hen or not is up to chance so unless you are willing to wait on something that may or may not happen (and none of the breeds you have are known for being particularly broody) incubating is going to being the most certain option.

That said, if all you are worried about is genetics you can just give them hatching eggs of the breeds you do want. No, not all hens are good mothers but the ones that are do a great job of it. After all who knows more about how best to raise chicks than a mama hen? If you do get a broody and don't mind the possibility of getting a few cockerels it might be worth it to give her a few eggs

Sincerely someone waiting on a hen to go broody even though only one is of a breed known to go broody xD

 

[PaigeWells]

I would suggest you add a few either black copper Marans (dark chocolate eggs) or Welsummer (terra cotta eggs with speckles) girls to your current mix. Try to get them from a more specialized breeder if you can, looking for darker or more speckled eggs than just hatchery types. They will add a new color to your current egg basket, AND, if the CCL Roo breeds with them, the first generation will be guaranteed to lay some shade of green- BCM more likely to be darker, and Wellys to be more speckled. After that the next generation can be most any color except white, because you have blue, green, and brown genetics going on. Have fun with your colored eggs!

 

[LtDanFan]

I would suggest you add a few either black copper Marans (dark chocolate eggs) or Welsummer (terra cotta eggs with speckles) girls to your current mix. Try to get them from a more specialized breeder if you can, looking for darker or more speckled eggs than just hatchery types. They will add a new color to your current egg basket, AND, if the CCL Roo breeds with them, the first generation will be guaranteed to lay some shade of green- BCM more likely to be darker, and Wellys to be more speckled. After that the next generation can be most any color except white, because you have blue, green, and brown genetics going on. Have fun with your colored eggs!

I actually have them on my list!!! I was thinking the same thing. I would love a few more olive eggs in my basket. My roo is a CCl cross, technically as the obvious CCL cockerels did not make it out of the brooder due to overcrowding and stalling on my part. His daddy was purebred CCL (since passed away) but his mom could have been one of the olive eggers, a brown heavy bloomer or an easter egger. i was not able to keep track of which chickens hatched out of which eggs throughout their entire growth. But if i understand genetics of egg color, because his daddy was a blue egg carrier, he should be too, correct?

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I actually have them on my list!!! I was thinking the same thing. I would love a few more olive eggs in my basket. My roo is a CCl cross, technically as the obvious CCL cockerels did not make it out of the brooder due to overcrowding and stalling on my part. His daddy was purebred CCL (since passed away) but his mom could have been one of the olive eggers, a brown heavy bloomer or an easter egger. i was not able to keep track of which chickens hatched out of which eggs throughout their entire growth. But if i understand genetics of egg color, because his daddy was a blue egg carrier, he should be too, correct?

Maybe. Theoretically yes.

While there are tests for the blue eggshell gene, those are relatively recent. Up until those tests became available, you had to test hatch with your birds to see if they'd pass on blue eggshells.

Each bird can have up to 2 copies of blue eggshell gene, and can pass on one to each offspring.

If a bird has 2 copies of blue eggshell gene, they will always pass on one copy to every offspring.

If they have 1 copy, they'll randomly pass it on.

If they have 0 copies of blue eggshell gene, they cannot pass on blue eggshells.

With pullets/hens, if they have even 1 copy, their eggs will always look blue as blue is dominant over white eggshells (*or green if there's brown coated over the blue)

With cockerels/roosters, you cannot physically see if they have that gene unless you test hatch. OR, the test that's now available.

 

[bravecoconut]

I buy from Deer Run Farm in Maryland.

View attachment 4301191

Browns are Welsummers
Greens are EEs
Blue is Ameracauna
Pink is Delaware

I have Ameracauna and Welsummer hatching eggs in my cart there right now. I think you may have helped me push the button! Did you buy eggs or babies?