OE Roo over Welsummer Hens

[hippiehen]

Hello wise ones

I have some welsummer hens who are laying gorgeous dark spray painted eggs and I would love to incubate some, sadly, no Wellie roo.

I do have an OE roo who's sisters lay dark russet colored eggs. Would that make for a suitable match to get chicks that lay dark eggs? Or does the OE's "mixed" background make it very iffy?

Thanks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Does he have a straight comb or pea comb? A straight comb would give you brown eggs, but if he has a pea comb, you may get some brown some olive eggs in the offspring.

Since he is a mix, you cannot be sure until you test mate him as to what he will contribute genes wise.

 

[hippiehen]

Awesome information about the comb! I did not know that. He has a pea comb, so there's a possibility of olive eggs, which is cool since his OE sisters lay dark brown.

His parentage is EE x Cuckoo Maran, I should have said that in the first post. I didn't know if the "EE" in him would throw out a wonky gene.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Awesome information about the comb! I did not know that. He has a pea comb, so there's a possibility of olive eggs, which is cool since his OE sisters lay dark brown.

His parentage is EE x Cuckoo Maran, I should have said that in the first post. I didn't know if the "EE" in him would throw out a wonky gene.

If you want the chance at olive eggs, keep any of the offspring with a pea comb.

 

[hippiehen]

Thanks for the info! Now I just have to convince my DH that yes, my very pregnant self does indeed need to set eggs in the 'bator!

Maybe he won't notice.