***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[lonnyandrinda]

I have skipped a lot of posts...hope all are well.

My three MaransXAmeraucana Olive Eggers I kept...

I think the black is female. The other two, I'm afraid, are boys. However, I'm uncertain about the splash. The blue's got three definite rows. Ugh.

Here's my question. Will the MaransXAmeraucana cross definitely produce an Olive Egger, regardless of comb type? I think it will, but I am a little confused on the pea comb/blue egg connection.

Black is female, blue is male, splash I'm sitting on the fence as well. Look at the leg size- are they bigger around like the blue or thinner like the black?

Ameraucana have a pea comb. The pea comb gene is very closely located to the blue egg gene on the genome. In fact, they are passed on together 99% of the time. So any pea comb offspring should be olive eggers. Is the black a pea comb or single comb, I can't decide from this angle?

 

[ashtree]

Black is female, blue is male, splash I'm sitting on the fence as well.  Look at the leg size- are they bigger around like the blue or thinner like the black?

Ameraucana have a pea comb.  The pea comb gene is very closely located to the blue egg gene on the genome.  In fact, they are passed on together 99% of the time.  So any pea comb offspring should be olive eggers.  Is the black a pea comb or single comb, I can't decide from this angle?

I got a single comb pullet and pea comb pullet from this pairing too. So I'm wondering what color eggs I can expect from the single? I'm not picky, just didn't realize it could be something other than olive with a pure ameraucana mom and marans dad. Is the other option the dark brown or is white/cream a possibility too?

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I got a single comb pullet and pea comb pullet from this pairing too. So I'm wondering what color eggs I can expect from the single? I'm not picky, just didn't realize it could be something other than olive with a pure ameraucana mom and marans dad. Is the other option the dark brown or is white/cream a possibility too?

The single comb will probably lay brown. Like I said 99% of the time the pea comb and blue egg gene are passed on together. Pea comb is dominant so you usually get pea comb. In fact in 2 years of crossing Ameraucana with Rhode Island Red to make EEs I've never gotten a single combed chick.

Blue is a single gene- called O. A bird with two genes is OO and one is Oo. No blue egg gene is oo. It's very easy to lose this O when you outcross.

Brown is MUCH more complicated. That's why Marans lay such a variation of shades. There are 15 KNOWN brown egg genes. Marans breeders are trying to "stack up" all those brown genes to get as dark of an egg as possible. So it is also much harder to eliminated the brown genes and get back to white. There is a CHANCE but very very low that you would get a white or cream egg layer from that cross. Most likely it will be a light brown.

Got my first ever Mottled Orpington egg yesterday!!!


Took this pic back at the end of October when I was feeling impatient for eggs. I think they are 8-9 months old now. The one that laid me the egg I'm sure is the pullet in the center far right, she's the only one with big comb and wattles.

 

[erinszoo]

Two baby ducks in the bator this morning. 6 more pipped. The first one was out yesterday afternoon. They sure are taking their own sweet time.

 

[miohippus]

I'm Thinking about getting some call ducks. Dose anyone have any thoughts about them?

 

[ashtree]

The single comb will probably lay brown. Like I said 99% of the time the pea comb and blue egg gene are passed on together. Pea comb is dominant so you usually get pea comb. In fact in 2 years of crossing Ameraucana with Rhode Island Red to make EEs I've never gotten a single combed chick. Blue is a single gene- called O. A bird with two genes is OO and one is Oo. No blue egg gene is oo. It's very easy to lose this O when you outcross. Brown is MUCH more complicated. That's why Marans lay such a variation of shades. There are 15 KNOWN brown egg genes. Marans breeders are trying to "stack up" all those brown genes to get as dark of an egg as possible. So it is also much harder to eliminated the brown genes and get back to white. There is a CHANCE but very very low that you would get a white or cream egg layer from that cross. Most likely it will be a light brown. Got my first ever Mottled Orpington egg yesterday!!! Took this pic back at the end of October when I was feeling impatient for eggs. I think they are 8-9 months old now. The one that laid me the egg I'm sure is the pullet in the center far right, she's the only one with big comb and wattles.

They're incredible! You have a yard full of my "wants" list. Oh and about the "light brown" egg color. Does this mean I potentially won't be able to tell the difference in SFH eggs and the single comb EEs?

 

[NanaKat]

I'm Thinking about getting some call ducks. Dose anyone have any thoughts about them?

Someone had Call Ducks for sale at the Shawnee Show last year....bet there will be some this year.

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

@ashtree @lonnyandrinda

That's where I get confused. If an Ameraucana is OO, then it should pass on one O and get any number of brown genes to make olive. I suppose if my Ameraucanas aren't OO, but are only Oo, I'd have a problem. Now, to cross one of our single combed Olive Eggers with another Marans, you'd want to look for the pea comb. Right? That's what I understood from research, but much like everything else I find on the internet, I can't find it a second time! I guess time will tell. Btw, my splash is in between on all counts...comb, legs, demeanor.

I've set as many Jubilee eggs as I can, waiting to see if they're fertile. The first 10 were not. Today, I'm making the most expensive omelet I've ever had. I've seen the boys doing their thing, so I'm hopeful to see some bullseyes. My next step will be taking out a couple girls to see if that helps. I just don't feel right selling these eggs until I know the fertility is good. They are still laying like crazy though...usually 5 a day (from 8 pullets), sometimes 6.

I'm anxious for my Barnevelders to mature. I should be able to have eggs/chicks this spring. My black boy (from your hatching eggs, Rinda) and my two females (one blue and one splash, from another breeder's eggs) should make some beautiful birds. They seem to all be very nice examples of the breed.

I need to finish decorating our tree. I've been waiting for both children to be home. Saturday during the day seems to be my best chance. I also need to buy gifts, bake some cookies, and make some candy (fudge and peanut brittle for starters). Humid days don't work well for either of those!

 

[miohippus]

Someone had Call Ducks for sale at the Shawnee Show last year....bet there will be some this year.

yep i remember seeing them and my kids were like we want some of those

 

[ashtree]

@HeyBigRhondaq I hope you get some chicks from those jubilee eggs! They are incredibly beautiful birds. I'll be buying a few eggs from you in the spring!

I've failed to realize how close Christmas is and haven't even started the whole tree thing. It's been a busy year. I think I'm going to struggle to find a place to put it in our tiny house. But I better figure that out today; it's closer than I realized.

@NanaKat Olaf looks amazing! Can't wait to see the finished piece.