Production Blue

[sealer39]

I bought a Production Blue pullet from a local feed store this year having never heard of a Production Blue (PB) before. A PB is a RIR rooster x Blue Australop hen. You can see the red splash down her breast from the RIR. I think they are supposed to lay large brown eggs. Mine is about 17 weeks old now. So far, I’m very happy with her. She is the most friendly of the chickens (and I have Speckled Sussex in my flock). She is alert and growing fast. She is currently bigger than my SS, White Leghorn and EE that are about 3 or 4 weeks older than her. I’m curious if anyone who has some experience with this breed can post some comments on how well the lay, egg size, and other opinions.
The pics are courtesy of my 8 year old daughter. BTW, don’t try to take pics of chickens yourself, just give the phone to your kids. They are way better than adults at chasing down shy chickens.

 

[sealer39]

She laid her first egg today at about 20 to 22 weeks. It’s impressive at 2.10oz for her first egg. We’ll soon see if this is the norm for her. So far, I really like this cross. She is a very good chicken.

Here is what she looks like now.

 

[sealer39]

After her first egg I really started doubting if that was really from my PB. I finally caught her in a clean nest and was able to know for sure which was her eggs and which belonged to my 3 Speckled Sussex. Once she gets the hang of this egg laying business she should produce decent sized large eggs. Here are some of the PB’s eggs.

 

[Dirtclawed]

Very nice,I have two that are 13 weeks now and I'm looking forward to the eggs

 

[sealer39]

She’s turned out to be a good hen. I wouldn’t really call her a ‘production’ bird, she lays on average every other day. The eggs now are always size large. She is a very calm chicken. I have no idea where she is on the pecking order because no other bird messes with her and she doesn’t mess with anyone else. My daughters can easily pick her up and carry her around so I would definitely call her human friendly.

 

[Dirtclawed]

She’s turned out to be a good hen. I wouldn’t really call her a ‘production’ bird, she lays on average every other day. The eggs now are always size large. She is a very calm chicken. I have no idea where she is on the pecking order because no other bird messes with her and she doesn’t mess with anyone else. My daughters can easily pick her up and carry her around so I would definitely call her human friendly.

The two that I have seem to be the same way,they have been raised with some marans one of the blues is smaller then the rest since she was a day old,I thought I would lose her ,never instigates playing chicken but will ruffle and play back when they do.

 

[ManyChickies]

I just got 4 production blues early this Month.

I have a question for ya. Mine had black beaks, black combs, and black legs, even black eyes. I very much love the uniqueness of them. Did yours appear so dark when they were a few weeks old. From what I have read on the appearance of blue rocks, it said they had yellow legs.

What was your experience early on?