"Red" Egg genetics?

Illia

Crazy for Colors
10 Years
Oct 19, 2009
16,240
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Forks, WA
No, the title isn't entirely misleading. I'm looking to see if there is a possibility to create a "red" egg layer. I know Marans have very good brick-red base, but they also have quite the brown tinge, too. But, they're the only breed with such a good red base - Is there a possibility to keep that red base, perhaps lighten it some, and bring it out better to create a red egg? I mean, you can lighten it, turn it olive, turn it slightly green, but could you bring out a certain tone, such as the red?

If I seem confusing or that this is impossible, tell me.
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I just seem to notice a lot of people's Black Coppers have very red eggs when flash is put on them, and so could you get a hen (or project, really) to lay eggs that look that richly red without the dark chocolate Marans look?
 
Onthespot has some she calls red bricks.


Edited: there was recently a thread where someone hatched a ton of them. I recieved these from her today, but I don't know if they were the red bricks
 
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Onthespot has amazingly red eggs, and that's a part of my point - But I'm wondering if crossing and what to cross with something like that to bring the red even more out. Would a pink egg layer help at all?
 
Welsummers seem to have a terra cotta egg. I would say they are a better red base for you to go with than the Marans.
 
Barnevelders are sometimes described as red but the color quality seems to vary a lot.
 
Welsummers seem to go to the orange-brown end, not red. And most Barnies are just plain brown. Still looking for a possibility if crossing the Marans would work.
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If I cross a Marans and Welsummer, I'll just get yet another dark layer, possibly even lighter than the parents. I'm looking to lighten the egg, not keep it - But remove the brown tinge, and bring out the red. I want a red egg, not a dark brown one. I'm getting plenty of those this summer.
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I guess I'll just do some trial and error with pink egg layers - I may just end up getting brown, but who knows. . .
 
I have a roo from a pink egg.

So, If I cross him with the "red brick" hens (that haven't hatched yet) would the resulting offspring have a "redder" tone with less brown? Or would I just end up with olive eggers?
 

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