Started laying...but wrong color

[sewcarey]

I had bought brown, blue and olive green fertile eggs from a local breeder this March trying to vary our egg basket. One hen from a blue egg and another from an olive green egg have started to lay eggs, brown eggs, not the blue or olive that they hatched out of. I know she had seperated the different breeds before I bought the eggs and am guessing she didn't wait long enough.

I feel this is a HUGE waste of time and money and i'm ticked off to say the least. What should I do? Is it's too late to try to hatch some out now (i'm in PA) as I don't want to have a heat lamp running all winter and don't have much space either. Although I do have 2 broody hens right now. Your thoughts?

Carey

 

[Fred's Hens]

It happens. I know that is no consolation, perhaps, but local "breeders" are sometimes just chick and egg mills, or propagators, not truly breeders with honest integrity and improvement of the breeds as their motivation.

Sad to say, but there are lots and lots of folks selling inferior chicks, mixes, mutts and below standard poultry out there. Egg sellers? Sad to say, but reputation of the seller is paramount. Caveat Emptor.

 

[CarolJ]

Hatching EEs is a gamble. Their eggs can be any color. If you want guaranteed bluish eggs, try a true Araucana, Ameraucana or Legbar. I have a bunch of EEs - and all but one lays a blue/green egg. That one lays a pale brown egg.

 

[CarolJ]

About your question concerning whether or not to hatch now. Maybe the easiest thing would be to find a reputable breeder and buy chicks. Depending on where you live, you could still hatch out eggs - especially if you have a broody hen. Broody hens are WONDERFUL! That's the easiest way to have chicks because there's no need for a brooder - the broody takes care of everything. Just be sure you get pure bred eggs. If you don't have room for more - perhaps you could sell the brown egg layers.

 

[NovaAman]

I have a green egg layer... Not one of her girl chicks that have hatched lay green eggs. I understand though, that both parents need to have been carrying and pass on the green gene for the chicks that hatch to lay those colors. I also have one that lays pink eggs. Her girls all lay pale pale brown egg... tinted I guess, but not the same pink.