The Olive-Egger thread!

[Penny Hen]

Penny Hen - I have an OE that looks very similar, from a different crossing: RIR x Partridge mix EE. Are the "eyes" basically mottling?

Not as I understand mottling. Look closely at this picture. It only shows one of the "eyes" but there is a clear gold ring around the black and then it changes to the chestnut color again.

The black spot is more than one feather. I will catch him up again and see if the full length of the feather is black or if the bases of the feather is some other color.

 

[SeattleLeah]

Well I have waited on this OE chick to see if he is a she. We are at 12 weeks now, maybe you can tell me what you think! Here is a series of pics. The last 2 were taken this morning, he/she is VERY skiddish, so those are the best pics I could get.

1- 2 weeks old....



At 6 weeks....






At 12 weeks....

This is a tough one but I am guessing roo. Those are some big legs and the comb is broad and red. Lacks an all over color pattern and has the characteristic brick red coloring. I'm curious to see what other people think.

 

[SeattleLeah]

members on this thread proclaimed my OE "bubba" a roo months ago. But on a separate thread I made to document his/her progress people are still saying pullet! 19 weeks, no crowing, mounting or aggressive behavior of any kind. Here is the other thread in case you want to see older photos https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/755091/need-help-sexing-9-week-blrw-and-7-week-old-olive-egger

 

[ronott1]

members on this thread proclaimed my OE "bubba" a roo months ago. But on a separate thread I made to document his/her progress people are still saying pullet! 19 weeks, no crowing, mounting or aggressive behavior of any kind. Here is the other thread in case you want to see older photos https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/755091/need-help-sexing-9-week-blrw-and-7-week-old-olive-egger

The Frizzle is confusing and looks a bit like hackle and saddle feathers. The comb is a combination comb and is not too large or wide for those. The wattles are very small for 19 weeks.

Didn't I say pullet when you posted the first picture?

This is an SG Dorking crossed with a Wheaten Ameraucana. She lays a beautiful blue egg.



She has a bigger comb and the same size of smaller wattles.

 

[jeremy]

members on this thread proclaimed my OE "bubba" a roo months ago. But on a separate thread I made to document his/her progress people are still saying pullet! 19 weeks, no crowing, mounting or aggressive behavior of any kind. Here is the other thread in case you want to see older photos https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/755091/need-help-sexing-9-week-blrw-and-7-week-old-olive-egger

I have a friend who does genetic sexing on day old chicks, I'm sure she could probably do the same thing for you for your bird so that you could finally have a definite answer.

Send me a PM and I will connect you guys.

 

[jeremy]

Have any of you seen this pattern in Olive Eggers before? This is a cockrel from an Americana roo over BCMarans hens. In particular I am talking about the "eyes" on his breast. They remind me of the false eyes that caterpillars have to scare off predators.

Any chance the pattern could be reproduced?

Doubtful, most likely due to the unknown genes that the "Americana" parent bird is likely carrying. I'm assuming by "Americana" you are referring to an Easter Egger? The issue with having an EE parent in the equation is that you don't know the birds genetic lineage, meaning he could be carrying a whole mess of genes that could alter the phenotype of his offspring in any number of ways. Combine that with the genes from the hens you mate to him and you'd have a lot of variables to work with when trying to reproduce a color pattern. You would have to hatch hundreds, selectively pick the chicks that exhibited the color traits you were after and cull the remaining that didn't. Then breed those offspring together and/or back to their parents in hopes of coaxing out more of the color pattern that you're after.

What you're likely seeing in this bird are "wild type"/partridge pattern genes combining with the red birchen genes in from the Marans. I honestly have no idea what would create the "eyes" on his breast though, sorry.

 

[jeremy]

Well I have waited on this OE chick to see if he is a she. We are at 12 weeks now, maybe you can tell me what you think! Here is a series of pics. The last 2 were taken this morning, he/she is VERY skiddish, so those are the best pics I could get.

1- 2 weeks old....



At 6 weeks....






At 12 weeks....

He's a cockerel, pullets do not exhibit this type of color pattern. (Somewhat similar looking to Pyle.)

He could end up looking something like this-

And if he were a hen he might look something like this-

He's is very handsome though, I've got a thing for dominant White birds.

 

[jeremy]

Penny Hen - I have an OE that looks very similar, from a different crossing: RIR x Partridge mix EE. Are the "eyes" basically mottling?

No.

Mottling is lack of pigment at the tip of a feather.

 

[cmitchell]

This little blue olive egger has learned how to jump up on the feeder. Time to put the screen cover over the brooder or I'll have chickies running all over the house!
06-11-13

 

[sol2go]

No.

Mottling is lack of pigment at the tip of a feather.

could you review mottled vs spangled?