The Olive-Egger thread!

[OHfarmerswife]

the top 3 I think are definitely roos. The 4th is on the fence.

thanks Penny I will keep a closer eye on # 4

 

[seventreesfarm]

I've literally hatched chicks in every month of the year, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and do not believe there is a significant link between egg laying and when your chicks hatched. Yes it may take hens hatched later in the year a bit longer to lay (shorter winter days mean a longer time to wait for hens to reach POL) but it doesn't mean that they are going to be poor layers.

I'm just now getting into trap nesting to track production, so it will be interesting to get some numbers on my Pullets from different hatches.

The sustainable poultry network posted a list of recommended reading, mainly books from the early 20th century http://www.sustainablepoultrynetwork.com/highly-recommended-books-to-read/

It's been informative to read all the different (and similar) ways poultry were kept and bred then. Some great ideas and some not so great.....

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Sounds like "bad" genes. Some hens just don't have top laying genes in their make up. I've also read that late hatched hens aren't quite the same as spring hatched ones. I only have 3 pullets from my last Oct hatch and two aren't great layers and their eggs are smallish. The third lays olive eggs that are mediium sized, and she is about 65% production rate.

dont think the spring versus fall hatch makes a difference. Like Jeremy I hatch year round and they all lay the same on average for me anyways

 

[unkadan]

don't think the spring versus fall hatch makes a difference. Like Jeremy I hatch year round and they all lay the same on average for me anyways

I'm pretty certain this entirely depends on your location. Here if I hatched in the fall those birds wouldn't see dirt, the sun, or get the benefits of free range for 6 months.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

question....If I have an OE rooster what do I breed him with to get Olive eggs?

 

[Peach2u]

An ameraucana or green egg laying EE. If you put him over an OE you may get 50% olive, 50% brown. Over a brown egger with no blue egg gene you will get brown. Their offspring would carry a 1 blue gene, 25% of the time. That is saying your OE roo is an F1

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

An ameraucana or green egg laying EE. If you put him over an OE you may get 50% olive, 50% brown. Over a brown egger with no blue egg gene you will get brown. Their offspring would carry a 1 blue gene, 25% of the time. That is saying your OE roo is an F1

Please excuse my ignorance, but I'm new to all of this.

What does F1 mean?
How do you know whether or not your hens carry a blue gene?

 

[OHfarmerswife]

My eggs that I hatched from were blue so does that make them an F1?
Thanks for your help!!

 

[Little Wing]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I'm new to all of this.

What does F1 mean?
How do you know whether or not your hens carry a blue gene?

F1s are the offspring of the original cross.
You can't tell until they lay an egg but you can get a good idea by the comb. The blue egg gene is closely associated with the pea comb gene so if they have a pea comb then they have a good chance of having the blue egg gene.

My eggs that I hatched from were blue so does that make them an F1?
Thanks for your help!!

If they were bred with a dark brown egg layer, yes they are F1 OEs.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Quote:
Thanks again for the follow up - At this point, she's eye candy and a comedian - if she pops out an egg, well that's just icing on the cake. Peace