The Olive-Egger thread!

[onthespot]

Quote:
Thanks for the info., but--unfortunately--I'm still a little confused. I asked before, and the basic idea for an Olive-egger rooster was they are "if-y" in which egg color gene would be carried in the offspring. What is the use of an Olive-egger rooster in a breeding program? It is also my understanding that you can breed up or down your line (parent <--> offspring) but not across lines (sibling <--> sibling). I know I have hatched out some Buff Orp eggs that were from a sibling mating and at least 2 out of 3 had a genetic defect & had to be culled. The 3rd appeared normal & was given away--not sure what might have happened to it. So to use the OE roo that I have would I not need to find some OEs from a different line?

I'm trying to learn about the genetics, but I can't find good "Chicken Genetics for Dummies". It's been a long time since high school biology

, and I don't remember much of the basics on genetics anymore. Any tips on where to find some genetics info for the lay breeder?

My entire Barred Olive Egger project is based off of one hen and her offspring bred back to her and each other. I have not gotten any problems from them, other than the egg colors vary quite a bit, still get the occasional single comb, (which means likely no blue egg gene) and since I am using a single barred roo, not all roo babies are sexable at hatch, and some black girls pop up also from time to time. I don't consider those defects, just genetic variations I am selecting away from.

 

[Medicine Man]

Quote:
well, in this scenario it makes a big difference whether it's the mother or the father is the cuckoo (barred). In your case, you have a Blue Copper Olive Egger rooster, right?

Like this?


So breeding him with Cuckoo Marans would result in sex-linked peeps. The mothers only have one copy of the barring gene and they can pass it on to only their sons, so all the male peeps will be Cuckoo, half black, half blue - they'll have a white spot on the tops of their heads as peeps. All the girl peeps would be Black or Blue.

I think I have that correct. Maybe not.

 

[jarodw45]

Quote:
Okay, nevermind, I do have a question...this kind of stuff just bugs me. Now, this involves feather color genetics rather than egg color. What would you get with a very dark blue with gold accented hackles OE crossed with a Cuckoo Marans? Would the offspring still be black/cuckoo or would the offspring be 50% blue & 50% black? And then what happens with the Cuckoo part?

Sorry for all the questions...I just find all this stuff fascinating, and, as I said previously, it's hard to find info. about all this stuff. I'd love a reference to a good book, site, etc....

Don't worry about questions that is how we all learn! I can't help with the genetics stuff because I'm still learning too. I love your avatar and seriously want that bird! Lol

 

[cherylcohen]

One light one eluded the camera but I'm pretty sure she's a girl - again these are from a batch of TEST olive egger eggs from Kelly/happy chooks. They are 3 months old!

Anyone want to take a stab at sexing?? they each have a colored band if you don't' mind referencing that... THANKS

 

[Wynette]

Hi, Cheryl! I see several more cockerels than pullets...gray band and reddish orange band to me look like pullets, the others, cockerels. Interesting color combo on blue band - he's going to be a looker, for sure!

 

[cherylcohen]

ACK!!

too bad I hatched these for kelly to see what the egg color will be

 

[Wynette]

Well, pea combs are harder to tell than others, but any with red in their combs by 8 weeks....telltale cockerel. Then, look at legs...thickness.... I could be wrong, too!

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

Alfredo at 10 weeks. What could I (get) and cross him over to get more olive eggers that look like him?

Cajun

Funny picture! (the 3 in the middle are 1/2 cochin/1/2 olive eggers)

Cordon Bleu (with one of those cochin EE's and one of my cats behind them!)

 

[Wynette]

Afredo is an EE? I've not seen one with that leg coloring - interesting! Or, is he from a dark egg laying line? If so, I would get a buff Ameraucana gal - you can often find breeders very willing to part with specimens that don't fit their breeding programs for not too much $. If he's from an olive egger line, you'll need maybe a wheaten marans gal to cross him with. Word of warning, though - "regular" genetics doens't apply a strongly when you're working with mixes, but you can sure give it a try!

 

[hipeatall]

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I recently saw someone selling Cochicauna chickens... that is what the calls his Cochin x Ameraucana mixes.

Clever