Illia, that speckly olive green eggie is SUPER pretty! Yes, I do think the key is stock from VERY dark layers or lines. First gen olive egger eggs can be gorgeous!
Well, speaking of super dark lines, I have about 7 Wheaten Marans boys that I hatched from eggs from Cree farms. I have no use from them, and those eggs were DARK! If anyone needs a new jolt of dark egg genetics, shoot me an email before I give them to someone who doesn't appreciate them. They're about 6-7 weeks old I think.
Fortunately I did get some pullets too, but they're allllll mine!
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I am in the process of getting some wheaten ameracunas and some black copper marans. Once they start laying I do what to use them to get some olive eggers. How do I cross them to get sex-links so I don't waste alot of food on roos?
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I am in the process of getting some wheaten ameracunas and some black copper marans. Once they start laying I do what to use them to get some olive eggers. How do I cross them to get sex-links so I don't waste alot of food on roos?
Three methods of Sex-Linked Olive Eggers, some easier for people, some not (breed/color not commonly available)
(non-cuckoo) Marans or other dark layer x Cuckoo Araucana hen
(non-cuckoo) Marans or other dark layer x Cuckoo/Barred Easter Egger hen ([/i]granted she lays decently blueish, not too green of eggs)
Blue/green egg layer x Cuckoo Marans hen
These are "black" sex link methods, the easiest out there. The males will have a white dot on the head. Another sex-link method is by using a silver carrying female, gold carrying male. Here's a few easy options:
Golden-Salmon or Wheaten dark egg layer x Silver Duckwing Easter Egger / Ameraucana / Araucana
Marans or other dark layer x Silver Columbian colored Easter Egger / Araucana
In your case of Wheaten Marans - You must need a male, and cross him to a Cuckoo Araucana or Easter Egger.
Will go take some picture before I put them in my incubator I just threw together..one of my 'bators stopped working so I just had to use what I have!!