What color are EE chicks legs supposed to be?

[Debi214]

I have hatched out 8 ee's and only 4 have the green legs - the other 4 have pinkish-yellow legs. I only want green egg layers

from this batch.

 

[firedove]

EEs are mixed breeds so they can have legs of any color.

Green eggs are the result of blue over brown. So a green egg layer has one blue egg gene and one brown egg gene (to put it simply, there are actually many genes that contribute to brown eggs). So if you breed a green egg layer to a brown egg layer you will get 50/50 green egg layers and brown egg layers

If you breed a green egg rooster (naturally it is hard to tell since the rooster doesn't lay eggs so you can't see what he is carrying) to a green egg hen I believe you will get 25% blue egg layers, 50% green egg layers, and 25% brown egg layers.

Not all blue egg layer EEs are pure for blue egg though. A blue egg layer may carry also the genes for white egg laying.

I think the only way to guarantee that you will get green egg laying EEs is to breed a true purebred Araucana or Ameraucana to a brown egg layer. As the purebreds will pass one blue egg gene and the brown egg layer will supply the brown egg genes.

I'm not all that versed in egg color genetics but I'm pretty sure I've got this right to the best of my understanding. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can shed some light or you could have this thread moved to the Genetics forum.

 

[Kezzie]

Does green only happen from blue over brown? Or can it be the other way around? What would happen if I bred my Cuckoo Maran roo and my EE hen?

 

[Debi214]

Thanks firedove - kezzie we need to find out more info!

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Out of my 7 EE's 4 had light pink/flesh colored legs and they are all green now, so give them some time to develop. A couple had slate colored legs and now their legs are dark dark green.

 

[RAWR]

has anyone ever had a EE with gray legs??

 

[danielbrown]

Lots of info here, just read.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/search.php?search_id=1764232778

 

[Debi214]

daniel your link is not working......

 

[sloallie10]

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that explains a lot!! thanks@!!

 

[danielbrown]

Here's a simple chart.
It doesn't matter which is male or female.

blue egger that has 2 blue egg gene copys
blue x brown= 100% green.
Green x green= 100% green
blue x white= 100% blue
Blue x green = 100% green
green x brown= green or brown??

blue egger with only 1 copy of blue egg gene
blue x brown = 50% green 50% brown
green x green = 100% green
Blue x white = 50%blue 50%white
blue x green= 100% green
green x brown= green or brown??

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=89526

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