What should I expect?

[crittergal]

Hi, I wasn't sure where to post this, but anyways. . . .this may be a silly question, but does anyone know if chicken colors are predictable? I want to hatch some eggs from my chickens, but I have a mixed flock. The rooster is a Barred Rock, and I have 2 BR hens, but the others I am curious what I might get. I have some EE's, (a black, a silver, a red and a brown) some RIRs, some BOs, and a couple black stars and red stars. Has anyone hatched any of these mixes before?

Also, if anyone nearby (Central OH) has or knows of any Leghorns, Wyandottes, Sebrights or Lakenvelders, they would sell some eggs from, I might be interested if this hatch turns out.

I like lots of color. I would also like a Maran.

Thanks!

 

[aqhaktberry3]

If you are interested I have some hatching eggs that come from some colorful chickens. I have white leghorns that are out with 2 very colorful ameraucanas roosters and 2 RIR roosters. I have other hens out with them too. Let me know if you are interested

 

[crittergal]

Will you ship the eggs? As this is my first time hatching, I don't know yet how it will turn out, but I will keep you in mind. Do you have some pics?

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
Absolutely - if you know who's breeding with who and the genetic background of each of your birds. Otherwise, in a mixed flock, you're just going to have to settle for a surprise.

 

[smith2]

If you only have the one BR roo, then most of the offspring will have some type of barring. There are not very many gene combinations that will override barring. Solid black will and maybe really dark red. Most of the others will have some type of barring. But, I think mixed chicks and hens are very pretty and you can get some very interesting combinations. If you only have the one roo, you might want to keep breeding records incase you get something that you want to repeat.

 

[crittergal]

I am trying to keep track of some of the eggs, when I know for sure which hen they came from, but it is kinda hard when they are all in together and you can't spend all day watching them lol And then when they hatch it will be hard to tell them all apart unless they really look different. The EE's obviously will have "beards" and a flat comb, but the others will be kind of hard.

I was hoping to maybe get some blue or splash colors, do you think that would be possible? My one EE is kind of a silver color, and I have several hens that are mostly black.

And do you know what color I might get out of the Orpingtons?

Thanks!