Will I be able to tell the difference between black sex link eggs and buff orpington eggs

[PO in MO]

Chick days last tuesday and got 8 black sex link pullets, 3 buff orpington pullets and 2 buff orpinton cockerels. Will end up with just one rooster. Both are considered a dual purpose chicken and wonder how they compare as a meat bird. And would a buff orpington/ black sex link cross be a decent meat bird or should I keep them separate and use the buff orpington purebreds as the dual purpose birds in my flock. I have read the the BSL don't tend to go broody and the buff orpingtons do. Appreciate any help on this. I got the BSL's for their egg laying ability but since they don't breed true I thought a few Buff Orpingtons and a rooster might give me some meat birds if I get lucky and get a broody hen, if not an incubator. I have a seperate shed I am setting up for either a coop or future broody coop so have the option of separate housing if that is the way to go. If I put them all together in my large chicken tractor would I be able to tell which eggs are which or would it matter.

 

[Basil G]

I have BSL and NHRxBO mixes. I can tell their eggs apart for several reasons. 1.) the BSL have a smoother shell the NHRxBO, but I'm not sure if that is with all 2.) and my NHRxBO lay much larger eggs and they lay speckled eggs (I'm not sure if that is true with pure breeds) 3.) when you do hatch them (I hatched my mixes last year and I have more in the incubator) their down colour is most of the time a dead give away. The BSL have a E^R gene that gives the chicks black down with some white. The BO have E^WH gene that gives that chicks a yellow/buff down, but the BSL carry the E^WH gene it is recessive to the E^R gene, but their may be a few BSLxBO mixed in with the BO if they have the right combo of genes

 

[PO in MO]

Thanks for the good explanation, I was beginning to think it must be a really stupid question. I am going to separate the the BSL's from the BO's when they get close to laying age. I should be able to tell then if I can put them all back together and be able to have a broody hen just set on BO eggs. Again thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[donrae]

If you're only wanting to know for incubating eggs, here's what I'd do.

Raise them all together and not worry about who's laying what. Then, when you're ready to incubate, separate your buffs for a few days and collect their eggs. With 3 hens laying, it won't take but a few days to get enough eggs to incubate. Then, put everyone back together. Rinse and repeat

 

[PO in MO]

I was hoping for a broody hen eventually. I was going to get an incubator this year but by the time I got around to thinking about doing it my old hens had just about stopped laying, that's why I went to chick days and bought this batch. What you said is a good idea and that way I just have one coop to service every day. But will need an incubator. If I get a broody hen pretty quick after these mature I may just let her set on whatever she wants and see what I get. They will be for meat anyway. Thanks for the reply.