WTB Hen Laying CREAM eggs?

[hollandhens24]

In March of 2024 I received two Whiting True Blue chicks, a female and a male in my order from McMurray Hatchery. I had purchased these two with the hopes of creating my own little flock of WTB to add to my backyard. However, my hen does not lay blue eggs, she lays a light tan egg with a heavy white bloom on it. I emailed McMurray and they said that while this was incredibly rare, it does happen occasionally. They refunded me the cost of both of my chicks, as I had intended to breed them. I have my first eggs in the incubator from this cross (first time incubating) and am curious if I can expect the offspring to lay beautiful blue eggs, or what the chances are that they will lay an egg the same color as their mother? Thank you for taking the time to respond!

 

[sourland]

It's possible that the rooster may pass the blue egg gene to his daughters.

 

[hollandhens24]

It's possible that the rooster may pass the blue egg gene to his daughters.

Thank you! I was under the impression that this breed carried two copies of the blue gene (I am not a geneticist by ANY means) so this is a learning curve!

 

[Yardmom]

If your roo carries both blue genes (He should since witings are supposed to breed true, but obviously your hen does not) all the offspring of the first generation will lay blue eggs because blue is dominant, but carry one not blue gene. The next generation will end up with 3/4 blue egg layer and 1/4 not blue layers. 1/4 of this generation will have two blue genes.
If only half the first generation lay blue it would mean your roo has a single blue gene instead of 2.

 

[Yardmom]

Not sure on your hen if the genetics didn't play by the expected "rules" or if there are not blue genes mix in the McMurray flock.

 

[hollandhens24]

Not sure on your hen if the genetics didn't play by the expected "rules" or if there are not blue genes mix in the McMurray flock.

Thank you for the information. The email said, "We are so sorry to hear that your Whiting True Blue hen is laying a brown egg. This is extremely rare, but because this breed is originally crossed with a brown egg breed, it can happen." I was also under the impression that WTB breed true.

 

[TexasBlues]

Thank you for the information. The email said, "We are so sorry to hear that your Whiting True Blue hen is laying a brown egg. This is extremely rare, but because this breed is originally crossed with a brown egg breed, it can happen." I was also under the impression that WTB breed true.

You should have asked them to elaborate on this “brown layer “ crossed to make WTB. Sounds like hatchery BS.
Can you post a pic of your brown laying WTB?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

You should have asked them to elaborate on this “brown layer “ crossed to make WTB. Sounds like hatchery BS.
Can you post a pic of your brown laying WTB?

Based off of the body type and stance of whiting true blues it’s most likely Cornish. A hatchery doesn’t usually give away the recipe for their signature crosses .

 

[TexasBlues]

Mcmurray hatchery did not develop them.
Whiting true blues have a documented lineage through their caretaker Dr. Tom Whiting.
They were initially leghorns crossed with Ideal Poultry’s ameraucanas. He then backcrossed them several times to leghorns. Here’s an interview with Tom Whiting and the breed:
Post in thread 'Hatchery Whiting True Blues'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hatchery-whiting-true-blues.1608138/post-27442926

Based off of the body type and stance of whiting true blues it’s most likely Cornish. A hatchery doesn’t usually give away the recipe for their signature crosses .

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Mcmurray hatchery did not develop them.
Whiting true blues have a documented lineage through their caretaker Dr. Tom Whiting.
They were initially leghorns crossed with Ideal Poultry’s ameraucanas. He then backcrossed them several times to leghorns. Here’s an interview with Tom Whiting and the breed:
Post in thread 'Hatchery Whiting True Blues'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hatchery-whiting-true-blues.1608138/post-27442926

I am well aware they did not create the breed. However, each hatchery uses their own choice mix of breeds to create their version of signature and designer breeds. Did the italian restaurant down the road invent Carbonara? No, but they have their own recipe that they use and do not share with the public. The hatchery above stated that they used a brown egg layer in their mix. Leghorns lay white eggs therefore they did not use a leghorn. Looking at their stock pictures of their WTB their stock appears to have a more Cornish body shape and stance which Cornish also lay light brown eggs.