Chicken picking at feet

[Redwing]

I went to my local egg show tonight, I won a second and third prize

 

Some beautiful large dark olive green eggs won a first prize and I got chatting to the owner who said they were from a mixed breed bird who looked like a sussex, he offered the eggs to me after the show for my incubator

 

My incubator is already full so I had to decline they were sooooo beautiful

 

I hope I run in to him again

[Cooks]

oooh they sound gorgeous! I would love to see a pic of the bird they came from!

[Redwing]

He said it looked just like a light sussex only it laid those green eggs! Really nice guy - a real traditionalist chocked a bit at the mention of an Eglu but was really helpful

[Cooks]

mob him for some eggs when the incy is empty again!!!..

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Congratulations on getting 2nd and 3rd prize . Do we get to see photos of the winning entries ?

[mostin]

That'll teach you to fill your incubator . Congrats on 2nd and 3rd .

[Redwing]

Congratulations on getting 2nd and 3rd prize . Do we get to see photos of the winning entries ?

 

The prize eggs have been aken to work to give away by OH

 

I do have two cardboard 'certificates' which I might laminate and stick over the Eglu though!

[ClaireG]

Well Done Tasha. Shame about the olive green eggs they sound very intresting.

[tidygirlsuk]

Congratulations on your prises. I've never heard of an egg show b4.

[Egluntyne]

Congratulations!

[quickcluck]

Well done Red!! You should be very proud.

 

The Wernlas do a wernlas Olive, not sure if thats the bird or the egg tho

[Snowy]

Ooh, I'd be interested to see what that hen looks like, and how reliable the egg colour is. My Rosie has buff sussex colouring but araucana physique. She was supposed to lay olive green eggs, but hers are pink Lovely hen though!

[Budgies]

Congratulations on your eggs winning prizes, that's very cool!!

 

 

The Wernlas do a wernlas Olive, not sure if thats the bird or the egg tho

 

It's the egg. The chicken was a result of an accidental mating when a chook escaped a few years back and got in with another pen. The Wernlas Collection kept the resulting chickens as personal pets but more and more people were pointing them out and asking for similar chickens, so now they actively breed them.

[tom123]

Here is a bit about producing coloured eggs...

 

All eggs are initially white, and shell colour is the result of the pigments called porphyrins being deposited while the eggs are in the process of formation. In the case of the Rhode Island Red, the brown pigment protoporphyrin, derived from haemoglobin in the blood, is what gives the shell its light brown colour.

 

The Araucana produces a pigment called oocyanin, which is a product of bile formation, and results in blue or bluish-green eggs. Interestingly, the colour goes right through the shell, making the eggs difficult to candle during incubation.

 

This factor is also an indication of the relative purity of the stock in relation to original Araucanas. The original shell colour of Araucana eggs is blue, but a variety of colours have been produced by crossing Araucanas with other breeds. This is a simplification, of course, and there is a considerable range of blue - green - olive hues, depending on the genetic make-up of the breeds involved, bearing in mind that many so-called Araucanas are themselves crosses.

 

Children are often fascinated to learn that you can rub off the eggshell colour if you get to the egg as it is laid and while it is still damp. Once dried, no amount of rubbing or washing will remove it. Some producers of brown speckled eggs prefer not to use wood shavings as a nest box liner because they smear the markings before they have a chance to set.

 

Here is the chart for egg colour crossing...

 

Blue X Blue = Blue

Blue X White (eg, Leghorn) = Blue

Blue X Brown (eg, RIR) = Green

Blue X Dark Brown (eg, Maran) = Olive Brown

 

 

COCKEREL X HEN =

COCKEREL X HEN =

COCKEREL X HEN =

COCKEREL X HEN =

 

 

Hope that helps

Tom

[tom123]

Forgot to add that my friend is trying to produce a heavy blue egg layer,

 

He has 5 breeding pens comprising of...

 

1 lavender araucana cockerel

3 buff orpington hens

 

1 Cream legbar cockerel

3 dark brahma hens

 

1 black-red araucana cockerel

3 dark egg strain barnvelder hens

 

 

So far he has only hatched chicks from the orp pen and the offspring were a sussex sized hen with small tuft and layed bluey green eggs. He aims to produce a orp style bird that lays blue eggs.

 

 

Will try and get some pics

 

Thanks

Tom

Edited June 30, 2009 by Guest

[quickcluck]

That sounds very exciting! be sure to keep us posted

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Not sure if I'm pleased to learn that the green of my Maisie's eggs is a byproduct of bile .

[tidygirlsuk]

This is all very interesting.

[Guest]

Congratulations on being placed so high. We have a local horticultural show so am wondering now if they have an egg section, will find out, mind you mine would win the mis match contest! indie

[quickcluck]

Like 'Scrufts' for eggs

[ubereglu]

That sounds exciting Tom!

[tom123]

Just thought I would give you an update on the heavy blue egg layer...

 

Sadly his pens got attacked by a fox while he was away. He has now started again with a few different breeds.

 

PEN 1

Lavender araucana cockerel

2 LS hens

2 Silver sussex hens

 

They are such lovely chickens, very pretty...

 

 

This is one of the boys. the girls are less laced but still very pretty, they lay a greeny egg.

 

 

 

This is the ara x LS, very pretty little girl. 15 weeks old.

 

 

PEN 2

Black Cochin cockerel

2 silver laced wyandotte hens

 

(This one was just to 'use up' the spare cochin cockerel he had, they are lovely little chicks)...

 

 

about 2 months old here

 

 

PEN 3

white Ameraucana cockerel

2 Buff laced wyandotte hens

 

They are sooo pretty...

 

 

 

 

I think he will be getting an orp x araucana pen up and running soon

 

Will update when there are more advances!

 

Tom

[Scramble]

I want them all!