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Blue Egg Layers

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I went to my chosen breeder today to make my final selection before collecting the girls next weekend. And I rather liked the Acucanas they had, on account of htme having blue eggs. However because Im having 6 chooks, I really didnt want to sacrifice having any of the others I had planned. But they said they were taking delivery this week of some hybrids that were blue egg layers, but not alwasy reliably so and this was only the second time they were getting them. Now the hybrids I get are interchangable, Im not that fussed, so I was wondering about going for one, but Im struggling to find out anything about them and I dont know what they are called. So Im wondering if anyone here has or has had a blue egg laying hybrid and what they were like temperement wise etc?

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At my local poultry centre they currently have some blue egg layers, they call them Columbines but I have also seen on the web very similar (or the same!) hybrids called Jasmine. They one of the options when I got my hens last week and I couldn't find a lot of info on them online.

 

The man there said they had been bred in Suffolk so possibly your's will come from the same source?

 

Jo

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I think several breeeders are now experimenting with blue laying hybrids. I have 3! They are from different breeders, but all obviously have the araucana gene in there somewhere. Ruby and Rosie are strongly araucana, I think Bambi is more Cream Legbar. They are lovely hens but a bit more nervous than the other hybrids. Although that could be because none of them have started laying yet. I used to have an araucana who was nervous, but once she started laying became very friendly! :lol: But they are notoriously late layers! My araucana was over 30 weeks before she laid, and Ruby and Rosie are now 27 weeks and no eggs!

This is Bambi. I was told she has an 80% chance of laying a blue egg.

DSCF1441.jpg

Ruby and Rosie. Rosie (brown) should lay green eggs and Ruby (grey) turquoise eggs.

DSCF1254.jpg

I think they are very decorative anyway! :D

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Still waiting to see about these girls, but they should be more consistent than a pure breed. My pure araucana laid 55g eggs approximately every other day. Unfortunately she died in July after only coming into lay in February so I don't know if she would have continued like this. :(

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Hi - we too have just got a columbine - apparently she will start to lay at about 25 weeks plus, and should yield about 250 eggs a year.

 

Temprament wise - they said she'd need a lot of work to become tame - 36 hours into having her she's really happy to have a cuddle - and closes her eyes when you stroke her. She is "bottom" chicken in the pecking order - but definitely likes humans.

 

They had loads of different colours from light grey to browny ones - we chose Midget as she had cool hair!

 

chickensnewones010.jpg

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A couple of blue laying hybrids are on my shopping list, but I can't find anywhere around here with any.

 

So,if anyone hears of any in the south east, please let me know :D

 

How far are you prepared to travel? The place Im getting mine from is in Eye near Diss in Suffolk.

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Here are some more gratuitous pics of Ruby and Rosie - just because they are so pretty! Taken this morning so bang up to date! Still not laying though (nor is Bambi despite being the same age as Helly's Henrietta) But I'm sure R & R will lay any day. Ruby has been sitting in the nest box today and Rosie is hogging the cube steps and keeps popping in and out.

Beautiful Ruby with her green ears:

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Pretty Rosie with her beard, crest and ear muffs! (and green feet :shock: )

DSCF1527.jpg

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A couple of blue laying hybrids are on my shopping list, but I can't find anywhere around here with any.

 

So,if anyone hears of any in the south east, please let me know :D

 

Sarah, have you tried Cotswold Chickens near us? Jude may have some in, best to call first.

 

My Dolly is an araucana/poland cross and a reliable layer of the most beautiful turquiose eggs - they always make me smile. Unfortunately she is moulting at the moment, so no eggs at all :(

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A couple of blue laying hybrids are on my shopping list, but I can't find anywhere around here with any.

 

So,if anyone hears of any in the south east, please let me know :D

 

Thornes near Letchworth (North Herts) have a load of 16 week old Columbines (I believe that is where Boris70 has just got her's)

 

About 25 miles from the nearest junction of the M25

 

Jo

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Hi there

 

We've got a Skyline, which I was told has a 50% chance of laying a blue egg (although I see online that various percentages are quoted - up to 80%). No eggs yet, at 25 weeks, so I don't know.

 

We bought Cinderella from Martins Wood Chickens in East Sussex:

http://www.martinswoodchickens.co.uk

although, I see the Skylines aren't listed on the site.

 

Good luck - and I'll let everyone know what happens!

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oh..........

i have just noticed there are two more people from NORWICH i am soooooooooooo excited. :D:D:D

i have three cream legbars. i lost count of weeks at 33 and still no eggs but i cant wait for my first blue one. they are really calm and love a cuddle and i have been told they take longer to mature so they lay later (but i think the weather hasnt helped). i know of a lovely breeder in melton constable who i got five of my lovely chooks from, the norfolk greys and cream legbars pm me if you want her phone number.

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I have Clare, she is out until next Spring.

 

She has put me on to Legbars of Broadway though, so fingers crossed :D

 

Ooo, let me know if you're going on a trip and I'll tag along, I love Broadway :D

 

My Araucana cross doesn't much like being picked up - probably because she was already mature when I got her and hadn't been handled much. She's not the most meoldious of birds - she karks and grates and makes horrid noises! I do love her though - she's as daft as a brush.

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