Lately, I've been seeing several folks ask questions about their Ameraucana laying white or tan eggs, so I thought it may be helpful to share my reasons for choosing to have my flock’s DNA tested for the blue egg gene through IQ Bird Genetics in Florida and to share a little bit about the process.

While I am primarily breeding towards the SOP, egg color is also important to me. I don't want a white or tan egg layer to pop up in my Ameraucana flock years down the road. I know some of you may have even heard stories about Ameraucana laying white, tan, olive, or even brown eggs in their show cages at sanctioned shows. These birds look the part as show quality Ameraucana (phenotypically) but lay the wrong egg color. It's disappointing, right?

My line had been outcrossed to a non-blue egg laying breed many generations before I got my starter birds. However, they had never been tested to ensure they are homozygous for the blue egg gene. Like many, I had just made the assumption.

Well, assumptions are not in line with my personal goals for my flock. Testing my breeding stock has been less expensive in the long run than test-breeding each bird and growing out enough of their offspring until point of lay to statistically rule out any possibility of blue egg gene heterozygosity. 

Here are some fun facts about blue egg color-

A bird will lay eggs with blue shells whether or not she has one or two copies of the blue egg mutation. This blue pigment goes all the way through the shell and is visible inside the egg as well. You may need to peel back the inner membranes to see the blue inside. Sometimes the shade of blue is very pale. 

Blue shells are dominant to white shells. Hatching only from blue eggs is not enough to ensure your flock will always lay blue eggs. Be aware that it only takes pairing two heterozygous birds to produce offspring that do not inherit the blue egg gene at all. About 25% of them, give or take. Another half will only be heterozygous like their parents, and although they will lay blue shelled eggs, they will not pass the trait on to all of their offspring either! Can you see how this can become problematic? 

I decided not to take any chances with my flock. I wanted to be 100% sure of what genetics my birds have and will pass on. It is important for both my Standard-bred Ameraucanas and also for the olive egger crosses I make with them. I have now tested all of my breeding birds and it has given me a peace of mind that was worth the cost, in my opinion.

IQ Bird Genetics in Florida will test a chicken's DNA for their blue egg gene status. You can send in feathers or a blood sample. I opted for feathers, but it's just as easy to clip a toenail a bit short and collect a few drops of blood from your bird onto their paper forms. The cost per bird is $25-$30. Once they receive samples, they email your results in as little as a couple of days. It's very quick and easy. You can find their website at https://iqbirdtesting.com/

I feel this testing opportunity is important for those working on project varieties, especially those that have been outcrossed to another breed. 

If you have any questions about egg color inheritance or breeding for colored eggs, I'm always available to talk chickens and genetics.