DNA Testing for the Blue Egg Gene

I wrote this article on behalf of the Ameraucana Alliance for the Poultry Press Newspaper. It has also been submitted to Exhibition Poultry Magazine. I thought I would also share it here!

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. I hope you have a great season!