Black Copper Marans question

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iam4hymn

iam4hymn

Chirping
Jun 21, 2015
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Georgia
I have two BCM hens along with the rest of my flock. The BCMs are terrible layers. I am lucky if I get 5 eggs a week total from those two. Is this typical for Black Copper Marans or are mine just duds?
 
Are they getting old? Also, something I learned with mine...they start out laying the darkest eggs of any of the 25 or so birds I have (12 different brown egg varieties). But over the laying season their eggs get lighter colored. At first I assumed like you - that they weren't laying. I determined later they were indeed laying - just lighter eggs. Could this be the case with yours?
 
They are almost 1 year old in October so they are not old. And I know which eggs are theirs and they just don't lay many.
 
So true! Mine came from a show breeder who wanted very dark colored eggs. They are very dark, but not many per week. It's likely that many such birds aren't great layers. check on the Marans forum for better information. Mary
 
That's pretty low. Mine are 4 years old and laid better than that this last season.

What are you feeding? Marans, especially breeder birds, tend to be a bit larger than hatchery production hens. They may need a boost in protein to hit optimal laying rate.
 
They are eating normal 16% layer crumbles but most of my flock is molting at the minute, so can I boost them up to a non medicated chick feed for a few weeks?
 
iam4hymn said:
They are eating normal 16% layer crumbles but most of my flock is molting at the minute, so can I boost them up to a non medicated chick feed for a few weeks?
Click to expand...
Absolutely!


I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.
 
iam4hymn said:
I have two BCM hens along with the rest of my flock. The BCMs are terrible layers. I am lucky if I get 5 eggs a week total from those two. Is this typical for Black Copper Marans or are mine just duds?
Click to expand...

I dont get many eggs from my bcm hens either. I got 4 last week out of 2 hens. I wont be keeping more of thr marans for laying. Just breeding for the egg color.
 

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