Is my marans hen worth breeding?

[BlueTheBrahma]

I currently have 12 black copper marans eggs in the incubator, my first time hatching the breed I’ve had my eyes on since I started chicken keeping. I plan to breed my marans to improve them over generations since they are are bought from eBay rather than specialised breeders. The photos of them seem assuring, and the eggs are all over a six. However, I have one single copper marans hen which I bought a while ago. She has the feathered legs and all the features I’d look for, she’s also a heavy and well built bird. I’ve never seen any information on how much copper is regarded too much for a marans hen, but she seems to have way more than most, I’d like to know if this is positive or negative. Her egg is paler, usually 4-5 and speckled, but not very rounded like a good marans egg. I’d like any one’s opinion on whether or not this bird would be suitable for breeding, or rather just lower the quality of my flock. I know that’s hard to decide without seeing what the eggs will turn out like, but assuming they are decent, is it worth breeding in this hen.

Bonus question: do copper marans carry the red/mahogany genes or are they just a usual gold birchen?

Thanks.

P.S I just realised I don’t have any photos of her darkest eggs, just these. They are usually a bit darker, but never exceptional (restrained making and egg pun).

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

A full body picture of the hen would help

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

A full body picture of the hen would help

Oops, missed it off!

(Edited original post)

 

[Amer]

She is a bad representative for her breed. The gold should be copper and the copper should be limited to her hackle. She doesn't have the depth nor length of body a Marans needs and her eggs ought to be darker.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

She is a bad representative for her breed. The gold should be copper and the copper should be limited to her hackle. She doesn't have the depth nor length of body a Marans needs and her eggs ought to be darker.

Thanks, I though that there might be too much gold. Completely forgot to think about it not being copper enough! She can stay with my laying flock.

 

[BeccaRecca13]

I found that yours looks like one that I’ve seen in my chicken book. It shows it as a “wheaten/black copper marans” ? Possible? Maybe?
I’ve attached the book photo:

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

I found that yours looks like one that I’ve seen in my chicken book. It shows it as a “wheaten/black copper marans” ? Possible? Maybe?
I’ve attached the book photo:
View attachment 3243271

Thanks.
That doesn’t look like a wheaten marans as I know them but does look quite like my bird. I know in the uk we have a hybrid ‘breed’ called the burford brown, which lays a dark egg and is mostly marans blood. I’ll have a look at them because I know they look similar, not sure about the feathered legs.

maybe?

 

[BeccaRecca13]

Thanks.
That doesn’t look like a wheaten marans as I know them but does look quite like my bird. I know in the uk we have a hybrid ‘breed’ called the burford brown, which lays a dark egg and is mostly marans blood. I’ll have a look at them because I know they look similar, not sure about the feathered legs.View attachment 3243275View attachment 3243276maybe?

The photo was of a wheaten marans crossed with a black copper marans. So mixed breed or hybrid of the marans. So it took the wheaten marans facial features but looks to have the black feathering on the back end.
Not sure.. just figured i would throw it out there.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

The photo was of a wheaten marans crossed with a black copper marans. So mixed breed or hybrid of the marans. So it took the wheaten marans facial features but looks to have the black feathering on the back end.
Not sure.. just figured i would throw it out there.

Aah, I see what you mean. Thanks, that makes sense, she could be pure marans but not pure black copper, so has regular birchen traits rather than the specific type black copper marans were bred for.