Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[heirloomorps]

What age? I keep driving myself crazy not knowing when to really expect mine to start! My oldest is reddening in the face, she's blue. Her and my Golden Cuckoo are the only 2 I have from Hatchery, but they are about 5 mos old. The others are about 4 mos. old. I've read soo many posts stating they are late maturing and read where some folks BCM's are laying til around 6-8 mos of age! That's such a long wait! lol
O... Congrats BTW!

Most of mine are around 8 months. Previous to this last week we had been getting 1 egg a day (from two different hens). In the last week we are up to 5 a day from 9 hens. However it doesn't help that our weather has been so bizarre in Tennessee... this last week has been awesome weather wise though until today when it's a thunderstorm outside.

 

[Slinglings]

I have a BCM that just started squatting for me a couple of weeks ago. I haven't found any dark eggs yet, but I have found some medium brown eggs with darker spots that I'm unsure who laid them. Do marans eggs start out lighter when they first start laying?

Sometimes, they do darken up as they go...sometimes not.  Do you know if she came from a very dark egg?

I didn't hatch her so I don't know ...

i found my BCM in the nest today and here is her egg on the right--very disappointing. do you think it will get darker?

I assumed she wasn't laying since I hadn't found any dark eggs even though she's been squating for quite a while. I have occasionally found some just like this but with dark brown spots.

 

[3riverschick]

Yes, dissapointing. But give her time. If she has just started, they may darken up. You want to average her egg color over the 1st 20 eggs.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA

 

[DeltaBluezTess]

Is there a place where the info is for the Standard and non-desired ? (aside from reading the 600 pages here)


such as desired back vs long or short back
leg color preferred and not preferred
etc....
and actual photos of each as I am a visual type of gal....

 

[BibleMan]

Good Morning.

Thank you for letting me on this list.

 

[ashandvine]

Is there a place where the info is for the Standard and non-desired ? (aside from reading the 600 pages here)


such as desired back vs long or short back
leg color preferred and not preferred
etc....
and actual photos of each as I am a visual type of gal....

There is a partial thread where folks with Marans were doing this with actual photos of what was preferable and what were flaws. It was great. It died. I would be just as grateful if that were kept up. Also, there is a Chicken CSU thread that is specific to education for each breed in the APA SOP. I don't think they have covered Marans yet though.
And of course the Marans Breeder page.... strongly recommend the French one.

 

[maryhysong]

Anticipating pretty eggs to come along around June; I am wondering if any of you have found anything that actually works for candling Marans eggs? I have what was supposed to be a 1000 lumens LED flashlight but it's having a hard time on my blue EE and light brown BO eggs, can't imagine I'd be able to see anything at all in something darker. (or maybe it's just the cheap flashlight?) Wondering if those special egg candlers the poultry places sell really work or?

 

[lonnyandrinda]

In my experience it is easier to see into a dark egg than a blue egg... LOL no idea why. With both colors I can get a feel for whether something is growing or not at day 10 and pull out the clears, but that's about it. The candler I have is this one: http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_95&products_id=612.

I would love to hear if anyone has a different model that works better.
Rinda

 

[Daniel1974]

I have 4 BCM 4 weeks old 3 have feathers pointing out on the rear and one has no rear feathers could you tell if roo or pullet by that?

 

[DMRippy]

In my experience it is easier to see into a dark egg than a blue egg... LOL no idea why. With both colors I can get a feel for whether something is growing or not at day 10 and pull out the clears, but that's about it. The candler I have is this one: http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_95&products_id=612.

I would love to hear if anyone has a different model that works better.
Rinda

I agree.... that is basically what I do to. Blue eggs can be hard to see in too.... OLIVE EGGERS are the WORST I can't even see clears in those so dense and the coating does not help. If they don't smell they make it to lockdown. BTW I have a 400 Lumens flashlight and can see in most any eggs with ease. Not much better than a 250 lumens. I would think with 1000 lumens you could see in the next county.

I need new batteries.