Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[johnderosa1]

My lone pullet from my spring hatch just started laying a few days ago... She has pretty good type but I really love her egg color so far. Check it out.

 

[DMRippy]

My lone pullet from my spring hatch just started laying a few days ago... She has pretty good type but I really love her egg color so far. Check it out.

That is a really pretty egg! Congrats!

 

[johnderosa1]

That is a really pretty egg! Congrats!

Thanks Donna.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: I second that! Lovely!

 

[dvoice]

If I may ask an opinion please? I am on day 5 of incubating and was just checking on humidity settings. I heard from somewhere that Maran eggs prefer different humidity than most others. Anything to that? I'm running 39-41% right now.

 

[Wynette]

johnd, that egg is lovely!

dvoice, you'll hear lots of opinions; I incubate them exactly as I do any other breed and they do just fine. I run 43-45 for humidity until day 19 (yes, I go to day 19), then increase to 70 - 72.

 

[johnderosa1]

Thanks Wynette and Silkies! That is the darkest egg I've had in three years of trying. I am hopefully making some progress on the overall quality of my birds as she has decent type, color, perfect shank feathering and eye color. I still have lots of work to do but finally a true keeper. I will be getting more eggs to hatch and hatch some of hers in the near future. My rooster needs some improve my but is not a total disaster. I have a dark hen that I have him paired up with that has excellent size and type + lays a chocolate colored egg that is probably in the six range. The problem with her is that she doesn't lay very consistently. I think she had IB when about 3 mos old and that affected her laying. Early eggs were completely white and misshaped. The were back to normal after her first molt but she takes long breaks between laying. Anyway, I hope to have a decent flock to work with by next year with a little luck... FINALLY. Fingers and toes crossed.

 

[dvoice]

johnd, that egg is lovely!

dvoice, you'll hear lots of opinions; I incubate them exactly as I do any other breed and they do just fine. I run 43-45 for humidity until day 19 (yes, I go to day 19), then increase to 70 - 72.

Thanks Wynette, I try to adjust related to egg weight. this is only my third attempt. last one was decent and I did lockdown at Day 19 as well 63-65% Trying out 70 BCM's from 2 different breeders this time. hoping for at least 60% hatch.

 

[Wynette]

Thanks Wynette and Silkies! That is the darkest egg I've had in three years of trying. I am hopefully making some progress on the overall quality of my birds as she has decent type, color, perfect shank feathering and eye color. I still have lots of work to do but finally a true keeper. I will be getting more eggs to hatch and hatch some of hers in the near future. My rooster needs some improve my but is not a total disaster. I have a dark hen that I have him paired up with that has excellent size and type + lays a chocolate colored egg that is probably in the six range. The problem with her is that she doesn't lay very consistently. I think she had IB when about 3 mos old and that affected her laying. Early eggs were completely white and misshaped. The were back to normal after her first molt but she takes long breaks between laying. Anyway, I hope to have a decent flock to work with by next year with a little luck... FINALLY. Fingers and toes crossed.

BEST of luck to you! It can be frustrating, but patience is key. When you get to the darkness you are happy with, the next step, egg color wise, will be for you to hold back only those hens who lay a darker egg LONGER, and/or lay a darker egg more consistently and more often. I have a good friend who has been breeding Marans for many years, and she culls heavily for hens whose eggs lighten too quickly. I've had some myself that their first 10 - 12 eggs were simply gorgeous, and the darkness dropped off VERY quickly.

Thanks Wynette, I try to adjust related to egg weight. this is only my third attempt. last one was decent and I did lockdown at Day 19 as well 63-65% Trying out 70 BCM's from 2 different breeders this time. hoping for at least 60% hatch.

If they were shipped eggs, a goal of 60% may be pushing it, but would be most excellent! Any time you can get more than 50% hatch off shipped eggs - especially these days of postal workers being so darned overworked - you're doing well. BEST of luck!

 

[dvoice]

BEST of luck to you! It can be frustrating, but patience is key. When you get to the darkness you are happy with, the next step, egg color wise, will be for you to hold back only those hens who lay a darker egg LONGER, and/or lay a darker egg more consistently and more often. I have a good friend who has been breeding Marans for many years, and she culls heavily for hens whose eggs lighten too quickly. I've had some myself that their first 10 - 12 eggs were simply gorgeous, and the darkness dropped off VERY quickly.

If they were shipped eggs, a goal of 60% may be pushing it, but would be most excellent! Any time you can get more than 50% hatch off shipped eggs - especially these days of postal workers being so darned overworked - you're doing well. BEST of luck!

I live in British Columbia on Vancouver Island. I got 10 eggs local(45 min drive) and the other 5 doz from the mainland. My tenant picked them up near her parents. He charged for 4 but gave me an extra doz. I can't see myself attempting shipped.It's bad enough paying $25/doz. My wife would kill me If I spent more than that plus shipping and ended up with bad results.LOL