Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Theocons123]

I had couple of those chalky eggs so marked them and put them in the incubator to see what would happen. They were not fertile and just rotted. The other dark eggs pretty much hatched.... I could not figure out what happened but the only two things I could come up with where either one hen was broody then started laying and was thin from being broody or the other hen was off her feed for a day....not sick but mopey, then was fine. They had layer, oyster shells, COB and greens.

It happened in the late winter and not anymore. Both were on the ground and not in the nest box and one was next to the water bowl and the ground was wet.

Mine are laid by one hen. As I have a mixture of girls to tell easily who is laying and who isn't (egg colour). My maran is the tamest one in the group. She loves the greens and eats good quality layers feed, she also has access to lots of oyster shell. I always find a chalky eggs next to the perches in the coop. Her other eggs are completely fine and I think it could be a reaction to the poo.
But I will put it out there again, she only lays chalky eggs like that if she hasn't laid the day before. So maybe it is something to do with the combination of egg shells? Like when they lay a double yolk but just gone wrong?

 

[Runawaylobster]

T
I personally think its more dietary issues. Either to much calcium, to low protein, poor quality food or a combination. My birds never laid eggs like that. Since I know Marans need higher protein levels I will mix chick feed in with layer feed. I had to skimp for a time because money is tight. I just used cheap layer feed. I started getting a lot of those chalky eggs. When I switched back to better food, less calcium and higher protein it went away within 2 weeks.

My ladies get Nutrena layer pellets as their main source of food, i also occasionally give them kitchen veggie offcuts (the offcuts bowl goes to each coop in turn) They also get to range outside in the lychee grove when it's their turn as well (rotate this amongst several coops). No additional calcium because the layer pellets have calcium supplement built in, I do from time to time give them baked (for sterilization) and then crushed eggshells if i see someone getting a thinner shell going on. that's about it....... Maybe i am doing something wrong, however not everyone lays these types of eggs, some are very nice eggs..

maybe i can try adding mealworms??

 

[DMRippy]

T

I personally think its more dietary issues. Either to much calcium, to low protein, poor quality food or a combination. My birds never laid eggs like that. Since I know Marans need higher protein levels I will mix chick feed in with layer feed. I had to skimp for a time because money is tight. I just used cheap layer feed. I started getting a lot of those chalky eggs. When I switched back to better food, less calcium and higher protein it went away within 2 weeks.

My ladies get Nutrena layer pellets as their main source of food,  i also occasionally give them kitchen veggie offcuts (the offcuts bowl goes to each coop in turn)   They also get to range outside in the lychee grove when it's their turn as well (rotate this amongst several coops).  No additional calcium because the layer pellets have calcium supplement built in, I do from time to time give them baked (for sterilization) and then crushed eggshells if i see someone getting a thinner shell going on.   that's about it.......   Maybe i am doing something wrong,  however not everyone lays these types of eggs, some are very nice eggs..

maybe i can try adding mealworms??

I don't think the ones I see are feed issues. does not happen from the same girls. I feed 22% feed with a PORK base. I made that switch because of the Marans needing more protein. I don't have a problem with needed more or less calcium. I don't give any of my birds more calcium on the side.....they don't need it.

it could be if you are getting them from one pullet and it is not NEAR any poop she may just have a problem specific to her. I don't have an answer how to fix it. I just eat those eggs and move on.....it just happens with Marans.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: Heres my theory....Since most of those "over crusted" type shells are usually on the floor or ground, I think that the hen has "kept" the egg inside too long so more shell is deposited than normal. They are on the ground because the hen is waiting to lay her egg in her "spot" but it is probably occupied when she is ready. She might try to hold off laying, which hens can do by the way, and then it becomes impossible to wait any longer, so she lays it on the ground. Or possibly by the time she can get to her favorite nest, it has been inside accumulating the extra calcium or whatever makes up the shell and becomes thick and crusty.

Whatever the reason, they never hatch. I also find that I get less of them during the warm months than I do in the winter.

Sue

 

[Theocons123]

Heres my theory....Since most of those "over crusted" type shells are usually on the floor or ground, I think that the hen has "kept" the egg inside too long so more shell is deposited than normal. They are on the ground because the hen is waiting to lay her egg in her "spot" but it is probably occupied when she is ready. She might try to hold off laying, which hens can do by the way, and then it becomes impossible to wait any longer, so she lays it on the ground. Or possibly by the time she can get to her favorite nest, it has been inside accumulating the extra calcium or whatever makes up the shell and becomes thick and crusty.

Whatever the reason, they never hatch. I also find that I get less of them during the warm months than I do in the winter.

Sue

I like that theory.

 

[NJchixs]

I get eggs linked that when I find them in the run or the coop floor. I don't know why. it is not extra calcium. there is a chemical reaction to the poop that causes it I think. they will not hatch but taste like eggs.

X2 in finding ones like that on run floor.

 

[DMRippy]

I find MORE in the summer than the winter. I don't think they hold the eggs longer I do think it is a chemical reaction with poop. I bet if you took a regular egg and put it in the coop it would change. may try that one day. the only other thing I can think that would cause this to fail is the bloom would be dry and it may need to be wet still for the reaction to happen.

 

[jaybobrenn]

I like that theory.

x2

 

[marquisella]

I find MORE in the summer than the winter. I don't think they hold the eggs longer I do think it is a chemical reaction with poop. I bet if you took a regular egg and put it in the coop it would change. may try that one day. the only other thing I can think that would cause this to fail is the bloom would be dry and it may need to be wet still for the reaction to happen.

I find normal eggs on the coop floor as well. They all aren't thick & crusty like what we are talking about. I guess we will never really know.

The thing that bothers me the most is the "gunk" inside the eggs....that's a technical term!

 

[DMRippy]

I find MORE in the summer than the winter. I don't think they hold the eggs longer I do think it is a chemical reaction with poop. I bet if you took a regular egg and put it in the coop it would change. may try that one day. the only other thing I can think that would cause this to fail is the bloom would be dry and it may need to be wet still for the reaction to happen.

I find normal eggs on the coop floor as well. They all aren't thick & crusty like what we are talking about. I guess we will never really know. The thing that bothers me the most is the "gunk" inside the eggs....that's a technical term!

are you talking about the meat spots or blood? I had that issue in some of my first pullets. it cleared up in them and I have not had that issue in my new pullets.....strange. I wonder if the higher protein feed fixed it. I also find eggs in poop and they don't have that haze. I still think it is a chemical reaction.....but something specific to some birds.