black copper marans roo X RIR

[lilshadow]

If you cross breed these two birds, and got a hen from them what color would that off springs eggs be? Also, can you keep breeding the off spring to the roo until you have a marans hen? I hope that I make sense.

 

[Dustin Biery]

The eggs would probably be just a shade darker than a RIR. No matter how far you back-cross, your bird will never be a full blooded maran hen and can have the potential of throwing the traits of the RIR.

This practice you are talking about is used often when creating new varieties.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I thought it took 5 - 6 generations of line breeding to the sire and you'd have a new clan/maternal line? Yes, you'll probably have the odd one out pop up on a rare occassion but it should be true. Otherwise there are no pure chickens in the world, they're all just mutts.

lilshadow, you need to only breed the ladies that hatch from the darkest eggs. So, only hatch from the darkest eggs that you get. That's from what I've read from maran breeders willing to share information.