Black copper marans with brown??

[karma33]

I purchased eggs from a lady with gorgeous BCM's that lay a dark, dark egg. Quite a few of the birds devoped brown on their feathers as they are growing out...this is a picture of one of the worst ones,,,she is about 6 weeks. what would cause this???

 

[Spartan22]

Looks like been breed with other type of chicken, or a recessive gene from other mixture.

 

[Hensndoes]

That is what's called mossy. There is a fine balance between breeding for egg color and breeding for standard with marans. If someone were breeding for standard they would only use her with a certain roo to breed that trait out. They would sacrifice egg color in the process.i am new to marans but wouldn't use her unless making olive eggers. I'd sure put those eggs in my sale cartons tho

 

[Ursuline Chick]

i think she is pretty, but then I am not a breeder, just have egg laying hens. Guess it depends on why you are keeping chickens .

 

[DownByTheRiver]

I read somewhere that the mossy (flecked with brown on body) hens tend to lay very dark eggs.

 

[3riverschick]

ouch, that bird is really mossy. Not a good example of breeding to color in the variety. Maybe contact a veteran Marans breeder to see how to breed it out. If you want to breed for color, I think you need to replace this bird. But looks like an egg flock bird to me.
Best,
Karen
http://frenchmaransclubaustralia.yolasite.com/notes-on-breeding.php

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

ouch, that bird is really mossy. Not a good example of breeding to color in the variety. Maybe contact a veteran Marans breeder to see how to breed it out. If you want to breed for color, I think you need to replace this bird. But looks like an egg flock bird to me.
Best,
Karen
http://frenchmaransclubaustralia.yolasite.com/notes-on-breeding.php

X2.....she'd go in "gen pop" here to be used for production of eating/selling eggs.....but would not be used for breeding, unless for olive eggers or other mixed breeding where breed standard adherance is not an issue

 

[WVduckchick]

ouch, that bird is really mossy. Not a good example of breeding to color in the variety. Maybe contact a veteran Marans breeder to see how to breed it out. If you want to breed for color, I think you need to replace this bird. But looks like an egg flock bird to me.
Best,
Karen
http://frenchmaransclubaustralia.yolasite.com/notes-on-breeding.php

This thread is older and the OP hasn't been around, but I definitely still appreciate that link! Some good info there!
I wish I could see the OP's pic, but looks like its been deleted. I had a couple chick hatch with a bit of mossy feathers, but they grew out beautifully.