Can you help me with these girlies?

[farmerlor]

I always just figured these girlies were mutts because I can't find them in the McMurray catalog.
The first three pics are of a black hen lays dark, dark, dark chocolate colored eggs. The black is very pretty with green and blue shading. The brown feathers around her face.....well, you can see in the pics.

The second girlie has the same black coloring but less of the brown feathers but she too lays very dark colored eggs.

 

[HorseFeathers]

The first and second look like red sex links to me, but you say they lay dark eggs? Strange...

 

[PortageGirl]

How dark? This dark? http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Marans/BRKMarans.html

because, they might be a little light, but do look like 'possible' black copper marans... http://www.highhopesacres.com/maran_chicken.htm

http://www.reddirtchickenranch.com/BirdPics.html

 

[farmerlor]

But I don't think McMurray even handles Copper Marans? But yeah, they're that dark.....

 

[HorseFeathers]

Hmmm, yes, now that you mention it black copper marans are a possibility too.

 

[farmerlor]

Here's a pic of the eggs I got so far today: The three dark ones on the end are from my hens I'm asking about. Note that they're also the biggest eggs of the bunch.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
So you purchased them from McMurray and can't remember what you ordered?
From your first post it sounded like you were using their catalog to figure out what you got, but this post sounds like you bought from them

 

[farmerlor]

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I bought the rainbow layer mix from McMurray last year-the people who buy eggs from me like pretty colored eggs so up until now I haven't really cared what breeds I have. These girls were mixed in with my the usual Orps, Ameracaunas, Turkens, etc.... But day after day I look at these girls and wonder what they are since they're not represented in the catalog and these girls came from there.

 

[SeramaSweetie]

How long have the ones with the dark eggs been laying? If they're just starting to lay or have been laying for a good while, they are VERY likely to be Black Copper Marans. That's EXACTLY how our BCM eggs look like, and they just started laying a couple days ago. The to spangled ones in the first pic are probably mottled Javas.

 

[Dandelion007]

I have one Cuckoo Maran so I have been doing some reading on them. It looks like you have the Copper Black variety. Right now they seem to be an expensive fad. The color isn't recognized by APA though. You didn't say but I'm assuming you got an assortment from McMurray. Since what I have read says Copper Black isn't breeding true yet, I figure McMurray is probably working with the color before they list it.

I got an assortment through Cackle Hatchery. I did get a few of a color that wasn't listed in their brochure or on their website. However, I called them and was told they did have the color that I had gotten.

You've got some pretty Maran hens. Enjoy.

Added:

I found this picture that looks like your hens. I know some breeders are trying to get back to the original standard of feather legs so yours may or may not have them.

http://www.smart-inter.net/roseawen/copper.shtml