So this is my Cuckoo Marans/EE mix Buttercup: She laid her first egg today, and it is not what I was expecting. I though she would lay a nice chocolate colored egg, but this is what I got instead... To say I am underwhelmed is an understatement. I am excited that she laid her first egg, I just wish it was darker. -Jen
Genetics in egg coloring can be tricky at best - even if breeding within same breed let alone mixing two different types. EE's can lay anywhere from an egg the color your hybrid laid all the way to dark olive green and any pinks, blues or greens in between. I raise Welsummers and all of my pullets are laying extra large very dark eggs - many nearly as dark as Marans - and the Roos I will breed them with are Welsummers from the same stock so you would think I will probably get the offspring to be laying nice dark eggs but it is still a crap shoot. Sorry you are disappointed but the egg is a nice large one for a first egg.
I am very happy that she is laying, but when my BO, BR, and GLW eggs are darker it makes me just a little sad. Always a little bit of a shock when you don't get what you expect to get. It is a nice egg, and she is a pretty bird, so I am still happy.
My copper marans lay a dark brown egg but they will lighten up on occasion. The huge egg is probably because it is her first. The egg size will normalize to a large or smaller end Jumbo. My marans are great layers.
