Dark Egg Breeds Thread

[ronott1]

One of our Marans girls laid an egg that was half cream and half brown today. Not sure what's going on or if there's some problem I'm unaware of. Anybody have this happen or know why?

That is amazing! You should blow it out and save it.

I would not worry about eggs that miss the coloring. All should be well with her.

 

[Arielle]

I have a question-- on how to make darker eggs . . .

I have noticed that if I select just the darkest eggs from my BCM I might not be tackling this in the best possible way. Which hen is laying the darkest varies. So what is the point of selecting only the darkest eggs each time?

I can see if a hen regularly lays only light eggs, but I"ve seen a hen lay a light egg that I was planning to put in with the eating eggs and the next day she gave me a very dark egg, like she was saving the paint. lol

THis has become confusing.

 

[jeremy]

I have a question-- on how to make darker eggs . . .

I have noticed that if I select just the darkest eggs from my BCM I might not be tackling this in the best possible way. Which hen is laying the darkest varies. So what is the point of selecting only the darkest eggs each time?

I can see if a hen regularly lays only light eggs, but I"ve seen a hen lay a light egg that I was planning to put in with the eating eggs and the next day she gave me a very dark egg, like she was saving the paint. lol

THis has become confusing.

I would select eggs from hens for breeding at the beginning of their lay cycle, selecting first the darkest layers at that time.

From that group of birds- I would watch and document how long each hen laid dark pigmented eggs. I would then only breed from the hens that continually laid an acceptable color of egg throughout their entire laying cycle. Acceptable in my book being at least a 6-7. I wouldn't want to breed a hen that popped out a 9 egg the very first time and then just laid 3's and 4's after that.

I feel like it will take much longer to select birds this way, but breeding from hens that maintain good pigment color throughout their lay cycle could benefit you much more in subsequent generations.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THis makes sense, have a few questions.

Do you single mate or trap nest?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Just took a picture of some Black Penedesenca eggs with an Ancona egg for reference.

 

[bwalden]

Just took a picture of some Black Penedesenca eggs with an Ancona egg for reference.

Nice Pene eggs!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Just took a picture of some Black Penedesenca eggs with an Ancona egg for reference.

nice eggs. good hatching are those headed to placerville

 

[ronott1]

Originally Posted by ChickenCanoe

Just took a picture of some Black Penedesenca eggs with an Ancona egg for reference.




nice eggs. good hatching are those headed to placerville

Or Woodland?

 

[Alaskan]

OK.... I have a dark egg question....

If you are breeding to the standard, then.....

Marans are NEVER supposed to have spots on their eggs, right?

Welsummers can have lots of spots on their eggs though...right?

What about the other dark egg laying breeds?

Are Welsummers the only breed of chicken that is supposed to have/ or may have according to the breed standard, spots on their eggs? There aren't any white egg layers, or lit brown egg layers that have spots, right?

And what about temperament?

I have had several people tell me that they think the Marans are nicer, and have sweeter roosters than the Welsummers. I would love to hear about other breeds too....but I have only had Marans and Welsummer, and only hatchery hens, no roosters.

I would like to buy from a breeder next spring, and have quality birds....but am having some problem trying to decide on what breeds.

 

[pawtraitart]

My oldest black tail buff marans pullets from this year's hatch are starting to lay! It's so exciting finding the cute little pullet eggs. I took this photo in full sun. They look darker in the house, but I use full sun lighting to judge all of my Marans eggs since indoor lighting varies so much. I have more pullets that haven't started to lay yet. If they all lay no lighter than these, then I'll be extremely happy. Next year's pullets should lay darker since I'll be aligning the egg color genes by breeding back to the parent birds.