If you cross a Black Copper Marans roo with...

[Jeffross1968]

We are in a position where we have 5 roosters of differing ages, between 6 months and 4 weeks. Right now, with 2 of them maturing, we can already see that we're going to have issues. Knew that, but wasn't ready to make the decision yet. The oldest 3, including the 2 maturing, are mixes. 1 of those is a really great rooster, the other is probably going in the pot. The 2 youngest are pure breeds, a Black Copper Marans and Golden Laced Wyandotte.

I have various pure breed hens, and I'm trying to look down the road at what mixes I might get. My question, is if the Marans Roo will likely breed darker eggs than whatever the hen is. For example....will the Marans crossed with a light Brahma result in some pullets that will lay darker than the mother hen? Also, will the Marans Roo crossed with a blue egg laying hen have a chance of resulting in an olive egger?

 

[Debbi]

First, the breed name is MARANS, always with the S on the end.

Second, depending on the dark egg genes the Marans roo carries, the offspring should have a darker egg, but nowhere near as dark as a pure Marans breeding would be. Do you know how dark the egg was that the roo hatched from?

Yes, bred to a blue egg layer, the offspring will be olive eggers. Again, the depth of color will depend on the parents' genes.

 

[Jeffross1968]

First, the breed name is MARANS, always with the S on the end.

Second, depending on the dark egg genes the Marans roo carries, the offspring should have a darker egg, but nowhere near as dark as a pure Marans breeding would be. Do you know how dark the egg was that the roo hatched from?

Yes, bred to a blue egg layer, the offspring will be olive eggers. Again, the depth of color will depend on the parents' genes.

Yikes! I corrected it, LOL!

Unfortunately, no...the Marans roo was from a hatchery. But that answers the question...I'll have a chance to mix up the colors we already have and have a possibility of hatching an olive egger. Thanks!

 

[Debbi]

Oh my, I didn't mean to sound like I was yelling! Just a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the spelling of the breed name. The Marans breed was named after the town of "Marans, France", so whether you are speaking of one bird, or 100 birds, the name still has the S on the end. Yes, if you have a hatchery bird, don't count on great egg color. That goes for the olive egger too, as the depth of the dark brown tends to deepen the olive color with the blue eggs too. On the other hand, you might get lucky?? Good luck.

 

[Jeffross1968]

LOL! Thanks, I appreciate it. If we don't get what we want, I'm sure down the road we can look for better quality birds. Pain in the butt finding breeders around here for certain things...

 

[Debbi]

You are not out of the loop for Marans in your area. Try looking at some of the BST (Buy, Sell, Trade) listings on here. Go to the Marans threads too, to find breeders in your area.

 

[Peep Nerd]

So will a BCM rooster bred with an easter egger result in olive eggers? I was under the impression that easter eggers don't always produce chicks that will lay blue/green. I would love it if they did, though! Fingers crossed for more awesomely colored eggs from my girls!

 

[enola]

If the Easter egger lays blue eggs you will hatch an olive egger. If the easter egger lays a green egg you may or may not get an olive egger.

 

[Hilly78]

First, the breed name is MARANS, always with the S on the end.

Second, depending on the dark egg genes the Marans roo carries, the offspring should have a darker egg, but nowhere near as dark as a pure Marans breeding would be. Do you know how dark the egg was that the roo hatched from?

Yes, bred to a blue egg layer, the offspring will be olive eggers. Again, the depth of color will depend on the parents' genes.

I'm so glad I found this post! I actually had the same question and now I know!

 

[Exia Neblett]

If the Easter egger lays blue eggs you will hatch an olive egger. If the easter egger lays a green egg you may or may not get an olive egger.

I have an ee who lays green eggs and bred it with a marans rooster so what will those chicks be called can you help me?