International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[pioneerchick816]

Quick question. Concerning the darkness of their eggs. Who's genetics influences that more? The rooster or the hen? I know very little about genetics, but was just curious. Thanks. Love to learn (since I'm a chicken newbie

)

 

[Red Banks]

Quick question. Concerning the darkness of their eggs. Who's genetics influences that more? The rooster or the hen? I know very little about genetics, but was just curious. Thanks. Love to learn (since I'm a chicken newbie

)

I believe this is a question we all have. From everything I have read egg color is pretty much a mystery. I do know you want to hatch from your darkest eggs. I have posted an article about egg color and I think Curtis Hale wrote something too. Let me find the articles for you and while I am looking someone will probably be able to give you a better answer. So glad you are on the thread. These kind of good questions help us all.

 

[Red Banks]

Quick question. Concerning the darkness of their eggs. Who's genetics influences that more? The rooster or the hen? I know very little about genetics, but was just curious. Thanks. Love to learn (since I'm a chicken newbie

)

From Brenda Little of Little Peddler.

The key to really dark egg color is inbreeding to be honest. Only use cockerels from the very darkest eggs. Progeny test: if cockerel produces offspring daughters laying good egg color, backcross. 1st year 50/50 2nd 75/25 etc etc
Inbreeding restricts amount of genes that can be expressed. Just need to get the right genes clicking! All you can do is split them and call pens 1,2.3 Only hatch from darkest eggs don't be tempted by light ones. You might find that if you concentrate on breeding for egg color you will lose the looks of the birds. With Welsummers most breeders breed for egg color and end up with birds that would not make show cage and the opposite good show birds that don’t lay the darkest eggs. Often birds which produce darkest eggs are usually bad layers in terms of eggs laid!!

From Curtis Hale

8) Dark Egg color can be restored successful in a line that has lost it with use of either a cockerel or a hen (both
carry all the genes).

I could not find the article I was looking for but it is posted on this thread. If you are new to the thread there is a lot of really good information in past posts. There is information here.

http://littlepeddlersmarans.com/need-to-know

And you can go to the various clubs and get a lot of good information. Probably don't have the names perfect but what I have typed should get you there.

Marans Chicken Club USA
Marans Club of America
French Marans Club

 

[kcrandall]

I am working outside and of course Gabby is underfoot and constantly talking. It is hard not to like Gabby. She has changed but still a pretty hen.When I want to take a picture and they are pecking at the ground I make noises to get their head up. Puts them at alert and sometimes is not the best view for tail, etc....

Gabby is like fine wine, she gets better with age. Gorgeous Hen!! I'm looking forward to seeing her chicks Keith

 

[kcrandall]

I believe this is a question we all have.  From everything I have read egg color is pretty much a mystery.  I do know you want to hatch from your darkest eggs.  I have posted an article about egg color and I think Curtis Hale wrote something too.  Let me find the articles for you and while I am looking someone will probably be able to give you a better answer.  So glad you are on the thread.  These kind of good questions help us all.

RedBanks is correct - the genetics of egg color is largely a mystery and involves many many genes. I've read that both the Rooster and Hen are equally important when it comes to egg color. We can tell if a Hen has the dark egg genes by the color of her eggs. The darker the egg the more (or better) genes she has.

However, to lay a really dark egg it must stay in the hen longer which means egg production will be poor. A Hen that lays an 8+ may only lay a couple of eggs per week and a Hen that lays a 6 may lay 3 or 4 eggs per week. As Chooks Man tells us the Marans is all about balance. We want dark eggs and good production in our flocks. I've also heard the really dark eggs don't hatch well but I'm not 100% sure about that.

The Rooster is a different story - we have to test breed the Rooster then raise his female progeny to point of lay to see if their eggs are lighter, darker or the same as their Mommas. This is why it is said we should hatch the darkest eggs because a chick from a dark egg should have a healthy dose of the dark egg genes. I remember an article I read about someone crossing a BCM with a White Leghorn - the resulting female progeny laid eggs as dark or slightly darker than a standard brown egg layer. So the researcher concluded that the Marans also plays a big part in egg color. This is why it is important to have really good breeding records so you know what your breeding stock produces.

Hope this helped. Chooks Man, slap me down if I misdated anything.

Keith

 

[Red Banks]

Quote: Steve only likes phone calls. He won't text and he has never answered any of my emails. Give him a call. I can't imagine he doesn't have any Lavender Ameraucanas!

 

[pioneerchick816]

@RedBanks
Thank you!! I'll start with the article & roll from there

Thank you to anyone else who can fill me in

 

[KF0002]

@RedBanks Your Marans are looking beautiful as always!

We have about 2 inches of snow on the ground, so no pics of my bunch right now. They view snow as a foreign and unfriendly force that they do not understand so they avoid it if they can. They've not ventured out of the coops much the past couple days.
It's supposed to be in the single digits tonight. Can't wait for spring!

On a positive note, I have 3 newly hatch Cream Legbars from my second set of eggs, and one more trying to hatch I will probably have to assist. Two girls and one boy so far this time.

 

[KF0002]

Deleted due to duplicate post

 

[Red Banks]

@RedBanks Your Marans are looking beautiful as always!

We have about 2 inches of snow on the ground, so no pics of my bunch right now. They view snow as a foreign and unfriendly force that they do not understand so they avoid it if they can. They've not ventured out of the coops much the past couple days.
It's supposed to be in the single digits tonight. Can't wait for spring!

On a positive note, I have 3 newly hatch Cream Legbars from my second set of eggs, and one more trying to hatch I will probably have to assist. Two girls and one boy so far this time.

What did you think of Claude? I think I am going to rehome him since I have Antonio and the two flock sires.