International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

KF0002 · Nov 20, 2017

I read that Marans have Old English Game blood in their lineage (as do many breeds). Gamecocks that were brought to France on ships mated with the swamp hens and began the making of what are now Marans. Maybe that explains why mine are so free spirited. Lol

KF0002 · Nov 20, 2017

She lays an egg just like her dam.. lots of dark speckles. She is an LA pullet.

Red Banks · Nov 20, 2017

kfelton0002 said:
Speaking of secret nests @RedBanks

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Its not like they dont have a nice cozy hen house to lay and roost in. But no, the black copper pullets still free ranging want to roost in the trees 20 feet up and nest on the ground like the Games. Monkey see, monkey do.

I kept a little Araucana hen, not much bigger than a pigeon. She is terrible and leads many a good hen astray. She lays 10 or 15 eggs in a well hidden nest, by the time I find them I have to throw them all away. She encourages all the hens to lay in the woods. I don't know what possessed me to keep her.

KF0002 · Nov 20, 2017

RedBanks said:
I kept a little Araucana hen, not much bigger than a pigeon. She is terrible and leads many a good hen astray. She lays 10 or 15 eggs in a well hidden nest, by the time I find them I have to throw them all away. She encourages all the hens to lay in the woods. I don't know what possessed me to keep her.

Because she lays pretty blue eggs?

Have you thought about penning her up?

I was pondering on what to do with this LA girl myself. Now that I know what her eggs look like I could pen her up in one of the big coops. I want to eat extra eggs, not let them go to waste in a well hidden nest. Now that Ive found her nest and took the egg, she will likely find a new one. The nest was down the bank behind the house. I only found it because she started singing her egg song before she got up and blew her cover.

Red Banks · Nov 20, 2017

dvoice said:
Yes. I can see that, the main thing is LP has the egg colours where I’d like mine to be on a regular basis.

She is very candid about how she continues to have those dark eggs, she inbreeds. Since many of us have pretty dark eggs I think if we concentrate our program to that end we would have the same success.

Red Banks · Nov 20, 2017

kfelton0002 said:
And here is what she has to say for herself.

Because she lays pretty blue eggs?

Have you thought about penning her up?

I was pondering on what to do with this LA girl myself. Now that I know what her eggs look like I could pen her up in one of the big coops. I want to eat extra eggs, not let them go to waste in a well hidden nest. Now that Ive found her nest and took the egg, she will likely find a new one. The nest was down the bank behind the house. I only found it because she started singing her egg song before she got up and blew her cover.

Yes they always give themselves away and when I have time I go and track them when I hear their song.