International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

Finally got my BCM eggs today. 7 days shipping. My husband got them while I'm at work and he sent me these pictures. I don't know of these are really dark or not. He put them in the sun for pictures. One is cracked at the air cell. It's the extra one that's light colored. He put them resting air cell side up. View attachment 4089138View attachment 4089140View attachment 4089142View attachment 4089143
Are these decent colored BCM eggs?

That depends when they were layed in the hens lay cycle. Most all of mine do lighten up and then get dark again after molt or going broody. Edited to add...Age of the hens will effect this also, the dark egg gene is still there.
Some lines...for instance @BlueTheBrahma girls start dark and stay consistent thru out the lay cycle.


Did you see pics of any eggs before purchasing?

 

[SweetieChicken234]

That depends when they were layed in the hens lay cycle. Most all of mine do lighten up and then get dark again after molt or going broody.

Did you see pics of any eggs before purchasing?

They looked more dark in the picture. Supposedly champion bloodlines. I didn't ask if that means the bird or eggs.

 

[Tstraub]

I just got my first BCM pullet! She is 4.5 weeks old now and just spent her first day and night outside. She has 5 sisters of all different breeds.
Question's about my BCM: How big will she get? I got her from the Farm Store. Also, how heavily feathered will her feet get? I have a brahma pullet who is the same age and my Brahma's legs are definitely more feathered. Lastly, how dark will her eggs be? I mainly got her for the egg color, but since she is from a mass producing company, will they be as dark as a carefully bred BCM?

A Marans should have feathers down the outside of its shanks and feathers on the outer toes only. A Brahma should have heavily feathered shanks and feathers on all four toes. Egg color is really inconsistent with hatchery stock. She will almost certainly lay the darkest eggs in your flock but it’s unlikely to be as dark as the pictures you see on the internet. As far as size goes my Marans, Brahama, Jersey Giant, and Wyandottes are all very similar in size.

It takes real work to get consistent egg color or size in a breeding line of chickens most hatchery’s don’t have the time to invest in making them perfect they are into making them as low cost as they can because price is the most important factor to a lot of customers.

 

[Tstraub]

They looked more dark in the picture. Supposedly champion bloodlines. I didn't ask if that means the bird or eggs.

Did they offer any proof of champion status or elaborate what they won. Champion of a 4H fair is a champion. Maybe they are really good bloodlines but I’m always skeptical of anyone I don’t know.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Did they offer any proof of champion status or elaborate what they won. Champion of a 4H fair is a champion. Maybe they are really good bloodlines but I’m always skeptical of anyone I don’t know.

To be fair I didn't ask. I wasn't so impressed with champion blood lines as I was more of having dark eggs. I really should ask that question.

 

[wrathsfarm]

@SweetieChicken234

These are an example of my Ravens eggs. Lighter now in her laying cycle but she has the dark egg gene. All 8 are Ravens in the first pic under a broody last year.

Today...

 

[wrathsfarm]

Haven't figured out who layed this little gem yet but it's cute.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

@SweetieChicken234

These are an example of my Ravens eggs. Lighter now in her laying cycle but she has the dark egg gene. All 8 are Ravens in the first pic under a broody last year.


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Today...
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Oh wow that's really different so really there's no way to be sure until my chicks lay eggs. Dang those are dark beautiful eggs. I really love those dark eggs.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Haven't figured out who layed this little gem yet but it's cute.View attachment 4089219View attachment 4089220View attachment 4089223

That little one is tiny and cute with heavy speckles. You have a nice line of birds.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Oh wow that's really different so really there's no way to be sure until my chicks lay eggs. Dang those are dark beautiful eggs. I really love those dark eggs.

If you saw pics of the eggs at their darkest, you hopefully should feel confident.... I said hopefully because there is scammers out there.

You won't know until they lay, correct. My Kong has the dark egg gene. Any female back crossed to him should lay darker than they're Dam but it's possible they won't and some of mine don't.