Is this a Black Copper Maran?

[JedJackson]

It's impossible to say if she's a hatchery quality BCM or a mix/hatchery hybrid. She has some qualities that are not typical of that variety. Short legs, fluffy feathers on the lower body, and the copper parts are paler than is usual. So either way she wouldn't be a great candidate for a breeding program.

Marans are known for their dark brown eggs, but they aren't prolific layers. She might just be taking a break until spring.

How large is the hen? I'm wondering if maybe she's a Marans/Cochin bantam mix.

 

[-chook-]

She looks like she's close or should be laying. Where are you located?

Some pullets who could get close to POL (point of lay) will lay before the Soltice change when daylight hours decrease generally below 14 hours triggering them to take their break and will lay thru winter where others will wait until the daylight hours start increasing in the Spring.
I had my very first Black Silver Marans pullet I was anxiously waiting on her first egg in late 2024 and she made me wait until February 2025 after I had turned lights on to lay her first egg at IIRC around 32 weeks. So it's not unheard of in my experience.

Located in Tennessee!

 

[-chook-]

She looks like she's close or should be laying. Where are you located?

Some pullets who could get close to POL (point of lay) will lay before the Soltice change when daylight hours decrease generally below 14 hours triggering them to take their break and will lay thru winter where others will wait until the daylight hours start increasing in the Spring.
I had my very first Black Silver Marans pullet I was anxiously waiting on her first egg in late 2024 and she made me wait until February 2025 after I had turned lights on to lay her first egg at IIRC around 32 weeks. So it's not unheard of in my experience.

I came home to this today! BCM egg??

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I came home to this today! BCM egg??

Congrats!

Quite likely it's from a Marans, unless you have other dark brown layers

 

[-chook-]

Congrats!

Quite likely it's from a Marans, unless you have other dark brown layers

Couldn’t be anyone else! Thank you!

 

[wrathsfarm]

I came home to this today! BCM egg??

Looks that way...congrats.
Track those first 20-30 eggs if you can, they should darken up as her ink jets get going.

 

[-chook-]

Looks that way...congrats.
Track those first 20-30 eggs if you can, they should darken up as her ink jets get going.

Is it possible she is still a mix? Or does this egg shade indicate she is pure BCM?I have had chickens for almost 2 years but still get confused on genetics lol. Thank you!

 

[mrskenmore]

I think its a BCM egg- they will get darker over time as wrathsfarm has mentioned above. Congrats!

You solved the mystery!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Do you think she is possibly just not laying yet? Thank you for the response!

Very possible she’s not laying yet, marans are late to start laying I find. I just counted weeks and mine that I hatched this year is 37 weeks and doesn’t look as close to laying as yours (yours has very red comb and wattles, mine are still smaller and more of a dark pink).

The marans I got last year were probably around 8/9 months when they started laying.