Marans and Back-crossed OE Breeding Project.

[Mwhit]

waiting for pullets to lay this time of year is like being a kid waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney

I have a feeling I’ll be waiting a while.

 

[Mwhit]

Another update:

I added 4 day old BCM cockerels and 3 day old pullets to my yearly meat bird order from Cackle Hatchery. Pretty excited to have another go at this. Looking at the reviews, they seem like pretty dark layers for being hatchery birds.

Also, one of my Craigslist marans laid today. As expected, it’s not what I’m looking for but that’s ok. She’s much larger than most of my hens, so I may keep her to add size and more of that dual purpose role to my birds.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Another update:

I added 4 day old BCM cockerels and 3 day old pullets to my yearly meat bird order from Cackle Hatchery. Pretty excited to have another go at this. Looking at the reviews, they seem like pretty dark layers for being hatchery birds.

Also, one of my Craigslist marans laid today. As expected, it’s not what I’m looking for but that’s ok. She’s much larger than most of my hens, so I may keep her to add size and more of that dual purpose role to my birds.

If she just started her laying, her eggs should darken up through the next couple of weeks, how much is entirely up to her genetics. When will your littles be showing up?

 

[Mwhit]

If she just started her laying, her eggs should darken up through the next couple of weeks, how much is entirely up to her genetics. When will your littles be showing up?

Not until April unfortunately. I start the meat birds late so I can brood them outside. Large batches smell way too bad to be in the house .

 

[Mwhit]

My other back-crossed olive laid her first egg today. Really excited to have one with speckling like this. She’s also the only BC olive with a pea comb.

It’s tough to keep track of them because they all look so similar haha.

I believe I’m just waiting on one more BC olive, my noir marans x late rooster Ferdinand, and one more Craigslist bird to lay their first eggs.

 

[wrathsfarm]

View attachment 4267291My other back-crossed olive laid her first egg today. Really excited to have one with speckling like this. She’s also the only BC olive with a pea comb.

It’s tough to keep track of them because they all look so similar haha.

I believe I’m just waiting on one more BC olive, my noir marans x late rooster Ferdinand, and one more Craigslist bird to lay their first eggs.

Beautiful egg...congrats

 

[Mwhit]

Beautiful egg...congrats

Thanks, I can’t complain about them starting to lay this late in to winter either.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

View attachment 4267291My other back-crossed olive laid her first egg today. Really excited to have one with speckling like this. She’s also the only BC olive with a pea comb.

It’s tough to keep track of them because they all look so similar haha.

I believe I’m just waiting on one more BC olive, my noir marans x late rooster Ferdinand, and one more Craigslist bird to lay their first eggs.

That is a gorgeous egg!

 

[Mwhit]

 

[Mwhit]

My other Craigslist pullet laid today. I finally caught her in the act and was able to figure out which egg she’s laying. She’s the only one out of my group that has any copper on her neck.

Maybe close to a 4?