Marans egg color from hatchery stock (MPC) *pics*

[Briggadane]

I know this is a bit of an old thread, but I'm not seeing the answer you are seeking.
There is a way to get darker egg layers without ordering birds. Its all about the rooster. The darker the egg he was hatched from, the darker the egg layers he will generate in future. And now that we have "no crow collars" available, we can get roosters in more flocks. And roosters are a LOT cheaper than pullets!!