Marans egg color

[kinsey228]

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For darker yolks, cracked yellow corn. I don't know anything for darker shells.

 

[psimons2004]

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Do have photos of some true marans that you would share? We found a chicken in a neighbors basement, LOL - long story - and I am thinking just from fishing hatchery websites that she may be a young copper maran, but really I have no idea. I don't have a good photo of her yet as she is still pretty flighty and we have had 3 days of constant snow...
Thanks!

 

[KalikoFarms]

Thanks to all the answers about the first egg colors of the Marans. I have been wondering about this. My Marans are from wonderful breeders that have been breeding for a while so I know that I received what I purchases full Marans, but I wasnt sure about the egg color at first.
My next question is as the laying goes on and right before their first full molts dont the eggs gett lighter also? Thanks for all of the wonderful answers.
Rita

I forgot to post pictures of mine.
These are my Wheatens one of the hens is ready to lay anytime now. She and the roo are doing what they do best and she sits on the nest and is noisy but still no egg. I figure anytime now.

These are my BCMs. Hens comes are getting very red and they are clucking alot but nothing to do with the roo. soo maybe a little more time for them.

 

[psimons2004]

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Uh-oh - LOL - The one I found has the EXACT coloring of your roo!!!! Yay that it's a Maran, but I was really hoping for a hen since I have two roos already. Can teh hens have that same coloring? The copper/gold neck feathers and red flecks along the back and wings???

 

[debid]

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Yeah. Her legs are like a greyish color, and her beak is pretty dark. She does have some feathers growing on her legs though.

Some BC Marans will show too much copper on the neck -- it's called "mossy" coloring. I think what you have is either an improperly colored Marans or a cross. I'm leaning toward cross because the dark egg color gene also seems to be absent (my Welsummers have all had dark paint on their very first egg).

Have you contacted the seller? He/she should be informed and given the chance to offer an explanation. If they are conscientious about their breeding program, they will want to know about problems in the offspring. If they're not, well, you now know to look elsewhere.

 

[debid]

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You should post pics on the breed/gender board.

 

[eggspresso]

My two young B.C. Marans hens laid 18 eggs late this fall until the weather turned cold. Most of them were pretty dark, but they varied. I am wondering whether diet affects the ability to lay darker eggs.