Marans egg size?

[Skyesrocket]

I picked up a pair of cuckoo marans, laying age, recently. What I like is the size of the egg. The eggs my hen is laying are huge. Jumbo size and a nice dark brown.
I have had all kinds of chickens over the years but this marans hen lays the largest eggs I have seen here at the farm.
If these two are any indication of the breed, I would like to get quite a few more.
I hear a lot about the color of the egg, but wonder about the size. Do marans lay jumbo sized eggs normally?
Thanks, Carrie

 

[Katy]

My Marans lay a large egg from their first one as a pullet on. I don't ever remember any of them laying little pullet eggs.

 

[Wheaties]

I actually had a Marans that layed a double yoke occasionally. The eggs were already large to begin with. Eventually, she became egg bound and died on the nest. I was so sad and wish I would have picked up on the signs in time to save her. Marans generally lay a large egg from the beginning and not to mention thick shell. My wife tried boiling some and could not get them peeled becuase chunks of the egg wanted to come off with the shell.

 

[Katy]

Welcome to BYC Buddy. How are your SLWs coming along? I've drooled over their pictures on your website many times.

 

[Skyesrocket]

Thanks for your input. I was pleasantly suprised by the size of the eggs.

I have a showgirl egg here that I saved because it was her first egg, and the size of a quail egg. Cute little thing. I sould have blown it out though...it's been too long now...yuck!
I'm so sorry you lost your hen.

 

[Wheaties]

Hello Katy,

My SLW's are coming along quite nicely. I hope to be able to sale some by the spring. Now that my males have matured a little more, their fertility is great. I have 17 eggs out of 17 due to hatch on Thanksgiving. I hope they do well. If so, I will post some photos. I love litte chickies!
As far as Marans go, they are suppose to lay a large egg! If you are happy with the egg color and size from the hens you have, then I would raise some from the birds for sure!

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
Buddy Welcome to BYC I love the wheaten hens and I may need to buy some eggs ! I have blue and black coppers from Wade Jeane lines in the brooder but I always love to add new stuff to my flock.

 

[ginasmarans]

That's one of the things I love about the breed. They lay good sized eggs right from the start.

 

[RoyalPayne]

So I'M reading the Cuckoo Marans lay wonderful large dark eggs. So why are mine laying eggs no bigger than my Silkies eggs, sometimes much smaller? They been laying for a couple weeks, and the size has not changed. There are also two white rocks with the Marans and their eggs are also very small. These hens were started on medicated chick feed until the 16th week. Then switched to 18% all flock layer feed. They are cage free, and receive almost no supplement, I.e. Kitchen leftovers, etc. so, I'm flummoxed. Help, please?

 

[3riverschick]

So I'M reading the Cuckoo Marans lay wonderful large dark eggs. So why are mine laying eggs no bigger than my Silkies eggs, sometimes much smaller? They been laying for a couple weeks, and the size has not changed. There are also two white rocks with the Marans and their eggs are also very small. These hens were started on medicated chick feed until the 16th week. Then switched to 18% all flock layer feed. They are cage free, and receive almost no supplement, I.e. Kitchen leftovers, etc. so, I'm flummoxed. Help, please?

Hum, well they are young. Are you giving them crushed oyster shell to help them make strong shells for their eggs? Can you out the roosters in a separate cage and put the hens on Naturewise layer feed? ( Tractor Supply , pellets are good, less waste. 16% is correct for layer feed. Too much protein can slow down laying.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/nutrena-naturewise-layer-16-pellets-50-lb?cm_vc=-10005
Layer feed can sometimes have too much calcium for the roosters and be bad for the rooster's kidneys. You don't need the roosters in with the hens to get the to lay. If you want to hatch chicks, you can put the hen in a cage with the rooster for a couple of days Then put her back in the flock of hens and she will lay fertilized eggs by him for about 2 weeks.
Best,
Karen