Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[aceschix]

Quote:
Yes, the girls just started laying. I was under the impression that the first few eggs should be the darkest?

In most cases this is true, but I have seen some birds start out laying pretty light and the longer they lay, their eggs get a little darker.("longer" being like over a couple to few weeks....not longer as in over several months of lay) That said, I also have noticed in my birds, the birds that start out laying light, (but still a Marans egg) may lay a few darker decent eggs during her lay cycle but always revert back or near close to their less desired original color. I want birds that can lay nicely colored eggs from start to finish or as close as they can throughout their lay cycle.
Oh and I will use a girl that lays lighter (not lighter than a #4 though) for breeding if she have something else of good quality that they can lend to the next generation.

About egg color... what is the thought on spotted eggs? I have a Black Copper hen who's eggs are medium to dark and are always spotted. Similar to my Barnevelder eggs. I am thinking I do not want to pass that on...? Thoughts?

 

[Christie Rhae]

Quote:
In most cases this is true, but I have seen some birds start out laying pretty light and the longer they lay, their eggs get a little darker.("longer" being like over a couple to few weeks....not longer as in over several months of lay) That said, I also have noticed in my birds, the birds that start out laying light, (but still a Marans egg) may lay a few darker decent eggs during her lay cycle but always revert back or near close to their less desired original color. I want birds that can lay nicely colored eggs from start to finish or as close as they can throughout their lay cycle.
Oh and I will use a girl that lays lighter (not lighter than a #4 though) for breeding if she have something else of good quality that they can lend to the next generation.

About egg color... what is the thought on spotted eggs? I have a Black Copper hen who's eggs are medium to dark and are always spotted. Similar to my Barnevelder eggs. I am thinking I do not want to pass that on...? Thoughts?

Oh spotted? I will take it! lol. I love the spotted ones. I think it would be so cool to have spotted olive eggs too. No idea if spots are bad for showing.

 

[stoopid]

I love the spots! I think it is personal preference, but spots aren't a bad thing.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Glad to hear it all AND I will happily join your "TEAM" of wanting what is best for the breed

It is always so touchy when someone posts pics of birds that are NOT their own....

I hate commenting and then I Hate NOT COMMENTING...
I try to be gentle and just steer the person towards finding their own answers so that they can make a decision they will be happy with.

I really glad to hear "No Harm No Fowl".

You shouldn't be surprised.... You are the proud owner of the NEW "IN VOGUE" marans variety.
Don't be surprised if ebay sellers start stealing your photos and posting it on their ads LOL

Folks are going to be PMing you left and right for updated pics... so get them ready!
You just got a ton of FREE advertising today

There is a serious Drool Factor

involved with the birchens.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
When you take into consideration that the male has to contribute something to the mix . . . There is no telling what the next generation eggs would look like.

I have a hen who lays a spotted egg and I did a lot of hatching from her this past Spring. I have few NEW SPOTTED egg layers, but I have more that just lay a normal egg without the spots.
As long as I don't back up on egg color, I am perfectly fine with the spots

 

[aceschix]

Quote:
Glad to hear it all AND I will happily join your "TEAM" of wanting what is best for the breed

It is always so touchy when someone posts pics of birds that are NOT their own....

I hate commenting and then I Hate NOT COMMENTING...
I try to be gentle and just steer the person towards finding their own answers so that they can make a decision they will be happy with.

I really glad to hear "No Harm No Fowl".

You shouldn't be surprised.... You are the proud owner of the NEW "IN VOGUE" marans variety.
Don't be surprised if ebay sellers start stealing your photos and posting it on their ads LOL

Folks are going to be PMing you left and right for updated pics... so get them ready!
You just got a ton of FREE advertising today

There is a serious Drool Factor

involved with the birchens.

Thank you for all of the above!

 

[hdowden]

heres the three chicks i hatched out from the roo AGAIN there were doms in with the hens but i think they are pure not sure yet though. they do have a few white feathers that i am hoping go away they hatched on nov 8th

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:
In most cases this is true, but I have seen some birds start out laying pretty light and the longer they lay, their eggs get a little darker.("longer" being like over a couple to few weeks....not longer as in over several months of lay) That said, I also have noticed in my birds, the birds that start out laying light, (but still a Marans egg) may lay a few darker decent eggs during her lay cycle but always revert back or near close to their less desired original color. I want birds that can lay nicely colored eggs from start to finish or as close as they can throughout their lay cycle.
Oh and I will use a girl that lays lighter (not lighter than a #4 though) for breeding if she have something else of good quality that they can lend to the next generation.

About egg color... what is the thought on spotted eggs? I have a Black Copper hen who's eggs are medium to dark and are always spotted. Similar to my Barnevelder eggs. I am thinking I do not want to pass that on...? Thoughts?

Spotted eggs on Marans are fine as long as the egg is a #4 on the egg color chart and qualifies as a Marans egg. Some of my darker layers even have speckled eggs. They are pretty. I have one olive egger that lays a green egg with brown speckles.

Forgive this egg photo...they are dirty lol! The egg on the bottom right has big speckles.

Speckled olive egg

 

[Mountain Mel 22]

Quote:
In most cases this is true, but I have seen some birds start out laying pretty light and the longer they lay, their eggs get a little darker.("longer" being like over a couple to few weeks....not longer as in over several months of lay) That said, I also have noticed in my birds, the birds that start out laying light, (but still a Marans egg) may lay a few darker decent eggs during her lay cycle but always revert back or near close to their less desired original color. I want birds that can lay nicely colored eggs from start to finish or as close as they can throughout their lay cycle.
Oh and I will use a girl that lays lighter (not lighter than a #4 though) for breeding if she have something else of good quality that they can lend to the next generation.

About egg color... what is the thought on spotted eggs? I have a Black Copper hen who's eggs are medium to dark and are always spotted. Similar to my Barnevelder eggs. I am thinking I do not want to pass that on...? Thoughts?

It has been my limited experience that the spotted eggs will come and go. I am anxious to see what kind of eggs my Marans produce after this present extended

period of non-production. My Marans (except for the Cuckoo) are around 10 months old right now.

( It almost feels strange talking about Marans, considering my last few days of off-topic entries!

)

 

[flgardengirl]

I have many hens that always lay spotted eggs. Then again, I have a few hens that only sometimes lay spotted eggs lol.
One of my favorite hens, Cocoa, always lays a big dark spotted egg. It always looks exactly the same way, big and fat just like her lol.