Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[OHmamma]

Langshans, Ameraucana and Cream Legbars are also known for their egg color, though finding any Langshan that lays a good color is nigh impossible in the US.

I have seen a true Croad Langshan egg in person. If I could find those I might have fewer Marans.

Ahh.... who am I kidding? I would just have a ton of both!!

 

[snowbird]

Hi Don!

I have actually been culling for egg shape. It took me a while to get up enough good dark egg laying hens that I liked before I could but it is something that can be bred for.

Yes, I agree if only I had one female BC that layed the Spherical egg I believe I could go from there. Do yours tend to breed on with this egg mostly ?

 

[snowbird]

Nicol, Do you know Victoria from down your way? She did have Marans bantams that she was working with.

 

[pawtraitart]

has anyone been thinking about trying to upgrade to the Spherical egg from their Marans. I believe they are darker since it take longer for the hen to lay. I know this type egg is out there as I have seen them here on BYC.

My BCM lay a spherical egg. My BTB aren't there yet. I'm still working on other things with them. Actually, my BTB hens that lay more of an elongated egg are the ones that lay the darkest out of that pen.

 

[snowbird]

My BCM lay a spherical egg. My BTB aren't there yet. I'm still working on other things with those.

Great, Do you find that the shape breeds on ?

 

[unkadan]

newbie question,,,,wouldn't the shape of the egg correlate to a certain structure of the hen?

 

[OHmamma]

Nicol, Do you know Victoria from down your way? She did have Marans bantams that she was working with.

The hen passes on her egg shape to her daughters. But the rooster can help some, from what I have noticed the hens that are boxier in shape tend to have rounder eggs. Not only are they darker but the chicks have an easier time coming out.

Yes I do know Victoria, we have compared bantam notes.

 

[pawtraitart]

Great, Do you find that the shape breeds on ?

I haven't actually tried for the round egg with my BCM. It just happens that the birds that make it to the breeding pens lay that egg shape. It has just happened that way when I was culling for other issues. My 2012 FBCM pullets are laying this shape as well, so I'm thinking that it must indeed breed forward. I know that it has with ameraucana since I did breed for egg shape specifically with those birds and I was successful in breeding out the shape I didn't like.

 

[snowbird]

Just a little something on the Cuckoo not being asked to be approved. Now is the time for everyone that wants Cuckoo to be recognized to raise the best you can in as large numbers and show them to have a chance before long to show what you have. It has not been long since the BC and wheaten were in the same boat. Right now I just do not believe the numbers are there for good type Cuckoo. I see on some threads and sites where some are backing away from raising them for a while. Now is not the time .

 

[snowbird]

newbie question,,,,wouldn't the shape of the egg correlate to a certain structure of the hen?

Dan, This is something I do not know as all of my BC female have always layed a oblong egg. Now the Wheaten and White that I have lay a Spherical egg from day one.