Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Stokley]

I was under the impression that Black Copper Marans laid the darkest brown eggs. If that not the case, what breed does?

 

[forgetful]

I was under the impression that Black Copper Marans laid the darkest brown eggs. If that not the case, what breed does?

There is a color scale for the Marans eggs, that goes from lightest acceptable color to darkest. The darkest color is a 9. Very few birds lay that dark of an egg, but those eggs that are 9s are indeed the darkest brown eggs you can get. There is an influx of poor quality 'Marans' that simply lay a tan egg. Dedicated breeders have birds with eggs on the color scale, and those are the Marans people are referencing when they discuss dark eggs. Many people new to the breed are disappointed when they find out the birds they bought online or at a swap don't lay the chocolate eggs they want. Black Copper Marans in specific lay the darkest eggs most often because there are more breeders with with more of that variety. Therefor there are more eggs laid and more genetic diversity to work with. There are other varieties that have specific flocks that may lay darker than other specific flocks of Black Coppers, but that is due to tremendous effort by the breeder who owns them.

So to answer your question, yes Marans lay the darkest brown eggs, but not every Marans lays such an egg.

 

[Stokley]

Thank you, I appreciate it. Now, where can I find color 9 layers?

 

[forgetful]

They are few and far between. Those that do offer stock for sale will charge a very high price. I'm not sure who exactly to point you to, but the breed club is a good place to start, as well as the Marans Facebook pages

 

[BluesLadies]

Thank you, I appreciate it. Now, where can I find color 9 layers?

Where are you located? I hit the jackpot with a woman in macclenney, FL. She has very dark eggs and large birds. I bought two dozen and so far 17/23 are on lockdown. I dropped one while loading the turner. About half were an 8 or 7 with 2 maybe 3 being a close 9. I paid thirty for them which if these do well I'll be getting more. Her facebook page was chicken bird farms. I think she sells juveniles as well at certain times as well.

 

[Stokley]

Thank you BluesLadies. I live near Walterboro, SC and have a line on some here in South Carolina. However, if they do not work out, I will certainly contact the one you mention.

 

[forgetful]

A good practice to use while searching for your birds is to ask for photos with the Marans color scale next to the eggs. People can very easily change the lighting of their photos and make the eggs appear dark otherwise

 

[luckied]

I just wanted to show off my cuckoo marans. I think he is beautiful and he is great at being a rooster, but I think we are going to rehome him. Just way too aggressive towards all people no matter the size and he is a big Bird.
You must tread lightly and carry a big stick......

 

[3riverschick]

Yup. I get it. I had a nasty Marans roo once
Got rid of him
Not worth it.
Best,

Karen

 

[Bantambird]

So, I was looking over the Marans breeders listed in the club membership list, but colors aren't listed. I'm specifically looking for some silver cuckoo and/or Birchen and blue Birchen Marans. I have a small flock of Birchen Marans, and I need to add some fresh birds to my little group. I've been tediously trying to cross reference the names online and find out what they raise. I tell you what, any time you plug Cuckoo Marans into the web, you get the English style from the giant hatcheries. My Birchen, I like them very much, and don't want to introduce the poor quality of hatchery silver cuckoo.