Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Happy Chooks]

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Heck, I don't care what the bird looks like, I'd buy those just for the egg color.

And I'm totally serious.

 

[snowbird]

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Thanks, these are a blend of what the pullets are laying. My younger pullets will start laying in about a month.

 

[geebs]

I hear ya.. If they aren't a 6 or 7 what is the point... I am at the point where I am looking to hatch a good roo so I will only settle for the darkest 8's... for a replacement I want the best chance... For hens a 7 is adequate.... I am not as crazy about the matte ones but I get a real high percentage of superdarkies like that. I have about 3 hens that lay matte. It is too bad I can't get all the qualities I lke in one egg... size, shape, color, shine. I have all the elements in different hens.... So much work to be done. Nice looking eggs... You have a few really nicely shaped ones.

By blend do you mean crossed lines or just different lines in together for layers? I keep mine together if I am not hatching so this is what I am thinking you are doing?... It would be interesting to see the difference (if any) between presley and Wade. I already had the Davis... Loved the eggs.. Very BRIGHT!!! some even had a "blue" hue to them... super shiney and pretty good shapes too.

How about we all post our line of eggies... an Egg show off... for shape and color... (this works only if you haven't crossed lines)

 

[Debbi]

I wonder if the color and matte finish has anything to do with hatchability? This is my third hatch, and while it may not be a lot, I have never yet to have a matte or speckled egg hatch! What are the odds? All the eggs that hatch are the glossy/ruby colored eggs, at least for me. Is there anything to this? Does anyone else find this to be true, or is just my low numbers so far? I really prefer the looks, if nothing else, to the glossy ruby eggs!

 

[Debbi]

{How about we all post our line of eggies... an Egg show off... for shape and color... (this works only if you haven't crossed lines)}

Geebs, Why would it only count if the lines weren't crossed? Are you only interested in pure Jeane, Presley, and Davis?? Why would it matter if the birds are good and the egg color is good? Not sure I'm catching your theory here..

 

[Lotsapaints]

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those are some beauties for sure can't wait for your Cuckoo's to get feathers I wanna see them. How did you make that box for pictures? I would certainly buy eggs from you too knowing how much culling you've had to do considering how many I've hatched that are not worth the time waiting for them....a work in progress for sure.

 

[geebs]

this is probably an unfair pic but I was boiling eggs for potatoe salad again and thought I would snap a couple for the post... I put up on top a very round one and a #4 and a white egg for comparison. I have to wait a month to hatch anything since I have the girls running with two different roosters. One is a D' Uccle...that would be an ugly cross... it sure keeps me from hatching out of season (for me).

P.S. The eggs are still warm... They are wet too.. I just pulled them out from under the cold water to snap a shot...You can see one has the boiled eggwhite peeking out. They are all Wade Jeanne line... even the lighter little round one.. Some of them are Huge and yet very dark.... I will have to get on the stick and hatch some of these while the getting is good.

Anymore eggie pix>>> maybe this was a dumb idea... (I hear crickets).. Helllllooooo in there..... My ear is getting sweaty pressed against the screen!!!

 

[ruth]

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Those are some nice dark eggs. I don't think I could bring myself to boil those. Really pretty.

 

[ruth]

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Many of mine are about the shade of those Don posted but I have a few hens that lay a nice dark egg consistently:

Average shade:

 

[geebs]

Now you know why I run them with a D'Uccle rooster.. ha ha... Otherwise I would be too tempted to hatch em all... I don't need em so I eat em... They are tasty... Nice eggies Ruth... Are these all from the Jesse flock or are they a mix of what you have? Beautiful... thanks for sharing... I try to only hatch when there is nothing else on my docket.. summer is sooo busy with the 4h.... Camping etc...No time for proper records etc.. (why do it 1/2 way)... You DONT eat your eggies??? ruth