Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

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Nope sure didn't! Would have loved to have taken that larger Splash Copper Davis cockerel but had my church clothes on and wasn't going step in the coop. I thought I gave you 3 olive eggers as well...one ended up being that gorgeous roo that I did take and the others I thought you said were girls........what's going on? Did some one fly the coop?

 

[Zonoma]

Hello! My name is Jessica and I'm in Northern Kentucky. Most online folks just call me "Z", though.

I was sooo excited to find this thread! The "Value Barn" got chicks in and I bought two I hadn't been planning on (go figure, right!?) because they had the name "Marans"and I had read about the eggs. When I got home and started getting online to research, however, I realized that every single dark egg I was seeing was coming from BCMs and not Cuckoo Marans. Now, I love my little Cuckoo Roo and Cuckoo LuLu but I was really, really hoping for dark eggs. Do I still even have a chance??

Please, please share some of your experience with me!

 

[Mountain Mel]

Quote:
Nope sure didn't! Would have loved to have taken that larger Splash Copper Davis cockerel but had my church clothes on and wasn't going step in the coop. I thought I gave you 3 olive eggers as well...one ended up being that gorgeous roo that I did take and the others I thought you said were girls........what's going on? Did some one fly the coop?

If one flew that coop I would name it Houdini! The top netting is well sealed and I buried wire all the way around the bottom. If one did get out I would either see it around or see evidence of it's demise (feathers)....nada...nothing....

 

[pinkchick]

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Z!!!!

Congrats on your chickies!

So do you have a chance at dark eggs from Cuckoo's......yes there is always a chance, but with that said, it is more likely that you may not have the dark eggs that you are looking for with the Cuckoo's...NOT saying all Cuckoo's lay lighter eggs, but for the most part they do. I have seen some very nice Cuckoo egg color right here on this thread, so they are out there, but Cuckoo's tend to lay a lighter colored egg. I do not breed Cuckoo's so I don't know much about them so I digress and wait patiently with you for others that know more about them to come along and chime in.

Oh....don't be discouraged.....you will still enjoy them, Marans are lovely tempered birds to have in any flock and the lighter milky chocolate eggs are just as pretty to have in the basket as the darker ones. Personally my favorite Marans eggs are not the elusive dark Hershey chocolate colored ones...but rather the nice ruby more russet red toned eggs.

 

[Debbi]

Hi Jessica!

Typically, Cuckoos aren't known for their dark eggs, especially if they are from hatchery stock. There are quite a few breeders of Cuckoos in here and in the Cuckko & White Marans thread. Black Coppers generally lay the darkest eggs of all the varieties, but the blues and Wheatens seem to be catching up. Pull up a chair and learn all things, "Marans"!

 

[Debbi]

Hey Kim,

That's ok. Just let me know when you get enough splash eggs to make the trip worthwhile! Take a stew pot out to the run and give them all a talkin' to!

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Nope sure didn't! Would have loved to have taken that larger Splash Copper Davis cockerel but had my church clothes on and wasn't going step in the coop. I thought I gave you 3 olive eggers as well...one ended up being that gorgeous roo that I did take and the others I thought you said were girls........what's going on? Did some one fly the coop?

If one flew that coop I would name it Houdini! The top netting is well sealed and I buried wire all the way around the bottom. If one did get out I would either see it around or see evidence of it's demise (feathers)....nada...nothing....

I am sorry to hear that Mel....I wish I had taken the bird...atleast you would know where it is. I hate not knowing.

Do you need another one to replace it? Pink has too many birds.

OHHHHHH...I have WAAAAAAAAY TOO MANY BIRDS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!


and I am sticking 56 more eggs in the 'bator this evening after I am done cleaning it.

One last hatching whoooorah until October.

 

[Mountain Mel]

Quote:
Hello "Z"

I have 4 Cuckoo Marans and one of them lays very nice, almost totally spherical, extremely large, fairly dark eggs. ( Now THAT was a mouthful!) I doubt that you are going to get the gorgeous chocolate colored eggs that you will see in some of the pictures posted here. I think that most of the people on this site that get those eggstremely dark eggs have been working for some time to raise birds that produce them.
I would say love your birds for what they are and make this site a regular part of your day (mornings are best). You will learn lots and as you go you will probably pick up more birds that will hopefully lay progressively darker eggs.
Oh yea...and check out my website!

 

[pinkchick]

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I will Debbi and I am sorry they are not doing their job....I think they all think they need some sort of mini vacation

........maybe I'll park the BBQ next to the coop with some select spices on the side so they can see that.

 

[Zonoma]

pinkchick and Debbi:

I was afraid you were going to say that. Drat and double drat! Maybe I'll get lucky.

I have limited space and wanted a colorful egg basket. I'm pretty full and only have room for one, maybe two, more hen(s) and was hoping to get an OE to fill that slot.

Thank you for the warm welcome! I've been a bit 'lurky' since joining while I've been trying to learn all about this new chicken adventure. What a fabulous resource this site has been!

edit: Mountain Mel Thanks!