if there is a lot of solid dark egg genetics from a closed flock behind the eggs you hatched, your chances are EXCELLENT that you will get almost all decent dark marans laying hens from what hatches (that are female) and the males have an excellent chance of carrying whatever egg color genes the hens have. There may be an odd one out that lays a lighter egg than the rest. You also may get your darkest eggs from your hens with feather faults, fused toes, yellow eyes, odd shaped beak, weird comb, yellow hackles, partridgey breast markings, "mossy feathers", squirrel tail, small frame, black neck, white earlobes, or some other thing you don't like. THEN, you get to figure out who is laying the darkest egg, and how badly do you need her in your breeding program.
