Zanna
Songster
Questions for Marans people. I have mostly blue hens (no copper in their feathers at all) and one splash hen (different lineage from 1/2 the flock). I currently have a blue copper (some have told me wheaten) rooster. He has produced almost all blues over blue hen. My question is this, I get pretty dark eggs which I want to keep or get darker eggs (just because they look cool) but love blue chickens. What is a good page to look at for genetics? I'm wondering if Black over these would give me any blues? and better egg color. Marans websites are a little to fast and being a pet flock breeder I don't always get a response.
Genetics are way over my head but Cloverleaf is correct....... I also think blacks over blues give you a certain percentage of both.........Your blue hens may be overmelanized blue coppers (my bcm hen is all black). True blue and or black marans are very rare. Typically the BCM (and some of the blue coppers) do lay the darkest eggs..........If you want to darken your egg colour, try to get a roo hatched from a very dark egg. If you are not worried about SOP you should be able to find one. Talk to Sue (Marquisella) here on BYC. Her flocks consistently lay the darkest of any eggs I have seen. She is in New York but will ship, she is who I got my hen from (plus a dozen other babies that got torn up by a skunk last summer). If my BCM roo lightens his offsprings eggs he will be replaced. My hen only lays a 6 on the Marans chart but she is consistent. I would love to get darker but want SOP as well.
Anyone on here more knowlegeable, please correct me, always learning..............
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