Thought I was getting Black Copper Marans...but....

[Leighe]

Leighe,

The answer to your question is both yes and no. In order to be considered a true Marans, regardless of color variety, a Marans Hen must lay a minimum #4 colored egg or better on the Marans Egg Color Chart. Anything less than #4 the hen is not considered a true Marans even though her parentage is Marans. When a Pullet first starts to lay collect her first 30 eggs, record the color of each egg then take the average to determine what color egg she consistently lays. Remember that a Marans Hen egg color will lighten naturally during a complete laying cycle but should never fall below a #4.

Dark Egg Genetics in Marans is very complicated and generally the least understood part of the Marans. What is known is that there are more than a dozen genes involved in Marans Dark Egg Genetics and both the Rooster and Hen carry these genes and are equally important in a breeding program. We can see in the Marans Hen if she carries dark egg genetics based on the color of her eggs. However, since the Rooster does not lay eggs it's much harder to determine if he carries dark egg genetics. You can test a Marans Rooster by mating him to a white egg layer such as a leghorn. If the pullets from this mating lay a tinted egg then he carries the dark egg genetics. Also, if a Rooster is hatched from a dark egg then he likely carries the dark egg genetics but the only way to truly know is to test mate as previously indicated.

Also the concentration of the dark egg genetics varies from Marans to Marans which is why some hens lay #4 dark egg and another lays a #8 dark egg. There are a lot of great articles on Maran Eggs genetics on the various U.S. and French Marans Clubs websites that give a much more detailed and technical explanation.

Take Care,
Keith

 

[Leighe]

Leighe,

The answer to your question is both yes and no. In order to be considered a true Marans, regardless of color variety, a Marans Hen must lay a minimum #4 colored egg or better on the Marans Egg Color Chart. Anything less than #4 the hen is not considered a true Marans even though her parentage is Marans. When a Pullet first starts to lay collect her first 30 eggs, record the color of each egg then take the average to determine what color egg she consistently lays. Remember that a Marans Hen egg color will lighten naturally during a complete laying cycle but should never fall below a #4.

Dark Egg Genetics in Marans is very complicated and generally the least understood part of the Marans. What is known is that there are more than a dozen genes involved in Marans Dark Egg Genetics and both the Rooster and Hen carry these genes and are equally important in a breeding program. We can see in the Marans Hen if she carries dark egg genetics based on the color of her eggs. However, since the Rooster does not lay eggs it's much harder to determine if he carries dark egg genetics. You can test a Marans Rooster by mating him to a white egg layer such as a leghorn. If the pullets from this mating lay a tinted egg then he carries the dark egg genetics. Also, if a Rooster is hatched from a dark egg then he likely carries the dark egg genetics but the only way to truly know is to test mate as previously indicated.

Also the concentration of the dark egg genetics varies from Marans to Marans which is why some hens lay #4 dark egg and another lays a #8 dark egg. There are a lot of great articles on Maran Eggs genetics on the various U.S. and French Marans Clubs websites that give a much more detailed and technical explanation.

Take Care,
Keith

I am soooo lovin learning this information. Whole new territory for me. I don't plan to sell them, just would love to be able to sell dark chocolate eggs along with the blues, greens and pinks. Had no clue all of this had to be looked at to even call it a true Maran. Thanks for taking the time Keith @kcrandall and @Chooks man. I am deeply appreciative.

 

[kcrandall]

I am soooo lovin learning this information. Whole new territory for me. I don't plan to sell them, just would love to be able to sell dark chocolate eggs along with the blues, greens and pinks. Had no clue all of this had to be looked at to even call it a true Maran. Thanks for taking the time Keith @kcrandall and @Chooks man. I am deeply appreciative.

You're welcome - glad to help out when possible.

Take Care,
Keith

 

[3riverschick]

Your cock is very important in getting dark chocolate eggs. He throws more of the dark chocolate egg genes than the hen . so you want to make sure that your cock comes from a hen that laid very dark chocolate eggs. Because he will get those dark egg genes from her and pass them on to his daughters.
so if you can find a cock whose:
1. father came from a hen who laid dark eggs and
2. whose mother herself plays dark eggs.
3. this cock will pass more of the dark egg genes to his daughters.
sex linking in chickens makes me nuts. there's so much of it, it makes breeding poultry much more complicated than breeding mammals.
Breeding Collies for 15 years was much easier than learning to breed this poultry. I understand now why many of the early collie breeders were so successful .many of them were award-winning poultry breeders before they came to mammal breeding. they must have thought they were in 7th Heaven, it was so easy compared to breeding poultry.
Best,
Karen

 

[Chooks man]

Your cock is very important in getting dark chocolate eggs. He throws more of the dark chocolate egg genes than the hen . so you want to make sure that your cock comes from a hen that laid very dark chocolate eggs. Because he will get those dark egg genes from her and pass them on to his daughters.
so if you can find a cock whose:
1. father came from a hen who laid dark eggs and
2. whose mother herself plays dark eggs.
3. this cock will pass more of the dark egg genes to his daughters.
sex linking in chickens makes me nuts. there's so much of it, it makes breeding poultry much more complicated than breeding mammals.
Breeding Collies for 15 years was much easier than learning to breed this poultry. I understand now why many of the early collie breeders were so successful .many of them were award-winning poultry breeders before they came to mammal breeding. they must have thought they were in 7th Heaven, it was so easy compared to breeding poultry.
Best,
Karen

I will add for the cock selection the cock ,if his sister lay dark egg than he is more likely to carry the gene .

for me I like to observe at least 10 pullets from the same strain to determine they brothers final selection .
if they sister s pullets lay dark egg than I know the cockerels will be good .

chooks man

 

[SoCalChicky01]

Hi!
New here but same question...just got this little girl. Store thinks she is a black copper Maran but not 100% sure. Any thoughts??

 

[Leighe]

View attachment 1103769 Hi!
New here but same question...just got this little girl. Store thinks she is a black copper Maran but not 100% sure. Any thoughts??

I can't help you with figuring out breed but wanted to say....that's a Cutie Patootie!

 

[kcrandall]

View attachment 1103769 Hi!
New here but same question...just got this little girl. Store thinks she is a black copper Maran but not 100% sure. Any thoughts??

SoCalChicky,

Color pattern and feathered-legs look correct for a BCM. White down is limited to throat and belly - a good thing. The chick carries itself like a pullet. You should know sex for sure in 3 to 4 weeks.

Keith

 

[Chooks man]

Agree with Keith
Let her do some growing

Chooks man

 

[SoCalChicky01]

Thank you all so much! I love all the input!