Wanting to start with Marans

[starlabs]

I'm wanting to start with Maran chickens and I've heard that to get the quality dark eggs you need to get them from a breeder rather than a hatchery. They say that a hatchery will have dark eggs, but not the darkest. Can anyone tell me a good Maran breeder or where to get fertilized dark Maran eggs?

 

[starlabs]

I'm so new to chickens that I'm not sure if there is even a difference between hatcheries and breeders. But I'd like the dark quality eggs.

 

[rebschix]

I'm not sure if my experience is true to all, but I live in Roseville, CA.. Anyway, I ordered 16 chicks last year from cackle hatchery, and now my hens are a year+........they lay eggs in varying colors, from light pink, and giant, to medium, and light brown. None are of the darkest brown I was expecting. The eggs I bought from a local breeder, are the dark chocolate I was looking for. I don't know if it makes a difference here, but the breeder chicks are French, and the hatchery ones are American. (Feathers on the legs) I've read that the hatcheries mix the breeds occasionally. I don't think I'll ever get them through online means again, at least if I do, I'll make sure the breeder has good lines, even if this is just a hobby. I love my hens, and they're great layers, I think they lay better than the average that the marans are known for, which leads me to believe more strongly that they're not true purebred Marans. I'm trying for French black copper Marans this next time around.