What is up with Marans?

[Katy]

Quote:
Oh, now that leg feathering part is baloney.

Clean shanks follow the British standard, feathered shanks follow the French standard. And since France reimported their Marans from Great Britain after the second World War, it would also be nonsense to say that British Marans aren't "real" Marans.

Yep...there are both clean and feather legged versions.

If it doesn't lay at least a 4 on the egg color scale it's not supposed to qualify as a Marans.

 

[L&Schickens]

Fad or not, I want the darkest eggs possible. Don't know why. I am sure they taste the same as a leghorn egg, but I MUST HAVE CHOCOLATE COLORED EGG.

Therefore, I bought 30 blue, BC and blue Wheaton hatching eggs from a respected breeder and I hope they all hatch.

I am counting my chickens before they do hatch here,

but I hope to maintain the darkest egg color possible in my future hens, even if all I do it eat them.

 

[pamhallb]

$5 each sounds reasonable any chance you can tell me who the breeder was?

 

[pamhallb]

oh sorry that should have been addressed ...Birch Run Farm
Overrun With Chickens
thanks Pam

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Pam,

The gal lives up in Plainfield which isn't far from Montpelier. Periodically she runs ads on Cl. Next time I see one I'll grab her info for you. She also brings birds to the swaps here. I don't know what line she has but you can tell which are the marans eggs in the photo even though the flash washed out all of the eggs.

And yes, she is a good deal, I sell red sex link pullets for $10 each at 8 weeks of age.

 

[sandypaws]

REALLY?? they are the "fad" right now?? hhmmm i orderd 5 from a hatchery "just because" ,, no real reason, just wanted something different to try.. i think i got mine from "ideal"
i have the cuckoo marans only 4 (one died).. they are great!!! big, CALM, good layers of dark brown eggs (mine dont lay the choc ones)
i can see why they are a fad right now.. i love mine, and want a few more..
i am sure you can tell which 3 eggs are the marans... and they are not super dark.. i dont mind because i like the chickens themselves,, not just the color of the eggs..

 

[Wynette]

I, too, wanted nice, dark eggs; I work full time, and am fairly new to chickens. I did some research, and found a very respected breeder and purchased eggs directly from her. She has a VERY LONG waiting list, and I had to be patient. The eggs were expensive. But, I now have healthy birds from her, and am expecting nice, dark eggs from the pullets this spring.

I think patience is a huge key...if you want the really dark eggs, go to a respected breeder: I figure, part of the high price of eggs I paid is for the research and years of selective breeding that this breeder has done. JMO

 

[pipermark]

Folks if you want dark eggs, like the most of the ones pictured in this and other posts about Marans, consider Welsumers.

the eggs above are from hatchery Welsumers that I purchased for about 2.00 a chick.

Just a thought.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

Smith2-
I see you live in PARIS, Tn. I live about an hour and a half from you in Cumberland City, TN. I have Black Copper Marans. I bought mine from Jesse in Newnan, Ga. They are the Wade Jean line. I have been breeding chickens for years and have several different breeds for sale. I will be hosting the chicken show and exhibition at the Houston County fair this year. My family has won several county championships and state championships at the TN state fair. Best of shows and reserves as well. My stock has been inspected by the state and we can ship eggs and chicks. You are welcome to call and make an appointment to come by and visit any time. We are normally always here unless the kids have activities or church.
Sincerely, Willie Lyle

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
Beautiful I have heard wellies lay much better also and they do cost less even from great breeders. I have two pullets that are fantastic can't wait till they lay

I will compare the hatchery cuckoos/ wade jeane blue and black coppers/ wellsummers.

Henry