what would you do with these marans eggs?

[KYBOY]

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Ive wondered that myself

My cuckoos lay a decent egg. Some better than others..I have a few that never lay a "4", I guess they are just white legged barred rocks

 

[blackdotte]

By the requirements of the Marans Standard a hen must be able to lay an egg ( non every egg) graded 4 on the Marans egg colour chart. If it doesn't it can not be called a Marans. It's a cull.

Blondy the cockerel is not a good example of a Blue Silver Birchen, he is either split for gold and silver ( and will not breed true) or he is a Blue Silver Birchen with Mahogany and Autosomal Red ( a true Blue Silver Birchen will have no gold/red tones) faults which you will need to get rid of.
David
PS Eat the eggs

 

[Oblio13]

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Stew.

 

[millebantam]

Thanks for the response, but it still doesn't answer the question, since a "cull" is not a breed of chicken.

I think that the statement is a general "sweep" and gives the impression that the requirement issue is "black and white", and doesn't provide a definative alternative for chickens that don't meet the requirement. If taken literally, all Marans roosters are not Marans, since none of them lay eggs. Perhaps a more accurate rendering of the requirement would be that a "hen that does not lay a 4 is not a "good" example of the Marans breed". No matter what the egg color, the chicken is still a Marans, it didn't suddenly become another breed on the day that it laid an inferior egg.

If it walks like a Marans, and it clucks like a Marans, and it looks like a Marans, it a ..........................
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[amazondoc]

I'd raise the chicks and see what the pullets are capable of laying. THEN decide whether to sell them or not.

I just got some blue birchen eggs from a breeder with a good reputation. They are NOT dark. But I'm gonna see what they are capable of producing before I toss em. No sense in missing an opportunity through impatience!

 

[therealsilkiechick]

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the easiest answer i can give u is it's a pet or hatchery quality bird it is not it is not of quality to be considered a true marans.

 

[KYBOY]

Well my poor ol' marans that wont lay a 4 dont get hatched or breed but I sell a lot of eating eggs so thats what they do

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

millebantam,

I don't know too much about Marans, but there is precedent in horses at least for breeding to a performance standard. Standardbred horses must be able to trot or pace a quarter mile in (I forget what time) or they can't be registered. They're not a breed, they're just a grade horse. Even though they came from two registered Standardbred parents.

 

[Cara]

I believe the same applies to Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses. It's necessary to have their gait examined before you can register them for breeding.

I sure wish they'd do something similar with dogs, it drives me nuts that so many have the usefulness bred out of them in favour of looks.

Think of the name 'Marans' as more of a seal of approval than just the name of a breed, and it might make more sense.

 

[amazondoc]

This sort of thing is pretty common in France -- where the Marans came from. For instance, dogs like Beaucerons must be examined and tested in a couple different ways before they can officially be called "Beaucerons" and be bred.

In some ways it's irritating and intrusive -- but it's also a more well-rounded approach to protecting breed quality than what we usually do (or don't do!) here.