Will my Cuckoo Maran eggs get darker?

[Kezzie]

One of my Marans has just started to lay (not sure which of the 3) and the egg is definitely darker than the other two who are laying but not "chocolate" by any stretch of the imagination. Can their eggs get darker over time or is this it for this hen?

 

[Katy]

Mine lay as dark as they're ever going to get at the beginning of their laying cycle and get lighter as time goes on.

 

[lotzahenz]

My hatchery Cuckoo Marans laid a very light brown egg to start, almost beige. They did darken, but just to a regular light brown egg color. They never did get darker than that. THey also didn't have the typical marans egg shape either. Sorry, not what you want to hear I know. I was so disappointed too.

 

[Kezzie]

I hope they get a little bit darker

 

[momof4boys]

My cuckoo maran's eggs were never very dark to begin with and have gotten lighter as she ages....she's a great layer though

 

[greathorse]

I have a couple of hatchery stock Cuckoo marans. Their eggs were fairly dark in the beginning and later were about the same color as my RIR. I also have a couple of hatchery stock wellsummers, thier eggs are quite dark and speckled. They are about the same color all the time.

I have no idea how dark a well bred cuckoo marans might lay. I am guessing darker than mine.

 

[jeanniejayne]

I think my Welsummers lay a darker egg than many Marans do. My breeder, Will Morrow from Whitmore Farm, from whom I bought the Wellies, also breeds and sells Marans, and said he likes the Wellies best, for their relative friendliness, better egg production, and the egg color. Some of mine are solid terra cotta, and some are very dark with millions of tiny speckles. You'd think they were solid if you didn't look closely. One does have a pinkish egg with large dark brown speckles, like a giant malted mild ball. They started laying at a few days over 4 mos, and now give me 4 eggs/day from 5 pullets at 5 months.

 

[Katy]

When I first got my cuckoos 7 years ago I lucked into some good stock. Here's some of their eggs....

 

[flagday76]

I think you'll find that hatchery Marans are going to turn out like other hatchery birds. They are not selectively bred, so although they are genetically Marans, most will never lay very dark eggs like those from breeders.

We had some hatchery Marans, and a few layed some dark eggs, I'd say we never got above a 5 on the egg chart.
Go to this link for the Marans eggs chart:http://www.maransofamericaclub.com/marans_eggs_60.html
These birds have since been rehomed, and we acquired better birds.

We now have some from a breeder here in NY, and they came out of very dark eggs. They weren't cheap, but it will be worth it. Can't wait to see what happens.

But, I am truly sorry you are disappointed. It takes a while to figure all this out...

It is disappointing when you buy something thinking it will be what you want it to be, or do what you want it do, and it isn't/doesn't!

The will start out darker, then lighten up. I would say the first few eggs will be a good indicator of the darkest they will be. They will lighten up...

 

[Kezzie]

Quote:
That's a great chart- thanks! Although I am disappointed with the egg color, I now love my Marans because they are such calm and sweet girls. They can lay any color of egg they like. I'll still love them!

ETA: Mine are probably a 3 on that chart and speckled.