Marans not laying eggs yet at 8 months

[Jtaranc]

Hey everyone!

One of my absolute dream chickens are black copper marans and last spring I found someone selling them locally. It was someone who a mutual friend knew and came recommended.

In May, I purchased 3 blue copper maran chicks and 3 black copper maran chicks.

They have done well. They have blended into the bigger flock of hens well, but are always with eachother. They're always a flock of 6.

By the timing of when I got them, they'd be 8 months old now and still no eggs.

All my other chickens are from TSC, they were laying by 18 weeks.

I can't imagine I'm doing anything wrong because I'm doing the same for them as I did everyone else.

They're super social. I will say my rooster has not shown any interest in them yet.

Any ideas?

 

[sourland]

Unlike the 'high production' breeds, they will be older when they start laying, but will have a far longer productive lifetime. Given the shortened daylight period, it is possible that they might not lay until spring.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They're gorgeous!

 

[HonkABC]

During the winter, the days are shorter, and it tells them that it is not time for them to have offspring/eggs, and they will not lay eggs.

 

[Jtaranc]

They're gorgeous!

Thank you! We just love them, they have big personalities lol

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Where did you get them, they are way bigger and prettier than mine!

 

[Jtaranc]

Where did you get them, they are way bigger and prettier than mine!

I live in South Carolina and bought locally from a breeder. She said they were show stock.

 

[sourland]

Where did you get them, they are way bigger and prettier than mine!

Definitely high quality stock.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Hey everyone!

One of my absolute dream chickens are black copper marans and last spring I found someone selling them locally. It was someone who a mutual friend knew and came recommended.

In May, I purchased 3 blue copper maran chicks and 3 black copper maran chicks.

They have done well. They have blended into the bigger flock of hens well, but are always with eachother. They're always a flock of 6.

By the timing of when I got them, they'd be 8 months old now and still no eggs.

All my other chickens are from TSC, they were laying by 18 weeks.

I can't imagine I'm doing anything wrong because I'm doing the same for them as I did everyone else.

They're super social. I will say my rooster has not shown any interest in them yet.

Any ideas?

Your girls are stunning.
And coming in as a big Marans fan myself (I have 23 at the moment).....

It's worth the wait.

In case you didn't know we have our very own special Marans thread located here with great members and tons of knowledge about everything Marans.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-thread-breeding-to-the-sop.1122465/page-2474

 

[paintedChix]

My Marans, from a breeder here in NC were hatched in Apr.

The girls that layed lighter eggs started laying 1st. They started laying in Dec. The girls that layed darker eggs, started laying the following Mar/Apr.

The light colored eggs were automatically eaten. I kept the darker ones to incubate & hatch, but I have yet to master hatching...