Mystic Marans - speckled egg?

[alknoll]

Hello. My Mystic Marans hen laid her first egg today! While it is pretty, I am disappointed it is not a dark chocolate like Townline Hatchery’s website assured me they would be. I think these Marans are a mix of Black Copper and Barred Rock. Do you think these eggs will get darker as she ages/gets the kinks worked out of laying?

and don’t worry, that’s not blood on my hand, it’s paint! Building our new coop today woo!

 

[RainbowHen]

Lovely! Congratulations looks like a Welsummer egg

 

[alknoll]

Lovely! Congratulations looks like a Welsummer egg

Thank you! That’s what I thought too!!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Congratulations on your first egg! Will not likely get darker. Maybe just a shade. The Marans eggs are darkest in the beginning of a chicken’s egg laying career and then get lighter as the season goes on, then get darker again after they’ve had a break (seasonal or molting).

 

[aart]

I am disappointed it is not a dark chocolate like Townline Hatchery’s website assured me they would be.

Pretty rare that hatchery Marans lay really dark eggs....no matter what the marketing says.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Congratulations!

 

[alknoll]

Pretty rare that hatchery Marans lay really dark eggs....no matter what the marketing says.

really? So how does one get dark eggs?

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Aw, pretty egg! A friend has a few "Noir Marans" from Mt. Healthy, and their eggs are also Welsummer dark.

For the darkest eggs, I think you have to go with a breeder who's selecting for egg color. The easiest dark layer to find in the US right now seems to be the Black Copper Marans--which means it's extra important to vet a breeder to make sure they're dedicated to the breed and not just on the bandwagon (easy to make an egg look darker in pictures).

My 2¢ anyway. I'm thinking of adding very dark layers in the next year or 2 so am on a similar quest.

Edit: And is that medium barn red paint? I'm about to paint some coop trim, so my hands will look the same, ha!

 

[aart]

really? So how does one get dark eggs?

For the darkest eggs, I think you have to go with a breeder who's selecting for egg color. The easiest dark layer to find in the US right now seems to be the Black Copper Marans--which means it's extra important to vet a breeder to make sure they're dedicated to the breed and not just on the bandwagon (easy to make an egg look darker in pictures).

Absolutely!
Anyone can say they are a 'breeder'.....most are just on the bandwagon(what a great saying!!)
Most show breeders breed for SOP in plumage and body form, egg color is not a high priority.

 

[alknoll]

Aw, pretty egg! A friend has a few "Noir Marans" from Mt. Healthy, and their eggs are also Welsummer dark.

For the darkest eggs, I think you have to go with a breeder who's selecting for egg color. The easiest dark layer to find in the US right now seems to be the Black Copper Marans--which means it's extra important to vet a breeder to make sure they're dedicated to the breed and not just on the bandwagon (easy to make an egg look darker in pictures).

My 2¢ anyway. I'm thinking of adding very dark layers in the next year or 2 so am on a similar quest.

Edit: And is that medium barn red paint? I'm about to paint some coop trim, so my hands will look the same, ha!

Thanks for the tip! Breeder is a good idea.

We looked at typical barn red paints but ended up going with a mixed Valspar paint at Lowe’s. I can get the name if you’re interested. Pic attached.