Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: fleehill on November 01, 2021, 08:35

Title: French Black Maran X Light Sussex
Post by: fleehill on November 01, 2021, 08:35

Does anybody know if I cross a French Black Maran cockerel with a Light Sussex hen will I get the dark chocolate eggs that you normally get from Black Marans. Many thanks - Richard

Title: Re: French Black Maran X Light Sussex
Post by: grinling on November 01, 2021, 17:30

it will be lighter than the egg the cockerel hatched from. Do you know the colour of the shell?

Title: Re: French Black Maran X Light Sussex
Post by: fleehill on November 02, 2021, 08:49

The shell that the chicks hatched from was the normal light brown light sussex colour but as the hen was fertilised by a black maran I was hoping the dark chocolate of maran eggs would come through. I dont really understand genetics but I would assume black would be the stronger colour. Thanks for the reply.

Title: Re: French Black Maran X Light Sussex
Post by: grinling on November 02, 2021, 17:36

Hens have coloured eggs depending on breed. so most add colour to the outside of the shell, unlike legbars which colour added to shell before being formed.
could you get hold of maran hens, specialist hatchery might be able to help.

So after hatching this cross, you will need to wait for a hen to lay before knowing egg color.

Title: Re: French Black Maran X Light Sussex
Post by: fleehill on November 03, 2021, 13:34

I'll post what colour the eggs turn out to be when they start laying.