[fleehill]

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

[grinling]

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

[fleehill]

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.

[grinling]

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.

[fleehill]

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