The trio of mutt eggs that I set the other day appear to be developing! I haven't been able to find anything about penicillin, and its effect on hatching eggs, but I did learn through two sources---Google, and my Dad---that you can use penicillin during human pregnancy, so I have hopes there---even though the two things are very different.
I'm starting to get excited. Every night since I've set the eggs I've had strange dreams about hatching chicken eggs, buying chickens, buying a pot belly piglet, rescuing some mongrel dogs. Typical stuff really. Last night I got a newborn foal and began to raise it by bottle-feeding. It must've been the most stressful dream I've ever had! Not because of the labor, though bottle-feeding a newborn foal is very extensive, but because of all the steps that I had to go through to get a correct formula and everything else! Not to mention the fact that I couldn't go anywhere without the horse, and had to start its training. And my parents were mad because I brought home this orphaned foal...lol. It was an interesting dream; and actually, I can sort of picture it all happening. I know that if I was offered---for some strange reason---an orphaned foal, I would not turn it down! I think I would actually like to try that...but maybe I should bottle-feed---and train (besides my dog)---something smaller first! ;)
So, yes, the excitement has set in. And just for three little eggs that have pretty much no value. :) I am, however, looking into buying some Blue Marans hatching eggs! They say "blue", but really it's "BBS", so any hatched eggs---and then the offspring of that clutch---may turn out black, blue, or splash.
I found a wonderful breeder in Maryland; she (he? I'll be honest, I don't know,) has exquisite chickens. Top notch, and beautiful. Her (we'll go with that,) Blue Marans are bred from Black Copper Marans, which is the darkest-laying marans, and also possibly the darkest-laying chicken! So her BBS Marans lay very dark eggs; much darker than any other strain I've been able to find. These eggs---pictured below---come at a huge price, however. $50.00 dollars a dozen! And $15.00 dollar shipping!
(Photo and eggs belong to rightful owner.)
So needless to say, I will not be getting any! :) This breeder also works with gorgeous BBS Sumatra, and other typy chickens! You can find pictures of her stock here: Signature Feathers.
Anyway, that's a no-go. I've been looking for alternate strains of BBS Marans, and have found one promising breeder. This feller has both black coppers, and BBS, though the two lines are not combined. The BBS birds do not have very dark eggs---though they are notably darker than Plymouth Rock eggs, or Rhode Island Reds. His Black Copper Marans look pretty nice, though I just don't think the actual birds are nearly as attractive as the BBS Marans.
This guy had two auctions up; one for 12+ Blue Marans ($15.00 dollar starting price), and the other for 10+ French Black Copper ($15.00 dollar starting price).
(There are French, and English Marans strains. The French have feathered shanks. Unlike the feathered feet of the cochin, the French Marans have only slightly feathered feet, and a line of small feathers going down their legs. The English strain is clean-legged, and so most hobby breeders that go for quality either have a mix, or French Marans. Hatcheries usually have clean-legged marans only.)
Shipping is separate for each auction, though I'm curious about a possibility of getting all the eggs, and combining the shipping, and have contacted the breeder about this. Shipping is $17.60.
Though these are auctions, I think if I wanted these eggs I'd have a good chance at getting them for little above the starting price. Nobody has bid on them yet, and there is only a day left to go. I've seen this breeder's auctions before, and they typically don't go too awful high.
The auction for the BBS is "Blue Marans"---which only means his breeding pen has blue sires and dams. So I know if I got them I'd have a 25% of getting blacks, and a 25% chance of getting splash mixed in.
The basic B/B/S theory
Blue X Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black, 25% Splash
Blue X Splash = 50% Blue, 50% Splash
Blue X Black = 50% Blue, 50% Black
Splash X Black = 100% Blue
Black X Black = 100% Black
Splash X Splash = 100% Splash
Blue X Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black, 25% Splash
Blue X Splash = 50% Blue, 50% Splash
Blue X Black = 50% Blue, 50% Black
Splash X Black = 100% Blue
Black X Black = 100% Black
Splash X Splash = 100% Splash
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Here are some of his BBS stock. In the pictures there are only blues, and splashes.
(Pictures and birds belong to their rightful owner.)
And here are some of his French Black Copper Marans stock:
(Pictures and birds belong to their rightful owner.)
The eggs:
(Picture and eggs belong to their rightful owner.)
The four eggs on the far left are from the BBS, the four middle ones are Black Copper, and the far right one is an entirely different chicken.
It is possible that they are getting some darker eggs from the BBS now, because this is an older picture---and it should be noted that all Marans eggs lightened as the laying cycle goes on, and as they age.
As the auctions go on, I plan on keeping an eye on them and dropping little hints about possibly getting some. Or both. ;)
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