18/11/2025
Love this post - people wanting my Marans are often seeking a shortcut to get dark eggs.
Not realising that I have paid for a LOT of posted eggs (with hatch rates of usually 20-60%!!!) and built my flock up over 3 years.
Breeding Marans is NOT EASY!
They are not like my other breeds such as the hardy Light Sussex and they shouldnt be treated as such.
It’s taken time, money, grit and patience.
And then people expect dark eggs, 100% hatch rates, perfect chicks and dark eggs from the first lay….without the patience and understanding that dark eggs evolve, they shift with the age of the bird and the season.
Thats why dark eggs are like unicorns!!!
Magical.
Somedays I think I will just stop selling eggs and chicks and keep all their awesomeness to myself…… people are so quick to criticise rather than appreciate and celebrate the process ❤️
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CECdjz8uz/?mibextid=wwXIfrfde
✨ Buyer Etiquette – A Little Note From Me ✨
As many of you know, I’m incredibly passionate about my chosen breed – the Black & Blue Copper Marans. Their rich, chocolate-russet eggs are what first caught my heart, and I absolutely love sharing what I’ve learned (and continue to learn!) about these beautiful birds. I’m forever reading, researching, watching and listening so I can keep improving my lines and supporting others who enjoy the breed as much as I do.
One thing I do want to gently touch on is buyer etiquette, especially around egg colour.
Every now and then I receive messages asking specifically for my “darkest eggs.” And while I understand the excitement – we all adore that deep colour – these kinds of requests do raise red flags for any serious breeder.
Producing those extra-dark eggs takes years of work, careful selection, and a fair bit of money and dedication. So when someone asks for only the very darkest eggs, it can come across as overlooking the time, effort, and knowledge that goes into producing them. It’s not meant harshly, but it is something all breeders feel.
When I do get those messages, I always try to respond politely and explain how Marans genetics and pigment production actually work. Egg colour isn’t something that can be “ordered,” and responsible breeding involves so much more than chasing the darkest shade.
For the buyers who genuinely want to learn, who appreciate the breed, and who show interest in the birds rather than just the eggs—they’re the ones I’m thrilled to support. And yes, those buyers often find a little surprise in their parcel… one or two of my darkest eggs as a kick-start, because the enthusiasm is real and respectful.
So the purpose of this post is simple:
Please respect breeders when reaching out.
We love our breeds, we work hard for them, and we value buyers who recognise that. Asking to purchase the “cream of the crop” right off the bat can unintentionally come across as dismissive of that work and of the breed itself.
Thanks for reading, and happy hatching!
Megs & the flocks 🐓🥚
