Birchen Marans Thread

[write2caroline]

Hi

There was not a thread for just chatting about Birchen Marans. I have two roos and a pullet. I was hoping to have 2 pullets and one roo. The roo is too the left of my Cream Legbar pullet.







They were hatched 2nd week of May from GFF. I think they are beautiful but I am a little biased being their chicken momma. They seem to grow slowly. I thought they were bantams for a while but they are starting to grow into their feet and have a lot of feather growth to do. My pullet is really sweet and friendly. The boys are more cautious. They are not crowing so I know they are still immature. I am very pleased with them so far.

Anyway. Wanted to see what other people had to say about this gorgeous breed.
Cal

 

[ChickenRun96]

Bumping this thread.

Here is our birchen hen and her egg next to a bantam cochin egg. She will be 2 years old this spring. She’s just coming out of a molt, so not the most flattering pic of her.
I’ve only been able to hatch olive eggers with her this year. Working on sourcing some quality hatching eggs so we can get a rooster for her. She was a lucky find as a 5 weeks old pullet. Went to get faverolles and the owner didn’t want her. Fine by me. But now I need more!

 

[Bantambird]

I have hosted travelers before. Everyone is welcome to come visit.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I have hosted travelers before. Everyone is welcome to come visit.

As much as I'd like to it's too expensive. If you get to a point where you can ship eggs I'm very interested.

 

[Super_Girl]

Me too, I'm around! And... my one single Birchen hatch turned out to be a GIIIRRRRLLL!!! I'm so thrilled!!

 

[goedric]

I only have 4... here is a pic of each from a week ago... pic 3 is of the one above with the gold coloring coming thru... looks like 3 roos to me so far.... but I have some black birchen hatchlings as well... from Rachel Johnson that I can use to get some hens into the flock and am incubating some BBS eggs from Stephanie Wind... we shall see how it all shakes out!

 

[Bantambird]

Question: I have scanned lots of pics online for birchen marans but cant seem to get many with photos of thigh feathers with silver and am curious about feather colors on the thigh... I have 4 chicks that are supposed to be pure birchen marans... they are about 4 weeks old. 3 of the four have silver (white) feathers on the thigh... my question is... (1) is this normal, good, bad indifferent... and (2) does this tell me they will be roos... i ask the 2nd question cause 1 of the 3 looks like a roo for sure the others have no roo sighs so far. Thanks. Here are some pics.. sorry for poor quality

My Marans look that way at that age too.
They won't see their final color until they reach maturity. Sometimes colors don't settle until 18 months in some cases! Marans are a slower maturing bird.

 

[Bantambird]

Birchen marans are pretty great! I'll start hatching more hopefully by February. My marans flock is black and blue birchen (silver) and recessive white, and sometimes splash.

 

[baunlee]

Does anyone have a flock of black silvers/birchens near NY? I wanted to get some hens for my rooster and my old breeder retired.

I don't want to pay $30 per chick from the major breeder though.

 

[Chooks man]

Way ahead of you, bud. She doesn't ship and 24 hr drive one way....I wish there was a way. Her birds are top shelf for sure. I love seeing the pics when she posts them.

very hard to find good Birchen breeders .
chooks man