Birchen Marans Thread

[jan12]

I just wanted to add that I can relate to Lilwanis about too many Roos and too few pullets. Anyone else experience this with birchen marans? Out of 9 hatchlings only two so far look to be female... What's up with that? Lol. I hope I get at least one more!

Also, if you breed a blue splash hen to a blue birchen, I suppose you'd get the standard 50% blue, 25% black, and 25% splash.. What does a splash birchen look like? Anyone have pics?

 

[lawatt]

Pretty birds! I love your pullet - that silver laced coloring is so beautiful. But at 8 weeks shouldn't some birchen silver be showing on your cockerel? Mine all have.. Even the blackest one at 7 weeks. Here's one of my 5 week old cockerels:

i have no idea, these are my first birchens (and my only other marans are two cuckoo hens, so i haven't seen any of them develop from tiny chicks) -- thanks for the photo! i'll go look at his neck when i visit the coop this morning...

and i've only hatched these two marans, so have a perfect 50/50 gender split -- one boy, one girl. but i've just ordered some more hatching eggs, so will be interested to see how they turn out!

 

[lawatt]

took some updated photos -- and the cockerel definitely has silver coming in along his back, but only a few feathers in his head/neck so far:


head and neck


birchen pullet on the left, boy on the right -- they'll be 10 weeks old on friday

i will keep an eye on him as he keeps developing -- and i also just ordered some more birchen hatching eggs, hooray!

 

[jan12]

Nice! I can see some gold color on his back. Apparently, this is not ideal for the birchen marans breed (it needs to be silver), but for a backyard flock like mine, I think it's perfectly fine. Here's my favorite roo from CR Farm:

He is a blue birchen marans. I'm keeping him

 

[jan12]

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[lawatt]

thanks, your blue is beautiful!

looking at my cockerel, some of the gold-looking color may just be the camera/lighting, he looks more silver in person. but like i said, will keep an eye on him as he grows! he's quite handsome, even if he doesn't turn out to be a perfect birchen pattern...

 

[jan12]

Thanks I see what you mean about it not really being gold. Both of your birchen marans chicks are nice looking to me. I'm new to birchen marans as well, but I've done a lot of research. IMO they are one of the prettiest breeds of chicken around.

 

[Broad St Farm]

took some updated photos -- and the cockerel definitely has silver coming in along his back, but only a few feathers in his head/neck so far: head and neck birchen pullet on the left, boy on the right -- they'll be 10 weeks old on friday i will keep an eye on him as he keeps developing -- and i also just ordered some more birchen hatching eggs, hooray!

Your pullet should not have the Silver Lacing around he feathers. Only place she should have silver is the hackles and head.

 

[lawatt]

Your pullet should not have the Silver Lacing around he feathers. Only place she should have silver is the hackles and head.

well, she does -- apparently they are not perfect. but i still like them...

 

[Broad St Farm]

That's fine, I'm just saying as to SOP standpoint. Nothing wrong with liking your birds the way they are