California - Northern

[zooweemama]

I think ideally he should be a bit stouter in the chest. Tail is good ( tail is a big deal in Marans, they tend to be wrong, or at least they talk about it A LOT) Not sure about the color if his is in the right places or he has too much or its too yellow.Eyes look good, not too dark ( another hated and cursed thing in a good rooster) feet feathering is light ( some people love that some don't, not really sure on judging) No extra color on the chest, that's good.

Run your hands over his keel. It should be strong and have no bumps or indents. Apparently its a big deal in American chickens, we don't check enough for uneven keels.

I have been trying to learn about confirmation for marans By looking at what people say. Let me see if I can find the link to the post with the black and white drawing of shape. When Walt lectured at the heritage Expo, I asked a lot of Marans questions. he said the biggest thing people don't take into account was shape, and that most Marans he sees are too flat chested. And that since so many people breed for egg color the overall shape of the bird in the states is lacking. ( this is one of the reasons we had super speedy stew. flat chest, his sons are much more robust)

Did you post on the FCBM thread? It goes slower and there are some very good and gentle critiques there.
Post 4964 has the black and white Marans pic, very good for shape.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444381/black-copper-marans-discussion-thread/4960

Fantastic thank you. Do you think free ranging affects his trimness? He is very active and seems to forage for quite a bit of his grub. He is on Flockraiser right now. He covers almost 2 acres a day.

I will check his keel- I hope I will know what I am feeling because I have never actually looked for anything except for breast meat. hehe I am personally wanting to go after body type first- work on color after I get that. I will say my Marans chests have been kinda bony to me previously. His is def more meaty than my others had been but he has been allowed to grow more. I think I need to look up sprigs because I thought all those extra bumps were sprigs.

Thank you for the link. I didn't know about that one. Just the standard Marans thread. I am ok with people being brutally honest- as long as it's helpful in what I am doing. He's ugly, I hate him...that's not helpful. But getting told why IS helpful. Thank you! I will gather some more pics of him and work on a post to share there.

 

[chiqita]

Great analysis! I think the weight and size will be perfect at a year.

The comb does need work but with the other good things about him, breeding him with the right hen would likely "compensate" for the comb. I think you have a great start with him.

Now to get him some girls....

Do they change shape when they fill out? I don't know enough to know. It seems like they are either plump in the breast or flat, they just get more square or more plump as they get bigger. Mind you, I haven't seen 2 year old roos yet, so Im just talking about as they grow out.

But my flatter chested boys stay the same shape as they grow, the puffier boys keep a similiar angle to the chest. I have been useing the angle to try and figure out who to let grow out! gaa.

I have about 12 Marans boys at 3-5 mths atm, I should post some pics to see who to keep. I have about 3-4 that are prospects. My oldest sos ( Id like to keep 2 roos not related to each other if possible) eyes might be too dark, but he has a better shape then his dad. Maybe ill see If I can get some of my crappy pics. I always hate posting after zoo or lalwat or capachick! I look so tacky!

 

[zooweemama]

My chickens seem really really lean. At 36 weeks old- I weighed one of my Buffies and she was only 7 1/2 pounds. Isn't that a little light? Someone just messaged me today with her sizes and at 24 or so weeks they weighed like 8 pounds. I think hers are English- I am not entirely sure.

I don't want to post on the Orp thread because they work like crazy over there- they use heavy duty wormers and every 6 weeks some even more frequently. That's not me. I don't care that they do- but I am not in this for breeding only. I want a good solid backyard flock that lays well, looks gorgeous and is incredibly hearty. THAT is what I will breed for. They will tell me to worm all the time- like last time I shared my cockerel pic. They were all over telling me to worm a whole bunch and all the time. I don't mind worming sometimes- but not that frequently. My 24 week old Marans cockerel weighs 7 pounds. Are these numbers about right or skinny for their age? Everyones poop looks great. The layers are getting a layer feed, oyster shell and sometimes treats. The cockerels are getting flockraiser. Everyone roams over 2 acres - even in the rain.

Are they too lean? Time to worm? Side effect of free ranging = active birds burning off calories?

 

[broodyhenmommy]

Hi fellow Norcal BYCers,

I need your wisdom on a pressing issue. We have a wrongly sexed Australorp that is 3.5 mo old that we must get rid of. Our city does not allow rooster and nor do our neighboring cities. Our neighbor HATES roosters and he has already filed a complaint. I cannot find any humane society to take it over, nor any nearby farms. I am at my wit's end, and even if I am willing to eat it, I cannot even find a slaughter house to do this. What should I do? Knock it out and bury in my backyard? Thanks!

 

[zooweemama]

Do they change shape when they fill out? I don't know enough to know. It seems like they are either plump in the breast or flat, they just get more square or more plump as they get bigger. Mind you, I haven't seen 2 year old roos yet, so Im just talking about as they grow out.

But my flatter chested boys stay the same shape as they grow, the puffier boys keep a similiar angle to the chest. I have been useing the angle to try and figure out who to let grow out! gaa.

I have about 12 Marans boys at 3-5 mths atm, I should post some pics to see who to keep. I have about 3-4 that are prospects. My oldest sos ( Id like to keep 2 roos not related to each other if possible) eyes might be too dark, but he has a better shape then his dad. Maybe ill see If I can get some of my crappy pics. I always hate posting after zoo or lalwat or capachick! I look so tacky!

I want to see your boys! Don't feel bad about posting pics at all! I so seldom get nice pics- I usually use my iPhone haha! I just happen to have a nice day the other day and went bonkers. I have to keep shooting this time of year or I get rusty with photography. I am always working on improving my settings, composition, lighting, angles etc. Please don't feel bad. <3

I need to see more Marans boys anyway. I only have 1 left. ONE. LOL I don't even have any pullets now. They all got taken by the heat and the mold. To be fair - Out of 10 chicks I only got 2 females. Messed up! rofl

Ron might be hatching some for me for NYD hatch. *fingers crossed* for some ladies*

 

[zooweemama]

Hi fellow Norcal BYCers,
I need your wisdom on a pressing issue. We have a wrongly sexed Australorp that is 3.5 mo old that we must get rid of. Our city does not allow rooster and nor do our neighboring cities. Our neighbor HATES roosters and he has already filed a complaint. I cannot find any humane society to take it over, nor any nearby farms. I am at my wit's end, and even if I am willing to eat it, I cannot even find a slaughter house to do this. What should I do? Knock it out and bury in my backyard? Thanks!

Hi! I don't personally know anyone that needs a rooster right now. If you are willing to eat it- you can process it yourself. I process my own cockerels. Another thing you can do is put him up on Craigslist for free and let someone else have him. It will probably go pretty fast. Especially if you do not say "only for pet, not for food" and just offer him up for free.

 

[broodyhenmommy]

Hi! I don't personally know anyone that needs a rooster right now. If you are willing to eat it- you can process it yourself. I process my own cockerels. Another thing you can do is put him up on Craigslist for free and let someone else have him. It will probably go pretty fast. Especially if you do not say "only for pet, not for food" and just offer him up for free.

I did that, didn't hear anything back yet.

 

[ronott1]

Hi fellow Norcal BYCers,

I need your wisdom on a pressing issue. We have a wrongly sexed Australorp that is 3.5 mo old that we must get rid of. Our city does not allow rooster and nor do our neighboring cities. Our neighbor HATES roosters and he has already filed a complaint. I cannot find any humane society to take it over, nor any nearby farms. I am at my wit's end, and even if I am willing to eat it, I cannot even find a slaughter house to do this. What should I do? Knock it out and bury in my backyard? Thanks!

First off,



Where are you in CA, and how soon do you have to rehome the little guy?

Rooster Rescues are in Sac and the East Bay. There may be others. Down in Turlock/ Modesto, they have an Auction on Mondays.

 

[broodyhenmommy]

First off,



Where are you in CA, and how soon do you have to rehome the little guy?

Rooster Rescues are in Sac and the East Bay. There may be others. Down in Turlock/ Modesto, they have an Auction on Mondays.

I have about a week's time. Thanks for your info, let me give rooster rescues a call, I assume their numbers should be on the internet, right?

 

[chiqita]

I did that, didn't hear anything back yet.

welcome!
Sorry it is a sad reason you are joining us. If you are in South bay and are looking for people who can humanely process him because you are not sure how to do it yourself I may be able to help. Ron has good ideas too.

We raise chickens and take back roosters so we have some practice at the processing part.

Zoo, It started to rain again so I'm waiting for it to stop. Are you going to Stockton? I'm about 100% sure I will have some FCBM's that will be pullets by then. I'm convinced FCMB's hatch out more like 60/40. I have NEVER seen less then that in any persons hatch EVER. I know it goes per chicken, but I think Marans are skewed!

Happy Chooks, I'm sending you a PM, not sure if I should post or not.