Let's talk Cuckoo and WHITE marans... breeding strategies...

[xlboergoats]

Hi Ernie!


I guess we will see how it goes. I am still learning about the whole qualifying process, if we only need 50 that conform to the standard it could be a possibility.

And I guess white is white most of the time, so it will be easier than mis-matched cuckoo any day. I just think that once we get different lines of whites together then the type difference could cause the same issue as the color of the cuckoos did. I hope not. I would like to see them pass, otherwise It would be a long sad ride home for a lot of people.

It is also a lot of work washing them so they look like true white birds. They are one of my favorites but when it comes to show prep they take twice as long as the rest. Mine are used to it now my big ol roo falls asleep on my lap while he is under the blow-dryer. I plan on taking a few to Shawnee plus several other varieties, but I wont' take a dirty bird so I hope they travel well or they will get left in the trailer. I might have to wrap them in towels for the ride out. Maybe I can make a "show sheet" for chickens.

-Nicol

We saw our first White Marans in Newnan two years ago. We hauled Black Coppers and a few others over for the Qualifying Meet that year. I knew once I saw them. they would be something that I would have to have. I usually don't like light colored birds, but the Whites are beautiful. We were forturnate to be able to get the breeding birds that we started with. We really enjoy working with them.

I don't mind washing a few for a show, but washing a trailer load is not fun. We did not wash before Newnan because the weather was terrible here and I know that they would be cooped on the trailer for more than 26 hours. Washing is not that bad now. We have a blow dryer that sits in front of a Pet Taxi. It was designed to dry dogs, but works great for chickens. We can have one drying in the crate while we wash another one.

I hope that there are quite a few breeders that will travel to a Qualifying Meet for the Whites. There are about five or six of us in this area that are working with Whites. I would hate to think that we would have to wash and haul 50 birds to a Qualifying Meet. I guess we will have to wait and see if the APA approves a Qualifying Meet for this year. If so, we may have to do what we have to do. Keep working on your White Marans and be prepared to be at the Qualifying Meet when the time comes.

Take Care,
Ernie

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

i really like the tail set on your hen... hard to tell on the rooster... the tails on my whites are to high in my opinion...

Here are two of my white Marans at the Ohio National. The hen won BV the roo RV and he also got 2nd at the Newnan Meet this year. There were only 5 Whites shown.






I am working on some more cuckoo info for everyone.

 

[OHmamma]

We saw our first White Marans in Newnan two years ago. We hauled Black Coppers and a few others over for the Qualifying Meet that year. I knew once I saw them. they would be something that I would have to have. I usually don't like light colored birds, but the Whites are beautiful. We were forturnate to be able to get the breeding birds that we started with. We really enjoy working with them.

I don't mind washing a few for a show, but washing a trailer load is not fun. We did not wash before Newnan because the weather was terrible here and I know that they would be cooped on the trailer for more than 26 hours. Washing is not that bad now. We have a blow dryer that sits in front of a Pet Taxi. It was designed to dry dogs, but works great for chickens. We can have one drying in the crate while we wash another one.

I hope that there are quite a few breeders that will travel to a Qualifying Meet for the Whites. There are about five or six of us in this area that are working with Whites. I would hate to think that we would have to wash and haul 50 birds to a Qualifying Meet. I guess we will have to wait and see if the APA approves a Qualifying Meet for this year. If so, we may have to do what we have to do. Keep working on your White Marans and be prepared to be at the Qualifying Meet when the time comes.

Take Care,
Ernie

That is another bad thing about the winter/early spring shows. It is dangerous to wash them and take them out in the cold. I bet yours were stressed just coming from Texas to that unusual cold GA day. I felt sorry for all of the Southern birds. Mine thought they were on vacation since it had been just 12* the day before we left. Don't get me wrong I appreciate the time and work you put into bringing them all, It was quite an impressive display!! Even with no bathing it is a ton of work just taking care of them on the ride. I liked the way your trailer was set up. Your birds looked pretty comfortable in there.

I usually wash and blowdry mine the evening before and leave them in their carriers in my utility room. I run a space heater back there to help keep them from getting a chill. Then they go straight to the car. I couldn't imagine doing that with the herd you took! Of course we also kept them in the car (SUV) instead of a trailer too. I would have to come up with a different strategy if I was hauling more birds and using a trailer. Like for Shawnee...

I help a friend that will take 100+ to shows sometimes. Various breeds, but we start a week in advance and she keeps them up in wire cages until it is time to go. Not the best for your breeding program though.

Usually if you get them done once they are good for quite a while as long as their pens stay clean and dry. I don't always completely wash them if they just had it done. Sometimes just dipping them in the tub does the job and doesn't soak them completely through. I always scrub up their legs and toes for as much good as that does. They usually poop and step in it on the way to the show!

I am planning on bringing 10 if I can get that 7 more out that I like. I just have 8 adults to work with right now so I guess I shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch. My problem will be I only have 2 cock birds and one hen that I will show. The rest of mine will be pullets and cockerels. I am also bringing Blue Coppers and Cuckoo since I will have a stronger generation this time. I couldn't bring too many to GA because I am using clean legged hens and not getting the best shank feathers in the offspring. But I won't sacrifice egg color so I have to deal with it.

I get you about the show cost. I try to sell just enough to pay for each trip. But honestly I give most of mine away. I sold my last Nubian to pay for GA.

-Nicol

 

[OHmamma]

i really like the tail set on your hen... hard to tell on the rooster... the tails on my whites are to high in my opinion...

His is ok but not the best. It is at least under 60* I have a few issues with his type, like his back is too short and his breast isn't deep enough, but he is SO HUGE and SO White that it is almost shocking. I mainly only take him to keep the hen company she always gets BV They are inseparable. My problem with her is that she has the "s" in her comb that that line seems to carry. I am trying to figure out a solution for that.

Tailset is still an issue with a lot that I see no matter what the color.

-Nicol

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

i have the s in the combs on my whites as well... right now that is the least of my worries lol... im going to work on tailset and leg color this year... maby try to bring in some new blood to help fix both... i have crossed mine with my blacks several times and so mine have dark legs... and the tailset on my blacks and whites is to high... i was able to get a blue rooster that is from Helen Byers so i am breeding him to my blacks this year his tail is really nice!!!

His is ok but not the best. It is at least under 60* I have a few issues with his type, like his back is too short and his breast isn't deep enough, but he is SO HUGE and SO White that it is almost shocking. I mainly only take him to keep the hen company she always gets BV They are inseparable. My problem with her is that she has the "s" in her comb that that line seems to carry. I am trying to figure out a solution for that.

Tailset is still an issue with a lot that I see no matter what the color.

-Nicol

 

[OHmamma]

i have the s in the combs on my whites as well... right now that is the least of my worries lol... im going to work on tailset and leg color this year... maby try to bring in some new blood to help fix both... i have crossed mine with my blacks several times and so mine have dark legs... and the tailset on my blacks and whites is to high... i was able to get a blue rooster that is from Helen Byers so i am breeding him to my blacks this year his tail is really nice!!!

Well I din't say it was the worst of my worries but if I could breed away from it while fixing other things I would be tickled pink.

Some things have worked out themselves for me while I was working with the others that I have. I don't have a huge selection of whites but I am considering crossing in a Blue/Black from some that Bev gave me to see if they can clean anything up with the combs. I won't know until they are bigger about how their type will be since they are still only a few months. I am sure they will be better than anything else I find.

Here is my other White roo.

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

my whites have been greatly improved from breeding to my blacks twice... i started with one Dominent white english hen from Dick Dickerson in TN... bred her to my black rooster as that is the only other Mar ans i had at the time... got a few feathers and some size added to the whites with that cross... the next year i used the original hen and 2 pullets under a white rooster... was unhappy that only about 25% of the chicks had good feet feathers so last year i bred them back to my blacks again... hatched some really nice birds all with good foot feathering... i have culled back to a trio of good whites and 3 paint hens that I'm just playing around with... i have my black rooster in that pen with them right now but he is the submissive roo so i don't think he gets much action... i have my black hens in with my blue roo... and when i get done hatching blacks and blues the black hens go back in with the Lav rooster...

i am hoping to hatch and raise about 200 Marans chicks this year...

Well I don't say it was the worst of my worries but if I could breed away from it while fixing other things I would be tickled pink.

Some things have worked out themselves for me while I was working with the others that I have. I don't have a huge selection of whites but I am considering crossing in a Blue/Black from some that Bev gave me to see if they can clean anything up with the combs. I won't know until they are bigger about how their type will be since they are still only a few months. I am sure they will be better than anything else I find.

Here is my other White roo.

 

[OHmamma]

my whites have been greatly improved from breeding to my blacks twice... i started with one Dominent white english hen from Dick Dickerson in TN... bred her to my black rooster as that is the only other Mar ans i had at the time... got a few feathers and some size added to the whites with that cross... the next year i used the original hen and 2 pullets under a white rooster... was unhappy that only about 25% of the chicks had good feet feathers so last year i bred them back to my blacks again... hatched some really nice birds all with good foot feathering... i have culled back to a trio of good whites and 3 paint hens that I'm just playing around with... i have my black rooster in that pen with them right now but he is the submissive roo so i don't think he gets much action... i have my black hens in with my blue roo... and when i get done hatching blacks and blues the black hens go back in with the Lav rooster...

i am hoping to hatch and raise about 200 Marans chicks this year...

I have a dominant white hen too but she has black spots. I think she is pictured somewhere on here. I am going to attempt Red Pyles with her and a GS roo. I wanted to do White Coppers but Bev convinced me to try the Pyles. I might still just try both. I think if I could get perfect hackle color on a white copper hen it would be just heavenly.

 

[Chickielady]

I have a dominant white hen too but she has black spots. I think she is pictured somewhere on here. I am going to attempt Red Pyles with her and a GS roo. I wanted to do White Coppers but Bev convinced me to try the Pyles. I might still just try both. I think if I could get perfect hackle color on a white copper hen it would be just heavenly.

Dang !
Red Pyle is one of my favorite colorations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep me informed of your progress with that !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

FYI:

8 eggs a day today, maybe better tomorrow but we'll see

Wussy Pillows are starting to bud out!!!!
Spring is springing~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robin's been here for 3 weeks ?


Come on spring !!!!!!!!!!!!!!