Marans - SOP discussion thread

[geebs]

I am not seeing where you guys are reading the word "station" in this SOP... can someone point it out to me... you can pm me so the whole post isn't copied and pasted.

 

[edgarmongold]

Quote:
I am under the impression that this thread is for discussion of the Standard and not breeding. mho

The Standard calls for a full tail not "pinched" where the tail feathers are not spread.

The tail can be pinched from the side view or "tight" from the back view of a Marans.

Either one does not have enough spread to the tail.

The pinched tail requires more width and the tight tail more openess from side to side of the tail.

 

[edgarmongold]

Quote:
The tail is going to be neither a V or U as the back slopes slightly downward and the tail on both the male and female is 45 degrees.

The saddle feathers on the male and the cushion feathers on the female keepit from being a V and a U is too steep as well.

DQ for white in feathers on shanks:

More than one appearance of more than one half inch of positive white in any section of the plumage.

Feather on legs: outer side sparsely feathered.

 

[edgarmongold]

Quote:
Side sprigs are a DQ according to the APA and ABA Standards and so would also apply to any Marans being exhibited.

 

[edgarmongold]

Quote:
It is not in inches but you have to consider the overall bird's size.

Pictures will hopefully be on the MCCUSA's website soon.

 

[edgarmongold]

Quote:
STATION: Ideal pose which incorporates standard type.

Something you definitly want to consider.

 

[rockyspringsfarm]

I would like to see clear pictures of the following from one of the people who designed the SOP for the Black Coppers:

(1) "sparsely feathered".....this wording is open to personal interpretation by each judge....one may call a bird sparsely feathered (shanks) and another call it too light or too heavy....I hated to see wording in the standard so open to personal interpretation....been there with other breeds of livestock....I have noticed that hens and cocks often feather differently on the shanks...... So, I want to see what the standard writers call "sparsely feathered" on shanks .......I want to see the example we should be breeding towards.

(2) Shank color.....again I want to see the expected "perfect" shank color for the Black Copper cocks. the hens don't worry me. I have seen everything from almost white to pure black on the show bench and they all (at one show or another) were placed highly....I want to see the example of what is considered right.....

At the Newnan show this year the hens and pullets were awesome.....I was very blessed to have my BC hen judged Best of Breed. But, the males had more work that needed to be done....There were some really nice cocks there but overall the whole group needed attention.

Right now for hens I am comparing each hen to my undefeated five time Best of Breed Black Copper hen for type, tail set, station, etc. If they don't compare favorably to her in design they are going to new homes...... BUT these cocks are a whole different ballgame....I don't have and can't find a BC male that truly suits me from top to bottom. I am just matching up strengths and weaknesses as best I can.

Thank you.

Peggy Taylor

 

[edgarmongold]

Quote:
Sparsely Feathered is the same wording as used in the Langshan breed.

The shanks should be feathered all the way down the outside of the shank and just the outside toe.

The "perfect" shank color is not there to be pictured.

It is a broad term so one does not get all caught up in small details.

Your hen must be a very good type bird to be Best of Breed five times but before you errect a pedistal for her you might want her to win some division wins first and keep in mind that Champion Contential is not a tough division at most shows.

You will be discarding some very nice pullets because they do not stack up to your five time winner. mho

Keep in mind that this thread is to discuss the Standard of Perfection for the Marans not flame on others stock or brag on ones own.

 

[rockyspringsfarm]

Sir:

Thank you for your comments.....I am very well aware that there isn't a "perfect" shank color out there but I also know that there has to be an example of what is considered to be closest to what we should be breeding toward....

I do apologize if I offended anyone on the list with my post.

Peggy Taylor

 

[scottcooks]

edgar, ed,

I have seen Peggy's hen and I must say she needs to brag because it is the closest example to the standard I have laid eyes on. The size, stature, hackle color and eye color are near perfect. I showed three birds at the qualifying meet : one cockerel, two pullets at Newnan and felt fortunate to compete and place in the top five in cockerel and fourth in pullet there. To see such a fine example of the standard in her birds was a blessing. I think if any of us could breed to that standard of hen we would all be fortunate. As the top rated hen, I don't think you can discount the job she has done, or the future success she will have breeding to the standard. I for one went back to the drawing board recreating a new breeding program and brought in new blood to my flock by the way of Helen Beyers flock and others, to try and catch up to what she has already accomplished. A couple hundred hatches later I am still looking to catch up to the hen I saw in Newnan, Georgia.
Scott Hixson