Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Ivywoods]

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I would love for things that are considered so bad that they are rated disqualifiers for "Show" quality.

For example:

Legs should be slate.
Legs should be feathered and on the outside of the outer toe - - - NO FEATHERS on any other toes

If they are real young - less than a week, I don't think you will be able to judge anything else.
Make sure what ever you pick looks active and healthy. Don't pick the runt because you feel sorry for it

Look closely at the comb. I had one chick one time that I could see a small side sprig right after it was born... hatched. I mean hatched!

 

[jlgoinggreen]

Hi,
I'm hoping someone could help me here. I have 6 nine day old FBCMs. I'd like to know what is the earliest age you can sex them and how to sex them?

 

[wolftracks]

I need to know if anyone has ever had a broody Marans. I have a FBCM that hasn't left the nest box all day. I finally went to check her and she growled and bit me. Went back an hour later and same thing.

 

[Lotsapaints]

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yeah but she got bored with it around 12 days twice so now I just put her the cage 1 day has done the trick so far she takes a week off and starts back she lays good when she lays

 

[Lotsapaints]

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It takes me about a month to be sure and I still get fooled from time to time

 

[wolftracks]

For some reason I didn't think they went broody. I've only owned one broody ever and she was a Dom. I bought Silkies for that reason. I don't need this big hunk hatching and not laying. Then again the Silkies are useless for that. LOL

 

[wolftracks]

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Got pics?

 

[math ace]

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It is not NORMAL for marans to go boody, but that does not mean that it does not happen. . . .

Just don't count on her going the whole distance (all 21 days) OR being a GREAT mommy. ONE of my BCM went broody last year. She hatched a chick, but wanted to return to the flock within a week of hatch date. She couldn't wait to leave the chick to join her girlfriends in the Big Girl Coop!

 

[flgardengirl]

Hi Wolftracks,
Last summer several of my Marans went broody one after the other lol. So yes they can and do. Maybe not as much as say a silkie, orp, or my key west hens but they do more than some other breeds. Mine were good moms but one chick was kicked out of the nest while it was half hatched for some reason. I found it stone cold but cheaping loudly. I put it in the bator and then slipped it under the momma later on that night after it was recouperated. She did take it in and raise it. I also threw in a few olive egger babies under one marans momma too and she acted like they were her own.
Oftentimes new mothers, no matter what the breed, aren't very good at it.

 

[cherylcohen]

I just hatched some blue birchen marans from Gabbard (fabulous hatch, never hatched so many form her eggs 11 out of 13) and got many that hatched black instead of blue. Just wondering if anyone has pictures of adult hens that are blue and black birchens?