Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

Quote:
I am not sure how to answer your questions. . . . .

I don't think any of us buy our birds because they are sexable at birth. . .. . That is an EXTRA benefit but not the main reason.

Welsummers and marans are dark egg layers. Many who get involved with these breeds do so because of egg color, not the "sex link" trait.

I picked my breeds for many traits including personality. I actually had welsummers and marans . . .. NOW just the marans. My marans were hands down more friendlier. Others have had better experiences with the welsummers.

I hope this helped you out!

 

[VillageChicken]

Pure Welsummers are sexable as chicks. At least based on what I have seen. The eye stripe on males are different than females. Pink could confirm. I would say more people are looking for good purebred stock that lay consistently, and lay eggs that are characteristic of that particular breed.

 

[enggass]

Quote:
I've got pics when they were 19 days ( almost 3 weeks old) and then pics again when they are 1 month old ( 4 weeks). There is a huge change in that 7 - 10 day period. Let me give you an example. . . .

To answer your other questions - -- YES, there can be a huge difference between the lines. However, pink and I are both Davis based. Hers are purer than mine, but Davis none the less. Her line has a "big comb / wattle" characteristic. Some suspect it is because they are FLORIDA raised and develop the large comb / wattles to deal with the HEAT

Here is a cockerel at 19 days

http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g420/cliff1801/marans study 2011/marans 19 days old/IMG_1461.jpg

And again at 1 month


http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g420/cliff1801/marans study 2011/marans 1 month old/IMG_1479.jpg


BIG change wouldn't you say ? ? ??

Huge change.. !! I can't imagine that mine will look like that in 7 days - the weather theory is interesting and could make sense... THANKS.

 

[loprettaerin]

Quote:
Also have to think about how your going to get rid of all the roo's you sex many people just wanting chicks for small backyard flock only want hens or can only have hens. also understand that sex links mated to sex links or any sex link mated to another bird does not produce sex link chicks. Many people just purchase them to get only pullets to produce eggs. Sticking to few breeds or one is much more enjoyable. And if you learn enough about your breeds you can learn there sex at a pretty young age.

As for if you breed them together they will they produce sex links. From what I understand yes but any barred chicken to a solid colored breed will. Or atleast from what I have been learning.

I honestly think you would be much happier selling wellies or marans or both. Mixed breed chicks just not as popular from what I see and I think you will be happier with not having to figure out what to do with all those roo's no body wants. More people would be intrested in a roo if it was pure.

 

[Debbi]

Steve & Pink ~ Here are a couple of pics of Gnarles Jr. and then the chick in question. Pink, does this second chick look black or dark blue to you? Pullet or roo? I can see tiny bits of wattle coming in, so I'm leaning towards roo. This chick looks black in person, but the pics make it look dark blue to me. Obviously, JR. is a boy!

JR at 26 days

Roo?? At 26 days

 

[pinkchick]

ValleyofRoses~ I breed Wellies and one of the reasons I chose them was because they are sexable at hatch....but knowing what they are hdoes not necessarily provide benefits except to the customer because they usually want all pullets and we the sellers get stuck with all the cockerels. :lol .....but the most important reason I got them was because of their egg color then I fell in love with the beauty of the bird and their personalities. I have to admit I spend more time watching my Wellies than my Marans but my Marans are my all time favorites. I don't breed Cuckoos so I cannot give any opinions on them. You should visit the Welsummer thread too...some awesome cool folks over there that will give their story as to why they went with Wellies. Hope this this helps.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Debbi, I am very certain chick #2 is a pullet. She doesn't have anythong to do with Bill right? Sorry can't remember and I know you told my this morning or not too long ago. If she's not related to Bill in anyway...she is Black.

 

[Debbi]

Oh goodie! I go back and forth every time I look at her. No, she's not the Bill baby. Should've taken pics of them all today, but it's HOT, and I've been busy.

I love the look of JR. He is quite a chunker, but does not like posing for pics. He's a sweetie too!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Okay, we are getting close to day 18 here with eggs from pink chick- what would be the best way to keep track of who hatches out of what shell? I've seen the baskets and such but a couple of the eggs are one and only so the poor little chick who be by itself for incubation or doesn't that matter? Of course we had only 1 chick hatch out yesterday and we did find a few other chicks from a friend to put with it but our 1 chick still trys to find us- we took it out of the incubator earlier today and added the buddies this afternoon.

 

[enggass]

Ok all...
Here are my suspected roos at 21 days(3 weeks):

Black #1

Black #2

Blue #1

Blue #2 (I suspect pullet but not sure)

Splash #1 (not sure-roo?)

Splash #2 (not sure-pullet?)