Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ChickenLord]

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Our Cuckoo Marans have white legs and feathers are laced, no barred. The black on the feather is around the edges of the feathers.

our barred rocks have yellow feet and feather are barred... Black and white stripes cut all across the feathers.

 

[Roosterfry]

Hello All! I am a new breeder of black copper marans and I'm at a crossroads. I'm trying to decide to breed either for show or for dark egg color I've learned its dang hard to do both, but I may have to try. , I have hatched out two batches of chicks, some from my darkest eggs which are normally from my improper feather colored hens 6-8's and some from my show type hens who's eggs aren't as dark 4-7. Should I keep chicks from my not as dark eggs from my show quality correct hens or the darkest ones? I'm breeding all my hens to the same very show quality rooster. I have another friend that has a coop of black copper marans as well and he is collecting ONLY his darkest eggs 8-9's and I'm was thinking of combining those in a coop with mine from my darkest eggs. What are people gonna want the most of? decent dark egg laying show birds or extremely dark egg laying marans?

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Our Cuckoo Marans have white legs and feathers are laced, no barred. The black on the feather is around the edges of the feathers.

our barred rocks have yellow feet and feather are barred... Black and white stripes cut all across the feathers.

I believe cuckoo plumage is supposed to be barred, not laced. Cuckoo Marans have white legs. Barred Rocks have yellow legs.

 

[Debbi]

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Hello!

Me personally, I got into the Marans for the dark eggs, but once I was in the trap, I fell in love with the looks as well. For me, I would rather have a bird as close to the SOP as possible, that lays a consistantly decent colored egg. Don't get me wrong, I sure wouldn't throw a dark egg layer over the fence to the coyotes!

After I get my conformation type down to my liking, I can work on better egg color. That's not to say my eggs are light. The pullets and hens are laying a 5+ - 6+ colored, ruby, glossy egg. So, even if they never layed anything darker, I still love their egg color.

 

[Debbi]

Vicki and Kathy, you guys are AWESOME!!!! Can you tell I'm 'cited now??

At your leisure with the pics Vicki, enjoy your family!

 

[Debbi]

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That was me! Do you have a roo in with the girls? That is the first sign I see around here. About 2 weeks before the girls start to lay, all the roos become very aggressive with them, hunting them down to breed. My girl, Charlotte, has a very small comb, but when I saw the boys start after her, I noticed her comb was much redder in color. She's the earliest layer I've had so far. Most of mine started between 20-24 weeks. Keep her in the run once you see the change, or you may never find her eggs!

 

[Debbi]

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Oh Susie, thanks for bringing that up! Sedalia is a 2 plus hour jaunt for me, and it's been years since I've been there, and that was for sheep. If you've never been, it's a HUGE fair! It was also hotter than blazes, so wear light clothing but bring a jacket, and a chair! Missouri weather can turn on you in a heartbeat! Name tags may be hard to see in the crowds. We could all wear blaze orange hats!

I may have to try to make that. Maybe my friend will go with so she can drive. That's pretty much the only APA show I know of around here. Wouldn't mind checking out the sheep again up there either, that will get her to go!

 

[loprettaerin]

Quote:
Oh Susie, thanks for bringing that up! Sedalia is a 2 plus hour jaunt for me, and it's been years since I've been there, and that was for sheep. If you've never been, it's a HUGE fair! It was also hotter than blazes, so wear light clothing but bring a jacket, and a chair! Missouri weather can turn on you in a heartbeat! Name tags may be hard to see in the crowds. We could all wear blaze orange hats!

I may have to try to make that. Maybe my friend will go with so she can drive. That's pretty much the only APA show I know of around here. Wouldn't mind checking out the sheep again up there either, that will get her to go!

Also the State fair starts august 10th. They have all the animals at that one. We go every year the first day but have never showed there. Kids do there bucket calfs for the first time next weeked at our local fairgrounds. Next weekend will be interesting my duaghter wants to do a chicken and a calf next year though. We will see.

 

[Debbi]

I thought it was hotter than October! It was the Fair I went to for the sheep. Gosh, it's been almost 20 years ago. Don't they hold a poultry show at the State Fair as well??

loprettaerin ~ where are you in Missouri??

 

[gilavina]

Oh debbi, you make me laugh! I might just have to keep an eye on photos you post to see if there's a trade to be made

I was out feeding watermelon to my birds a bit ago since its so stinking hot today and was trying to give a critical eye to my splash boys, but its hard when they are being goofy trying to pick up whole pieces of watermelon rinds and run with them....they don't get very far...that's for sure!

I'm just about done getting ready for my brother's family...what takes the longest time is toddler proofing the place...I have a decent size art studio space and go through it and put paint and other chemicals (varnishes, etc) out of reach and pack up any jewelry making tools and sewing things....basically anything pointy and sharp gets packed up and hidden in the storage space under the stairs.

In about 3 or 4 hours time there officially will be no peace or quiet for the next week haha