Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Yes, there aren't a lot of clear carnation comb pics out there, I looked! Both kids and adults can learn when we post clear faults along with the good stuff!

 

[DMRippy]

Thank you everyone... I did hear your... really. I just have to work with what I have. I have 1 Blue Copper Marans Roo from PinkChick's flock and some very good looking Black Coppers (pullets and roos) SOOOOOOO I don't have any blue girls, so this is how I am going to get them. The Blacks MAY end up in the freezer, but if they look really good maybe not. I am working with what I have and I think they are both good birds, but my blacks are missing some traits that the Blue has and vise versa. I think my blacks have great body type very big birds, good shank feathering and very dark eggs

(they were breed only for eggs and some body type traits just not color) But they are lacking the dark coloring on the beak and near the eyes (most are lacking) and the darker leg color (they have color just not as good as my blue roo). Some of my Black Copper roos are over colored and some don't have much color so when they are bigger you can give me recommendations on who to keep and what pullet to breed them too. I think I understand you to say that it is easy to add color if you have a good basic bird, so with that info and with it taking a YEAR for them to mature I guess I will keep all 6 of my BC roos so I will have a total of 7 black copper, 1 blue copper and one splash roo with 6 poor pullets

They are going to feel like they live in a brothel before it is over

I have time before any of this happens anyway, my pullets are not even laying and will not for a few months. So I will continue to listen to you educated marans experts along the way... life is a journey

BTW: Since this Blue Copper Roo is from Gnarls... I have to keep an eye out for the stupid comb

 

[gardengoats11]

Egg color question

I have a new BCM pullet that is starting to lay. Her eggs are very light in color with very dark specks on them. Is this the egg she is going to lay or will she learn to connect the dots and color in between the lines?

 

[DMRippy]

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From what I have read it take some time for them to learn to paint the eggs...give her time a couple of week or more.

 

[berkeleysprings]

dm is right , also if i may ad that sometimes the dark ink spots that colors the egg will sometime paint the hole egg and spots will dissapear if that makes sence

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From what I have read it take some time for them to learn to paint the eggs...give her time a couple of week or more.

 

[pinkchick]

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Berk and DM are right.....give her some more time....she may learn to connect the dots and she may not. I would say that after about 3 or 4 weeks of laying her egg color will be what it is going to be. Congrats on her starting to lay.

 

[pinkchick]

BTW: Since this Blue Copper Roo is from Gnarls... I have to keep an eye out for the stupid comb

Yep.

But seriously though....if you want more Blues....the only way to get them is with a Blue, so work with what you have as you stated you will, it's not all bad, it will be fun. I have had more fun breeding the Marans and taking on some of the challenges they present more so than any of the other breeds that I have and work with.....and they come in more than one color.

 

[pinkchick]

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O no you didn't!!!!!

 

[pinkchick]

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You can send Myron packing his bags back this way if'n you like......

I don't care how many points he has.

BTW= Roy is a hunk!

 

[pinkchick]

Don~ I appreciate everything you offer and bring to the table.....I take your advise and I apply it to my breeding decisions. Thank you very much. I also appreciate Walt in the same manner. Thank you Walt!


I will say....that I am on a quest to breed quality Blue Copper birds and the only way I can get to them is by using the birds I have and culling out the bad ones (with everyones help)....I think thus far (disregarding the stupid comb thing) I have made some pretty good strides and with the help of all of you great folks out there I will continue on my journey, one Blue Copper at a time.

I don't believe that the Blue gene is what has muddied the waters or polluted the Black Coppers, I believe it is the poor breeding decisions of some that have bred lesser than quality birds (regardless of their color) and then put them out there into circulation and unknowing and unsuspecting folks who purchased them and started breeding them haphazardly and again putting those offspring into circulation as well and people became "ok" with what was being bred and sold as Black Coppers or Marans.
What's the old addage.....tell 10 people a joke and those 10 people each tell 10 more and by the end of the day 100 people have heard the joke but the joke has been seriously chopped and no longer has the same punchline, same with breeding the birds but the punchline has a ton of faults, but with more and more folks dedicating themselves to this wonderful breed of chickens then hopefully some success will come in weeding out the junk and more and more good birds will surface.

I for one rely on the many years of experience and advise that come from these forums and breeder clubs....Thank you everyone who contributes.