Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

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IMO....yes you can use a solid blue Marans that lays a nice dark egg to help improve the egg color of the Birchen. Egg color is not just a problem in the Birchens.....egg color can lack in any color variety of Marans, but the ones laying the nicest eggs are the Black Coppers, the Blue Coppers or the Blues and of course there are lots of Wheatens out there that lays some spectacular eggies too.

 

[gilavina]

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Did ya get a new camera!?! I turn into a kid at the prospect of new toys like that! And yay!! birdie photos!

 

[pinkchick]

Nope, didn't get a new camera, just going to use my cell phone. It actually takes pretty nice photos just wish it had a flash.

 

[gilavina]

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ahh...indeed....they are way different now than a few years ago.

 

[sewandgrow]

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Hi Vicki,
I took the easy way out & ordered heavy duty carports & had them connected into one long 18" by 42' shed & moved all my chainlink panel pens under them. It was a big job but now mostly done & all the birds are settled into their new homes. I now have to make the cuts necessary to confine myself to 14 pens. I have to give up several breeds. I had cages made to house individual roosters so I can run pullets together while not breeding. I ousted a few of the second string backup roosters outside to free range & so far no mishaps. I will get it all figured out sooner or later I still have a month or so before I need to worry about the weather. I don't get snow here nor severe cold like many people do in other parts of the country. My Summer heat is a problem. Today is dsupposed to be 101 degrees. I am thinking of putting in a BIG box fan for circulation.
Karen in California

Hey Karen! Haven't seen you in a while, how are you? Sounds like you have been really busy over there. Also sounds like a good plan you have for holding them over winter! So, what breeds will you be holding onto then?

I wish I could tell you Vicki................LOL It's more a choice of what I am willing to let go of. I will always have my BCM & Wheatem Marans, My blue egg laying Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas & a variety of pure Ameraucanas in various colors. I love my Lavender Ameraucanas from Harry Shaffer even though they came from rather green eggs & my favorite is blue. I will keep my Delawares & some Silkies....I know I am willing to let go of the Blue Andalusians, probably the Barvelders & the BLRW. I will keep the beautiful Black Australorps & the Orpingtons (I have 4 Blacks growing out & Pure English B/B/S in the incubator). I will keep the White Rocks from show stock for now & take a second look later. I am up in the air about the Light Sussex. They are beautiful & good producers. I will keep the Black Minorcas for a white egg layer. My mind is spinning trying to figure it all out......LOL I tried so hard to get good stock so now I am having trouble letting go.....LOL
As far as me being absent Kim........... I got to where I was spending more time here sitting on my bottom reading forum threads than working with the chickens themselves so I pulled way back & only read the 2 local threads daily now . I have hatched pretty consistently, alot for other people & continue to read & learn. The big move & new pens was a big job & I am a happy camper to have been able to get it done before the winter weather. It is not a palace but it is neat & organized & I don't have to be ashamed of myself when people come now......LOL Lucky you******I so want to go fishing,but have no one to fish with........LOL
Karen in Turlock California

 

[pinkchick]

Ohhh and the other thing that the phone lacks is zoom.

Blue Copper cockerel 4 mos.

the Black Copper pullet that I kept...no signs of copper - 4 mos. (she is the one running away...a little Barnie pullet is in the front of the photo)

and the other Blue Copper cockerel 4mos. He is my favorite one, but he is very shy, this photo is the closest I could get, probably not even worth posting. I will get better photos.

This boy is going to be huge! Both of them have nice copper coming in, but this ones copper is darker and prettier. Wish you could see it.

 

[ChicksterJo]

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Here is mine (a pullet) at 3 weeks old just about.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/80295_dsc01482.jpg
Hope that helps! (She is feathering out to very little coppering on her hackles so she is pretty much a pure blue, but that doesn't bother me. I'm not doing a breeding program or anything.)

Can you tell me how you know this is a pullet? I have two chicks that are 3 weeks old and one has tail feathers and the other doesn't, so I'm hoping at least one is a pullet!

kristen

Oops, I should have been more clear. This was her at 3 weeks old, now she's 27 weeks old. She hasn't laid yet but she is starting to squat (though she doesn't really know what to do if I rub her back) and her wattles/comb are huge.

 

[gilavina]

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I love that head and neck on that pullet! I also like that second boy from what I can see. If you get more pics of him as he's growing I'd love to see them as he is standing nicely in that pic.

I'm having an inner conflict this year of needing to cull down for winter, but seeing all these nice young ones is making me want to hatch out some more babies from some test hatches. I don't think I will, but in all honesty I suppose it really depends on whether I feel like I'm that far ahead in culling that I feel comfortable with it. I'm getting a late start today as this week was a doozy...did a number on my lower back hauling freight and pallets more than usual.

Hey...did you see the last batch of pullets I posted the other day with the bcms and the blue pullet? Just wondering what you thought of their body type if you had

 

[pinkchick]

I did see them Vicki....I think they have great type. I love them chunky monkeys and I have that blues twin here at my house, I swear.

Poularde~ The combs suck...sorry. I am working on that, I have removed who I think the trouble makers are............I hope!

Test hatches coming up. Got another broody and a few eggs to put under her. I love your girls, they have great bodies and heads and that blue has great lacing.

 

[hmlongino]

Okay... question (and please bear with me as I am completely new to Marans!)

Is it more desirable to breed blue copper to blue coppers and keep the blues? Does it matter as long as you are getting the blues from birds with good body and egg color? I didn't know if there was a preference in keeping more of a color in the genetics, or not? I probably am making no sense-- again, forgive me for sounding ignorant... but, I am!!

We had to cull our entire flock due to exposure to MG. As we rebuild, I want to be sure to raise birds that do the breed justice. So, I want to learn all I can!

Thank you!!
Holly