Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

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haha I bet its a splash cockerel that heard you talking about him earlier!
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Horse mane whitener works pretty well. I use Amways LOC. It is biodegradable and does a great job on white birds but it can also be hard to find in some areas. Sometimes I use bluing, but it is hard to find and you have to be very careful with it. I see blue chickens while judging sometimes.

Walt

Thanks Walt. I used to use bluing for all my white birds when I was growing up showing and made enough mistakes then that I learned the hard way. I think its funny you've judged "blue" birds. I always experimented when show season got started on some birds I wouldn't show to make sure I remembered the right ratio before moving onto the birds I was showing. I'll have to see if I can find some horse mane whitener...I don't know if I'll be able to find the Amways one, but I'll see what might be hiding around here. What kind of shampoos would you recommend for other colored birds?

It has mostly been Cochins and Silkies that I have seen blue. Once I saw some pink birds but I have no idea what the owner did to have that happen. If you can't find Amway products Johnson baby shampoo does a good job on colored or white birds. If you use something strong be sure that you test it on a cull first. Feathers can be ruined for the season if it is too harsh. People swear by all kinds of products, but I stay with the ones that are designed for animals with the exception of the baby shampoo.

I have washed a lot of white birds and my advice is to keep them clean from the beginning. I showed a white leghorn last weekend that has never been washed. It is easier to wash them if they are not very dirty and once they are stained ...it won't come out no matter what you use.

Walt
 
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Thanks Walt. I used to use bluing for all my white birds when I was growing up showing and made enough mistakes then that I learned the hard way. I think its funny you've judged "blue" birds. I always experimented when show season got started on some birds I wouldn't show to make sure I remembered the right ratio before moving onto the birds I was showing. I'll have to see if I can find some horse mane whitener...I don't know if I'll be able to find the Amways one, but I'll see what might be hiding around here. What kind of shampoos would you recommend for other colored birds?

It has mostly been Cochins and Silkies that I have seen blue. Once I saw some pink birds but I have no idea what the owner did to have that happen. If you can't find Amway products Johnson baby shampoo does a good job on colored or white birds. If you use something strong be sure that you test it on a cull first. Feathers can be ruined for the season if it is too harsh. People swear by all kinds of products, but I stay with the ones that are designed for animals with the exception of the baby shampoo.

I have washed a lot of white birds and my advice is to keep them clean from the beginning. I showed a white leghorn last weekend that has never been washed. It is easier to wash them if they are not very dirty and once they are stained ...it won't come out no matter what you use.

Walt

Thanks Walt! This helps alot. I can't remember what i used to use when I was a kid and so all this helps me make up my mind what direction to go
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I just sent you a PM about a question about the standard for a bird that isn't a Marans, so thought it might be better to send it to you there.
 
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I HAVE to comment on this. Marans are literally a brand new breed. Of course, nonsense is going to crop up - constantly - even in lines labelled "Davis". But I am confident that Bev Davis herself would NOT sell birds with such defects although she has NO control what hatches out of the eggs, even her own. Others may choose to continue selling birds from "Davis" lines that show up with such defects and as with ALL things - it is buyer beware.

And one additional comment - bad combs, clean legs, and such are not necessarily the end of the Marans breed as we envision it. Egg colour is the priority for some and, I believe, that is also the bottom line among the French breeders as well. For some, in the almighty persuit of the SOP - egg colour is being ignored.

Aren't we lucky we have forums such as these with threads such as these so people can educate themselves and make decisions about what they can and can't live with.

I, by no means was indicating that Bev herself is knowing or at fault.
I was speaking in terms of some breeders out there that are aware of the issues and continue to breed them and sell them as "pure."
Of course it is buyer beware, but does the seller/breeder lose all responsibility for passing on cross bred Marans when they are aware of or been informed of the faults and issues being produced from their birds? Especially those traits and faults that are obvious signs of another breed being crossed in?

And yes it is great to have such threads and forums out there that these things can be discussed and information made available and where everyone gets along and chats like family and friends. Makes learning something to look forward to.
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haha I bet its a splash cockerel that heard you talking about him earlier!
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Too funny Vicki.
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I hope it is that little splash that she has been wanting.
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Go Chicks!
 
My thoughts on the MOA site pictures and their standard.

If any of us show at an APA approved show in the USA we will be showing under the APA Marans Standard period. That site has no bearing on the APA approved Standard when showing at a APA show only the SOP.
 
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I HAVE to comment on this. Marans are literally a brand new breed. Of course, nonsense is going to crop up - constantly - even in lines labelled "Davis". But I am confident that Bev Davis herself would NOT sell birds with such defects although she has NO control what hatches out of the eggs, even her own. Others may choose to continue selling birds from "Davis" lines that show up with such defects and as with ALL things - it is buyer beware.

And one additional comment - bad combs, clean legs, and such are not necessarily the end of the Marans breed as we envision it. Egg colour is the priority for some and, I believe, that is also the bottom line among the French breeders as well. For some, in the almighty persuit of the SOP - egg colour is being ignored.

Aren't we lucky we have forums such as these with threads such as these so people can educate themselves and make decisions about what they can and can't live with.

I, by no means was indicating that Bev herself is knowing or at fault.
I was speaking in terms of some breeders out there that are aware of the issues and continue to breed them and sell them as "pure."
Of course it is buyer beware, but does the seller/breeder lose all responsibility for passing on cross bred Marans when they are aware of or been informed of the faults and issues being produced from their birds? Especially those traits and faults that are obvious signs of another breed being crossed in?

And yes it is great to have such threads and forums out there that these things can be discussed and information made available and where everyone gets along and chats like family and friends. Makes learning something to look forward to.
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Kim, I believe that if someone is selling eggs in any breed that has major Faults they should stop selling eggs and stock until they have corrected the Faults. There is no way the seller can just say that the stock is a work in progress and walk away. I am from the old school saying if the stock is not acceptable to me it should not be unloaded on someone else. Correct the faults by culling and improving the stock and then sell eggs if you would like. I know that lots of new chicken people get so disgusted from buying faulty eggs that they leave the chicken hobby for ever not to come back. We have a responsibility to offer up something worth owning.
 
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I, by no means was indicating that Bev herself is knowing or at fault.
I was speaking in terms of some breeders out there that are aware of the issues and continue to breed them and sell them as "pure."
Of course it is buyer beware, but does the seller/breeder lose all responsibility for passing on cross bred Marans when they are aware of or been informed of the faults and issues being produced from their birds? Especially those traits and faults that are obvious signs of another breed being crossed in?

And yes it is great to have such threads and forums out there that these things can be discussed and information made available and where everyone gets along and chats like family and friends. Makes learning something to look forward to.
smile.png


Kim, I believe that if someone is selling eggs in any breed that has major Faults they should stop selling eggs and stock until they have corrected the Faults. There is no way the seller can just say that the stock is a work in progress and walk away. I am from the old school saying if the stock is not acceptable to me it should not be unloaded on someone else. Correct the faults by culling and improving the stock and then sell eggs if you would like. I know that lots of new chicken people get so disgusted from buying faulty eggs that they leave the chicken hobby for ever not to come back. We have a responsibility to offer up something worth owning.

Technically, and, I'm sure, in the seller's mind, the birds ARE pure - and from Davis lines. They're just crap!
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And Don, I do agree - if I want to breed birds with obvious faults, that's on me, but to sell the eggs as "hatching Davis lines Marans" is something I would never do. And also something Bev Davis herself would never do.

I guess for some folks, it's all about the money. If someone is willing to pay $50 plus shipping for a dozen "well packaged" eggs from that roo - well, what else is there to say????
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