Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Hard to say with that pic. Also, I'm a novice at this breed so someone with more experience may chime in. From what I can see, he looks rather typey. Are his hackle (neck) feathers really that gold color in the middle there, or was it a flash or light? What color are his eyes? Best to get a pic just of him if you can in the daylight, and take some pics of your hens too!

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Looks like an adult and that would make them around one year. Looks from the picture like your male has the straw neck Hackle feathers.

I don't know about that. Looks like the pic might have been taken in the dark? Could be a streak of light from the flash or some outside light? Look at the color at the top and the ends, looks pretty copper to me. lnfcef81, can you take a better picture of him in natural daylight? I think he looks rather handsome myself!

Debbi, I just sent about 40 of those with the flash of light to the freezer, I must have the same light shining here in Michigan.

 

[Debbi]

Just saying, I've seen quite a few pics that did not depict the true color. If it is straw hackles, then that's a no-no. You culled 40 of them?? You must have a big operation. How many did you keep back?

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Debbi, I had 87 December males and mine usually run about 40 % with the straw neck and 40 % Copper and 20 % Mahogany. I will keep a few Straw neck and breed to the Mahogany. This coming winter all my females will be single mated and culled very hard. I have several point at which they have to have a passing score. From now on the score will harder to reach for the females. It is normal for the BC to have all three colors produced.

 

[ruth]

I think I'll try a little something and see how it goes. I'll post several pictures, from different angles of one of my roos. He's several years old and one of the original Wade Jeane birds. I'll open it up to comments but with "conditions". You can't just say "cull" or "soup mix" you have to say what you are basing it on. Also, if you want to participate, point out the good and the bad so everyone can learn.

I'll start -

I think his comb is o.k. but I don't worry about combs too much. Eyes - orange - within standard. I think his hackle color is also within standard - it's a dark copper. His legs are up for debate since he has the pinkish/light grey legs. If they go with "dark slate" he's lacking that. He does have feathered legs, down to the outer big toe but they are worn off in this pic. He's a big bird and not in prime condition/weight in these pics due to heat and molt and a pen full of females. I'm not sure if there's a limit on length of wattles but this guy has some pretty long ones but then again, he's "old". Tail - hard to tell since it's kind of ratty right now. The angle is within 45 degrees (except for that wild sickle feather that seems to be sticking up) and even when it's at its finest, it's not very long.

I think we can all learn if we critique one bird, both good and bad, and then everyone can see exactly what we're talking about. Other's can post pics as well and do the same thing - post several pics from different angles and we'll see what we can, as a group, decide the strengths and weaknesses of each bird.

Please try to be fair and impartial as if you were the judge at the poultry show.

 

[Debbi]

Thanks Ruth, this is a great learning tool!

First, I believe, unless they are changing it for the proposed standard?, that the white legs are preferred over the dark/slate. What bothers me there, is theer is no shank feathering

A few too many points in the comb

I like his coloring, looks more mahogany to me, but I like it. Good eye color, wattles like you say a bit long.

Tail looks short to me, maybe it's the long one throwing me off.

I like his posture, depth and width. Bet he's sired some really nice chicks in his day! How old is he?? I think you pretty much see him as I do. I just now saw the stuff you wrote at the end! Did he wear off or moult out his shank feathers? I wouldn't call him "soup mix" for sure!!

 

[snowbird]

Well I always stick my neck out.

The only thing I see that I do not like is the white at the base of the tail. Look to have very nice Copper color. Is a very typey male. I see no problem with the leg coloring at all. Nice broad chest and sice wide back and the proper length and shape. I personally do not keep BC with white feathers.

 

[snowbird]

I see no problem with the Comb at all, too much is made of the five point in the standard.

 

[Debbi]

I agree, I wouldn't cull based solely on that, but if going by the SOP, it does call for 5, so there would be point deductions. It's actually cleaner than a lot of them I have seen with 5 points!

 

[snowbird]

The comd is a 1/2 point for each over or under 5, thats nothing when showing.