Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Quote:
Between Gigantor and the splash boy in my avatar, I will definitely be gaining some size on both my BCMs and my Blue Coppers too!
I can't wait!

Yes you will have some nice chicks in the spring!!!

Now I have a question for anyone who knows the answer LOL!!
I have one little boy (about 7 mos) who is already larger than the other 2 year old bcms that I have, large as the mature wheatens, and large than our biggest black orp. He is still growing too! I like his street sweeper feathered legs, his coppering is pretty good. His tail is a tad bushy. Here is the bad thing. His chest is almost solid black EXCEPT he has a little bit of that copper shafting going on. His comb is totally normal. Both his parents combs are totally normal. Oh and he came from an uber dark egg and so did both his parents!

I want someone to tell me for sure if the shafting is related to the carnation comb? I know the shafting would be a fault but can it be bred out? and where did it come from if neither parent had it and they both have normal combs? In fact I have the grandfather of this bird who came from an dark egg too and he has no shafting and his comb has no sprigs/carnation etc.

I am trying to decide whether to cull this boy only based on the shafting! Thanks

i would say test mate. from here on out all birds in my pens will be test mated to have a better set of info to go on than just things that might be indicators. knowing me i would always regret it if i didnt see for myself what might happen.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Yes you will have some nice chicks in the spring!!!

Now I have a question for anyone who knows the answer LOL!!
I have one little boy (about 7 mos) who is already larger than the other 2 year old bcms that I have, large as the mature wheatens, and large than our biggest black orp. He is still growing too! I like his street sweeper feathered legs, his coppering is pretty good. His tail is a tad bushy. Here is the bad thing. His chest is almost solid black EXCEPT he has a little bit of that copper shafting going on. His comb is totally normal. Both his parents combs are totally normal. Oh and he came from an uber dark egg and so did both his parents!

I want someone to tell me for sure if the shafting is related to the carnation comb? I know the shafting would be a fault but can it be bred out? and where did it come from if neither parent had it and they both have normal combs? In fact I have the grandfather of this bird who came from an dark egg too and he has no shafting and his comb has no sprigs/carnation etc.

I am trying to decide whether to cull this boy only based on the shafting! Thanks

i would say test mate. from here on out all birds in my pens will be test mated to have a better set of info to go on than just things that might be indicators. knowing me i would always regret it if i didnt see for myself what might happen.

I agree that you should test mate him and keep good notes, I don't think there is enough information out there inregards to the carnation comb and if anything is linked to it- right now it seems like everyone dealing with these combs are observing

 

[gilavina]

oh! And I forgot to add...you know what's coming Lenette...we need pictures!!

 

[flgardengirl]

Yep I am getting a new battery and getting some. I need to get some of the breeding coop too. I want to show Debbie how we ended up making our silkie ramp/door too. The dingdong silkies are finally learning how to use it.
I really like him even though he has too much tail and has that oversized baby look to him still. I really love his shanks (know I already said that lol). He is a baby from Cheepa (choc chip's mom) and Chocolate Chip (the roo from my avatar egg laid by Cheepa). His back is definitely longer than his dad's which was his major fault (short back).

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Between Gigantor and the splash boy in my avatar, I will definitely be gaining some size on both my BCMs and my Blue Coppers too!
I can't wait!

Yes you will have some nice chicks in the spring!!!

Now I have a question for anyone who knows the answer LOL!!
I have one little boy (about 7 mos) who is already larger than the other 2 year old bcms that I have, large as the mature wheatens, and large than our biggest black orp. He is still growing too! I like his street sweeper feathered legs, his coppering is pretty good. His tail is a tad bushy. Here is the bad thing. His chest is almost solid black EXCEPT he has a little bit of that copper shafting going on. His comb is totally normal. Both his parents combs are totally normal. Oh and he came from an uber dark egg and so did both his parents!

I want someone to tell me for sure if the shafting is related to the carnation comb? I know the shafting would be a fault but can it be bred out? and where did it come from if neither parent had it and they both have normal combs? In fact I have the grandfather of this bird who came from an dark egg too and he has no shafting and his comb has no sprigs/carnation etc.

I am trying to decide whether to cull this boy only based on the shafting! Thanks

Lynette ~ There is no definitive answer to that. I make the statement in regards to the feather shafting, because that is what I've seen here. I have no other experience with that or any other problem, but lucky me, it's all been dumped in my lap! I go by what I experience here..period. If I were you, I would take him to a few proven hens and test mate. See what you get, and report with pics! You know we are a visual bunch!

 

[gilavina]

I put up some pics of Gigantor for you Debbi!

 

[Debbi]

I saw them, thanks. Got any profile pics?? I know it's windy, here too! I was going to take some pics today, but everyone's tail was sitting around their ears in the 30mph gusts we were having!

Lynette ~ Can't wait to see the Silkie coop and ramp! I need to get my arse out there and build something for them, but the money isn't here right now. I am setting 18 Silkie eggs tomorrow, and the 4 left in the bator right now are due on 1/8! Lawdy, why did I do this to myself???? AGAIN???!!!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I'm gonna try for some tomorrow...those were just the photos I had taken the other day, but had to wait to load til I found my adaptor. I haven't looked to see what the weather is supposed to be like tomorrow, but we'll see! I'm struggling to stay awake at the moment....its just way too early to be thinking of going to bed if I plan on sleeping tonight.

So far on my list of things I want to get shots of:
my little BCM girl, she still looks kind of rough, but she is just doing sooo well!
Profiles of Gigantor
some pics of my BCM girls, blue girls, birchen girls
Birchen boys
my younger cuckoo chicks growing out (I really like them)
my cuckoo hens.

hopefully I can make a dent!

 

[Debbi]

Well, get a good night's sleep! That helps for taking pics!

New Year's is for amatures, I think the last time I did a NY's gig was in 1992?? Can't say as how I've missed it at all.

From the pics you took, I still love the looks of Gigantor! I could use some of the breast color to color up my pullets! I love my girls, but the boys just seem to hold a place in my heart. I WANT a great roo!!! If I had one great roo and 3 good hens, I could be happy. All I want is a typey, correct flock, that lays nicely colored eggs! Let's all hope for that in the New Year! If I''m not in here later...... HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I plan on sleeping well...I am just so stinking tired from everything over the last week or so...you know what I'm talking about.

I had never been able to get front photos of Gigantor when he was growing up...he was so good at doing the dodge and dash method, but with me coming out the back door I figured I'd have a shot at it... I still can't believe how black his breast is now compared to when he was young...its shocking! If all goes well with Gigantor in the test mate process I might be able to help you out with getting some good stock...just baby steps to make sure. I'm hoping for a really great year of progress for all of us on here when it comes to the improvement of the Marans!

Happy New Year Debbi!