Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Quote:
haha true enough. I guess the way i'm figuring it is if I can really examine my birds through test mating and be thorough about it, then I will be able to really see what's behind them...and do the difficult task of removing any that fail the tests. I just don't know any other way around protecting my birds than to test from within and control who is introduced. It feels like its a crazy time with the Marans, and feels like its really the only thing to do... I would love to hear if others have ideas as well! Its just hard to know with 100% certainty what I've got til they are put to the test.

that's pretty much my plan too. What else can you do?? In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy them all. Isn't that why we got them in the first place? This won't be healed overnight for sure, and my brain was gearing up that way. Can't do it that way, slow down, do what you can with what you have, and have some fun too!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Pink ~ I'm no pro, nor Don or VC, but when Blue Butt's sprig first showed up, it was just like you are describing. It almost looked like a pimple. Today, it is a triangular shape, and stands about 1/4" off the side of the comb. Like a little pyramid!

Is it too late to make this breed one that requires dubbing??

JUST KIDDING!!!!!

I know it has to be the same as the full blown looking one that I posted photos of.....just wondering if it is a sign of something different.....like it can express in variations and if it expresses in variations what does this mean genetically? Would this be an indicator that it may be polygenic?

Heck I don't know anymore.........I am getting very tired of seeing them and I am getting very tired of the comb being the first thing I look at on them anymore...I would like to look at them and say "Oh that one is growing out very nicely and love the color on that other one?"
Not " Well wouldya looky there, it's another one of them F*$#G@! - _ _ _ _ - blankety blank blank combs!"

Absolutely! This is why I have so many different kinds here! From pretty Carnation like JR's (did I just say that out loud??

), to the Tree Trunk version on Muttley, they are all variations of the same thing. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
haha true enough. I guess the way i'm figuring it is if I can really examine my birds through test mating and be thorough about it, then I will be able to really see what's behind them...and do the difficult task of removing any that fail the tests. I just don't know any other way around protecting my birds than to test from within and control who is introduced. It feels like its a crazy time with the Marans, and feels like its really the only thing to do... I would love to hear if others have ideas as well! Its just hard to know with 100% certainty what I've got til they are put to the test.

that's pretty much my plan too. What else can you do?? In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy them all. Isn't that why we got them in the first place? This won't be healed overnight for sure, and my brain was gearing up that way. Can't do it that way, slow down, do what you can with what you have, and have some fun too!

that's exactly how I feel. I love the personalities and temperament of even my flawed ones. I know those three I found in that set of younger birds was a shock, and I'm gonna have to pull all the ones from the same place and will possibly test mate just the best few that show no signs to see what is going on. But, I think that's why I love the layer pen of my mom's. Its here on the same property and I get to go in...and I get to shut off my brain and just get to have fun watching them. There's no need for me to analyze them or critique them... Some of my favorite birds are in there, but would never even be able to come close to the standard of their varieties or breeds...but that's ok..That's not what they are there for so I can live with it just fine!

Maybe this will sound weird, but my thought is that it might be a couple years before I am satisfied with the tests... Does that sound out of range?

 

[Debbi]

Yes, but even if it takes more time, it will all be worth it in the end. YES! The layers only pen is a DRAMA-FREE ZONE!! Like you said, a place you can go, to just interact with some chickens just for fun!

 

[JazminesZoo]

Hello,
I am a newbie here.... But I have my 1st Marans. I hatched 3 chicks from Huckleberry Farms. I just love them already. My Son has named our roo "Bluester" Here is a pic of him. What do you think?

I hope to learn alot from you peeps!

 

[pinkchick]

I have been looking for 20 minutes for the photos of Cad's roosters, it's taking forever it seems to go back through the thread............................. or perhaps they are making the Tequila much stronger these days and the fog from the nights festivities has not lifted yet.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
yeah...I should have been more clear...that it will certainly take much more than two years to have a line I really really am proud of, I guess what I was thinking was that I would have a really good idea of where I stand on the issues that might be here... does that make sense? Raising birds to a standard is always going to mean work and that I'm ok with...

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
you mean the one with out much of a tail? I think I can find it for you pretty quick if you like

Kim...go to post 27671 page 2768

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
HI! Welcome to the Marans thread!

Both of those boys are cuties!

I can't see very well in the photos but does he (the chick) have lightly feathered shanks?

 

[Cadeau]

Happy New Year, all!

Have 2 BCM and 2 Blue hatched, 2 eggs yelling, and 1 I'm not sure about!! (7 total)

Tons of questions as usual!!

Everyone:
Please tell me about your record keeping:

How you label/tag/punch everyone to keep them sorted out over the generations
Tricks to help you remember who is who - is their a way to band, so you know a certain bird goes back to a certain roo or hen (which is more important the female line or the male line?)

How you keep your paper/computer records
How you keep a picture log

How do you FIND everything!?



I just culled today and was happy with what I'm seeing! (hope I haven't spoken too soon!)
I did keep that roo and we'll see how he fills out until next cull (and, hopefully, grows a tail)

I got rid of two who had no feathered legs and a couple who had very sparsely feathered legs (how come roos seem to have TONS of feathers or very sparse??)

I got rid of two roos who had a sort of waxy/lumpy look to the side of the comb...kind of like when wax dries and there's a ripple or drip on top?? does that make sense??

What about too much feathering?
Do you guys keep either hens who have a middle toe feather or two?
Would you keep a roo who does? (I do realize roos have to be near perfect b/c the amount of genetics they contribute!)


When is a roo's tail "done"?
I had a roo with a super looking tail at 1yr old perfect 45 degrees, etc., but, this winter, it started looking higher - not quite "squirrel", but too high for my liking. He was also not as thick/stout as I'd like, so he's gone.

Lastly, if you have any time, can you guys please look back at my pics, especially the young cockerel?? I'm trying to make plans and need to know if I need to cull and/or start over!! Thanks!