Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[stoopid]

X2

 

[BarnGoddess01]

x 3 -- I would wait as well. In the absence of obvious defects, "type" should be your first priority at this point so let them get a little older before judging. (I've found my Marans really do change a lot as they mature so if you can wait, you should wait.)

Quote:

 

[flgardengirl]

I have two BCM boys that are three months old. I am wondering if there is anything I can cull for now?

Here is BCM#1
His comb has wider points and I think there are 5. He has one little down feather on the middle toe. His breast has a few speckles of copper.




Here is BCM#2
The points on his comb are different...skinny points and I think more than 5. He also has one down feather on his middle toe but his breast is cleaner.


I don't know enough yet what else to look for. The standard says that there is not supposed to be yellow in the hackles but I always see yellow in the hackles of pics of BCM so maybe I am not understanding what that means. The pic of #2 was closer to the flash so his hackles do look more yellow. They are the same as #1 in real life.

Can I cull one of them now for anything obvious or should I wait? I also have a batch of 5 week old BCM cockerels so these are not all I will have to work with in the future.

Any ideas? Thank you!

I would wait a little longer because sometimes little things can become more obvious as they grow older. Sometimes once they are around 7 mos or so they can develop the white in their tails, more color in the chests etc.

Right now you can look for proper leg and outer toe feathering, side sprigs sometimes are there even when young but when the combs are small you have to look harder for them. Proper tail set and wry tail should be apparent by now (if present). Their eyes will lighten up (get more orange) as they get a little older. You can always print out a copy of the standard and look at what pops out at you as you observe your birds.

I am liking the coloring and large body on boy #1 Looks like he has good shank feathering although you mentioned the one feather on the middle toe. I might still use him if it is truly just one tiny feather if he turns out nice in every other way and your girls don't carry the trait. His tail is very horizontal but this can end up being a good thing as he fills out more watch and see if he achieves the 45 degree angle that you want. Shouldn't go over. Keep in mind if he does have that toe feather you probably can't show him, if that's your goal.

Boy #2 The thing that stands out to me is: I would watch his hackle coloring because they usually get lighter as they age and from the pic it looks like he could end up a little light in the hackles. Of course if you have a bunch of overmelanized girls, you may be able to use him. Can't really tell from the angle he is standing but his tail might end up being a tad bit high

Overall I would keep them a bit longer.

 

[pinkchick]

Hey Lynette, you being the plant guru here, I've a question. Can you graft an apple tree sprig onto a Walnut tree?? Would it produce fruit? Oh the things I can think up over a glass of wine! I could call it the "Waldorf Salad Tree"

You can graft the apple, just not to a Walnut. I believe when grafting the new branch being grafted needs to be grafted to a tree from the same family. Such as fruit to fruit and ornamental to ornamental. Too funny about the Waldorf Salad Tree.....that is one I would love to have in my front yard, LOL! Is Olivia still staying the cause???

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
I would wait a little longer because sometimes little things can become more obvious as they grow older. Sometimes once they are around 7 mos or so they can develop the white in their tails, more color in the chests etc.

Right now you can look for proper leg and outer toe feathering, side sprigs sometimes are there even when young but when the combs are small you have to look harder for them. Proper tail set and wry tail should be apparent by now (if present). Their eyes will lighten up (get more orange) as they get a little older. You can always print out a copy of the standard and look at what pops out at you as you observe your birds.

I am liking the coloring and large body on boy #1 Looks like he has good shank feathering although you mentioned the one feather on the middle toe. I might still use him if it is truly just one tiny feather if he turns out nice in every other way and your girls don't carry the trait. His tail is very horizontal but this can end up being a good thing as he fills out more watch and see if he achieves the 45 degree angle that you want. Shouldn't go over. Keep in mind if he does have that toe feather you probably can't show him, if that's your goal.

Boy #2 The thing that stands out to me is: I would watch his hackle coloring because they usually get lighter as they age and from the pic it looks like he could end up a little light in the hackles. Of course if you have a bunch of overmelanized girls, you may be able to use him. Can't really tell from the angle he is standing but his tail might end up being a tad bit high

Overall I would keep them a bit longer.

Hi Christie! I agree with Flgarden and Barngoddess 100%. Give them just a little more time if you can.

 

[DMRippy]

I would wait, they both look like you might have something to work with. It was at about 6 months old before I could make my final culls. I cull for clean legs and middle toe feathering at hatch now. With that said, I can hatch TONS of chicks to pick from, so I don't have to fight that down the road at breeding type. That might be a mistake, someone tell me if I am wrong. My thinking is since I have the ability to hatch more I don't want to breed birds with DQ's. I get more without DQ's in feathered legs than culls so I think I am doing the right thing, CULL HARD, so I am at hatch. With my first set of Marans I had to work with what I had, and now the real work begins this year with culling for my next batch of breeders.

 

[pinkchick]

Okay......there's tons of Marans cuteness going on around here with all the baby pictures!!! LOVE THEM!!!! Keep them coming!

 

[gilavina]

mornin Kim! Got some chickers hatching soon? I'm set for a week from today for more chicks. 77 look great, so I might be overrun soon!

 

[pinkchick]

I would wait, they both look like you might have something to work with. It was at about 6 months old before I could make my final culls. I cull for clean legs and middle toe feathering at hatch now. With that said, I can hatch TONS of chicks to pick from, so I don't have to fight that down the road at breeding type. That might be a mistake, someone tell me if I am wrong. My thinking is since I have the ability to hatch more I don't want to breed birds with DQ's. I get more without DQ's in feathered legs than culls so I think I am doing the right thing, CULL HARD, so I am at hatch. With my first set of Marans I had to work with what I had, and now the real work begins this year with culling for my next batch of breeders.

Donna~ I think you are on the right track. You have alot to work with and culling alot and culling hard is the only way to do it. Not being afraid to cull a bird/s that should not be used for breeding is a very necessary and important step to continue to improve upon the breed. Hatch away my friend!

 

[pinkchick]

Morning Vicki! Good luck with your hatch! I've had great success with my Marans of late, but my Barnies are not doing so well. The last 2 hatches have been disasters. The last set....28 eggs put in and 1 remains for hatch on Monday. The set just prior to that....28 eggs and 4 to lockdown....2 are in the brooder. Anyway, I think I have that figured out and I believe it is a vitamin def., just set another 2+ dozen Barnie eggs so we will see what happens this time.



I'm transferring 14 Marans eggs to lockdown this morning. They will all be going home with a very nice lady when they hatch. Hoping they all hatch as she wants them all.





So............remember that cockerel that I posted photos of and asked if he was barred????