Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Hens and Roos]

Oh good! I've sure been wondering how you were faring over there with your little ones!

Had a storm come out of nowhere with some major fierceness about 4:30 this morning....blew over grow out huts and broke limbs and etc....so, its a day of clean up before I have to go to work at 4. So far looks like I only lost one bird to dog piling, but I'm keeping my eyes open for any signs of injury or anything. I hate losing birds

Hope all your chickens are okay, we watched it come in by us around 9 am this morning and had just enough time to finish chores, hoping that we will start drying off- we managed to till our garden once and waiting to till it a another time or 2. Our neighbor is also waiting to till his garden spot.

So far the 4 chicks are holding there own

After doing some more reading, I think I will start adding Apple Cider Vinegar(AVC)-organic type-to all the water, especially the babies. I will probably go back to feeding non-medicated feed too.

 

[TinTennessee]

when using apple cider vinegar is it okay to continue using medicated feed? I've been putting about a cap full ( maybe a tbl spoon & a half ) of apple cider vinegar per gallon with my chicks and I still have them all medicated feed I hope this isn't causing a problem

 

[hmlongino]

Okay... see if these pictures work better! My girls are skiddish, and these are only 4 of the 12+. Not a good shot! Right now, we only have 1 breeding coop, and the lav. orps are in it. I am antsy for my husband to finish the other breeding coop... and just trying to figure out who to put in!

As I said, my black copper roo has far too much copper in the body... He's not even in the running! Need to get these little ones big enough to tell if there's a good black copper roo in the bunch!

 

[Renegade Rescue]

We are hoping to get a few Marans in the coming months to add to our flock we do not do shows we just like our chickens and all the different breeds and how they seem to have different personalities hope to learn from those who have them.

 

[Debbi]

Okay... see if these pictures work better! My girls are skiddish, and these are only 4 of the 12+. Not a good shot! Right now, we only have 1 breeding coop, and the lav. orps are in it. I am antsy for my husband to finish the other breeding coop... and just trying to figure out who to put in!

As I said, my black copper roo has far too much copper in the body... He's not even in the running! Need to get these little ones big enough to tell if there's a good black copper roo in the bunch!

Ok, that's a much better pic of your roo! To start at the top and go down, here is what I see.

Comb ~ Does he have some sprigs on the end of the blade, or on the sides of his comb? Those aren't good, and they pass onto the offspring

Eyes ~ Too dark. Should be a reddish-bay color

Hackle color is too golden, for my likes any way. They should be more the color of his saddle feathers. So the colors are not balanced, both should be the same copper color.

Tail ~ This is what bothered me the most. If it isn't at a true 90* angle, it's pretty much as close as it can get, also known as "Squirrel Tail", which is a DQ. Now that said, sometimes when they stand on "alert" the tails can appear to be squirrel. If in a more relaxed position he holds it lower, then he may be ok. You don't usually see Squirrel Tail on bird's with a decent length to their backs, and his back is a nice length.

Wing Carriage could be much more horizontal

Nicely feathered shanks and toes from what I can see, correct leg color. I love his blue coloring and the lacing! He looks like a nice broad boy too. Didn't mean to sound like I am ripping him apart, believe me, I do that enough with my own crew! These are just the things that immediately come to my eye, and need improvement, if like you say, "you want to do right". For sure, I've seen a heck of a lot worse...some right here!

How old is he by the way??

 

[Debbi]

We are hoping to get a few Marans in the coming months to add to our flock we do not do shows we just like our chickens and all the different breeds and how they seem to have different personalities hope to learn from those who have them.

Well, you are in the right place! Welcome aboard! Oh yes, you are going to love finding those dark jewels in the nest boxes too!

 

[Renegade Rescue]

Very pretty group you have there. I have another coop to build before we can get Maran's but hope to be ready to get them soon.

 

[hmlongino]

No, that's what I want to hear! I thought his eyes were awfully dark! I am trying to improve with each generation, and I need to know what to look for when the next group of roos get older. I just have to figure out what on EARTH to do with all the roos that don't make the cut!!

He 6 months old. (Hatched 11/3) Started crowing a month or so ago and fertile.

The next group won't be old enough to breed until winter, but I will no doubt be picking everyone's brains at that point to see who stays and who goes!

Thanks!

 

[Debbi]

No, that's what I want to hear! I thought his eyes were awfully dark! I am trying to improve with each generation, and I need to know what to look for when the next group of roos get older. I just have to figure out what on EARTH to do with all the roos that don't make the cut!!

He 6 months old. (Hatched 11/3) Started crowing a month or so ago and fertile.

The next group won't be old enough to breed until winter, but I will no doubt be picking everyone's brains at that point to see who stays and who goes!

Thanks!

Here is the link to the SOP for Black Coppers. To see other standards, click on Other Varieties at the top of the page. Blue Coppers haven't been approved yet by the APA, so their standard may not be complete yet. Good to have and learn!! We all need to cull and cull, and it is never an easy process.

 

[Hens and Roos]

when using apple cider vinegar is it okay to continue using medicated feed? I've been putting about a cap full ( maybe a tbl spoon & a half ) of apple cider vinegar per gallon with my chicks and I still have them all medicated feed I hope this isn't causing a problem

Not sure on that myself, will probably need to do some more research to see what I can find. Hopefully someone else might know the answer and fill us in.