Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

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Wynette, some of the chicks will have a brown tint, What I really look for is the Juve feathers, If they are brown mixed colors no more feed.

 

[BevDavis]

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Hi

Congratulations!!!

I am not sure we should cull roosters that are protecting their flocks at mating time. I know it's not a nice thing to happen but there must be a reason why they do it. I have noticed that when I only had one rooster he was fine but as I increased the number of roosters the aggression also increased. Any other thoughts on this?

Bev

 

[Wynette]

Don, I'll be looking VERY closely at this next hatch for brownish fluff and watching for brown juvie feathering. Thanks!

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Hi

Congratulations!!!

I am not sure we should cull roosters that are protecting their flocks at mating time. I know it's not a nice thing to happen but there must be a reason why they do it. I have noticed that when I only had one rooster he was fine but as I increased the number of roosters the aggression also increased. Any other thoughts on this?

Bev

Bev, that's an interesting idea. I run two roosters in two of my pens, and have not noticed any "additional" aggression in those pens, but I just began doing that this year, so I don't have a lot of experience with this yet.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Hi

Congratulations!!!

I am not sure we should cull roosters that are protecting their flocks at mating time. I know it's not a nice thing to happen but there must be a reason why they do it. I have noticed that when I only had one rooster he was fine but as I increased the number of roosters the aggression also increased. Any other thoughts on this?

Bev

I myself have never had a mean Marans rooster, when I seperate them into seperate pens I catch them two-three times a week and rub the underside of the beak and wattles and give them a little over ripe banana. Was taught this many year ago when my dad had Gamefowl. Never seen a rooster that would not hit stop hitting you, try it sometime.

 

[J.Pryce]

I just purchased 3 Black Copper Maran hens, 2 days ago to add to my flock of assorted gals. I thought it would be neat to add a darker brown egg color to the brown I get from my Isa's, & Barred Rocks, the lighter brown almost tan from my S.L. Wyandottes & my White eggs I get from my Leghorns. All I need now is a few easter eggers for a blue/green color. The Marans are very nice birds.

 

[GothChick]

Hi everyone,

I don't know if this is the correct spot for this question or not but I figured I would ask. I am attempting to hatch about 24 BCM eggs but depending on how many hatch I will probably have to get rid of some of them because I can't keep all of them. I will probably keep them until they are old enough to sex so I can figure out which ones I want. I also plan on selling some as adults in spring during some swaps. So what is a good asking price for them?

I was told that they we all top lines and the parents were gorgeous. I paid about 50 with shipping included for each dozen. I have seen such large variations in the asking prices of them so I'm not sure how much to sell them for. Also I know there is a high demand for them in Wisconsin because I already have at least 8 people that want to buy some if I have a good hatch. What should I charge for them at each different age range? Thanks soooo much and I can't wait till they hatch and hope everything goes well!

 

[dsc6]

When I purchased my pullets in May, the local farmer/chicken raiser convinced me to buy some BCMs. I didn't give a flip what color of eggs I had, but I do love those chickens. My ideal flock is half Buff Orpingtons and half BCMs. (This is Pittsburgh Steelers country--everyone comments on the BLACK & GOLD!!) The BOs have been laying for almost a month; I finally got the first dark brown eggs! Yeah!

I recently attended the Bloomsburg Fair, the largest in Pennsylvania. There was a whole barn of chickens being shown. I was shocked that there was NOT ONE Marans of any sort. Why is this? I feel lucky that I listened to my farmer--I guess BCMs are not very common around here.

Anyway, our black-with-no-copper Marans has the most gorgeous iridescent feathers. Like the Rainbow Crow book. Our black-with-copper Marans is the least nice of our birds. I had some hens killed by a dog, had 2 out of 3 Marans killed and replaced them with one BCM, so the 'mean' hen was part of the flock addition--she doesn't seem to like not being at the top of the pecking order!!

BOs and BCMs are some sizable birds, lol.

 

[math ace]

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I don't think you can really set a price on your birds until you figure out how good of quality they are . . .

You don't have the parents, you have not seen the parents, etc, etc, Your chicks may be mixed breed - - -you just don't know because you have not had them very long. You were ONLY TOLD such and such . . How dark were the eggs ? ? Did you take pictures that you could post ? ?

If you are going to sell them right away, then I would only be willing to pay feed store prices for you chicks. If you were around me than the price would be $3 - $4 each.

Just my opinion - - I am sure others could give you more ideas.

 

[ruth]

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I thought it was just lighting because even the background was reddish. I know what you mean about the color going down the chest - I'm just wondering what the preferred look is going to be (where judges are concerned). I have hens with everything from total black (necks/chest) to a bit of color to too much color. I'm doing the opposite of you right now - I have a too red roo and I've put him with my too black hens to see what they will produce. But, no sooner than I did that (pen them up together) the hens have stopped laying so I guess it will be sometime before I can post results. It will be my first "experiment". I also need to do the same as you. I also have hens with too much color on their necks, going down to the upper chest and I think I'll also put them in with my too dark roo (the one that looks like your guy) and see what I get. Then, that will leave my pen of what I call "best of best" or maybe I should call it "best of the worst"

depending on how APA acceptance goes.