Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Cadeau]

Thanks!

SO excited!!

We pick up the breeder pen this weekend!!
Can't wait to see it in person!!

 

[laughingclown]

I know how this thread gets on a roll. If some of you have an answer to the leg feathering question above it would be helpfull.

 

[Arielle]

Guess who finally arrived at the very civilized hour of 6:30AM!




This my long awaited FILLY foal (no name yet!)

A very healthy looking foal, too!! I see a little white on the face.

 

[DMRippy]

Ok so I have a total of I think 6 2 month old roos. 2 are Black Coppers and 4 Blue Coppers. Both Black Coppers have feathered shanks but I dont think they have any on the toe. Are they fine to breed and show? Or get rid of them? I have noticed that I see more Blue Coppers have an abundance of leg feathering than Blacks. My Blues have so much leg feathers but my Blacks are hit and miss. I have noticed that on here as well.

My blacks have the best leg feathering and are passing it on to most of the chicks. I keep any pullets with leg feathering, but prefer to have the outer toe feathered too. I would do the same with a roo, but I don't need them this year. I don't want any in my pens without feathered legs. I prefer the roos to have proper everything. No DQ's so that would mean feathered legs including the outer toe. I have the opposite problem at my place the Blue roos are lightly feathered and so are the pullets. Hoping to fix the pullets with this springs hatches. I am only going to replace 3 of my 6 laying hens and add more. 1-2 eggs a day SUCKS!

 

[Debbi]

Ok so I have a total of I think 6 2 month old roos. 2 are Black Coppers and 4 Blue Coppers. Both Black Coppers have feathered shanks but I dont think they have any on the toe. Are they fine to breed and show? Or get rid of them? I have noticed that I see more Blue Coppers have an abundance of leg feathering than Blacks. My Blues have so much leg feathers but my Blacks are hit and miss. I have noticed that on here as well.

The SOP calls for feathered shanks and outter toes. While they may not be show worthy, they may very well be breeding quality, depending on how all else looks. Breed them to girls with heavier shank and toe feathering and see how it goes. Then by doing too heavy featherings together, you may well end up with some with middle toe or web feathering. It's all a balancing act, try/fail, and try again. When taking a bird(s) to show, only take the ones that closest fit the SOP. While the standard calls for outter toe feathering, I'm not sure if they would consider that a DQ or a fault. More than likely it would be a fault. On the other hand, the middle toe feathering would be a DQ, I believe? Maybe some show folks will chime in here for you, or better yet....Hey Waaaaallllltttt!!!!!

 

[Debbi]

My marans have laid a 9 egg for about 1 whole week!!! I was so excited!!

Would love to see some pics of those!! It's not often anyone gets a true 9 colored egg.

 

[Debbi]

Thanks!

SO excited!!

We pick up the breeder pen this weekend!!
Can't wait to see it in person!!

Sounds like you had a great day, save for the storm! That foal is precious! Just looking at the pic, the name "Legs" comes to mind!

 

[gilavina]

Evenin'

Building is going well...didn't get as much done as I would have liked. Always seems like other things come up and get in the way. I'll be working a short shift tomorrow morning tho, so will hopefully get the rest of the framing done. I have the legs, and the base frame for the pen finished...so to me that's the hard part. Its plenty tall off the ground, but I like it so much better than having to stoop down for everything. Depending on how far I get tomorrow I might have pics of the progress. I'll definitely get a pic of it when I'm finished and its all painted up and etc. Its shocking how much time it takes sorting through the wood up in the haymount to find pieces that will work to cut down. I'm beat tonight.

Good news is that I have the materials to make an exact replica of the one I'm making now and when I'm not growing out chicks I can use them as individual test mating pens or have small flocks of bantams in them with plenty of room.

 

[Debbi]

Silkie update! I'm up to 10 now, and from the looks of it, there are still 7-8 more eggs to go! The girls are feeling better about me being in the pen with their prizes now, and even let me pick some of them up today to check out. A couple looked a little puny, so as hot as it was, I figured they probably needed a drink. Yup, seemed to pick them right up. One little dummy couldn't find his way back into the coop tonight, and daddy was standing at the fence raising a fuss until I came out there. Sure enough, all the hens had gone to bed, but here was poor "Bossy", not knowing what to do. I picked up the chick and put him in the nest box with the 4 girls and the rest of the babies. The rest of the coop is open, yet they are all piled up in the tiny nest box?? I may end up bringing some in the house to brood, the hens are starting to look overwhelmed, and it is taking a lot out of me walking back and forth all day long too!

 

[Debbi]

Evenin'

Building is going well...didn't get as much done as I would have liked. Always seems like other things come up and get in the way. I'll be working a short shift tomorrow morning tho, so will hopefully get the rest of the framing done. I have the legs, and the base frame for the pen finished...so to me that's the hard part. Its plenty tall off the ground, but I like it so much better than having to stoop down for everything. Depending on how far I get tomorrow I might have pics of the progress. I'll definitely get a pic of it when I'm finished and its all painted up and etc. Its shocking how much time it takes sorting through the wood up in the haymount to find pieces that will work to cut down. I'm beat tonight.

Good news is that I have the materials to make an exact replica of the one I'm making now and when I'm not growing out chicks I can use them as individual test mating pens or have small flocks of bantams in them with plenty of room.

Hey lady, sounds like you got a good start! I was just looking at the leg frame I had started in the Silkie pen, and thinking it would be of more use to me in the Wheaten pen. The Ah-Hah moment if you will! I was on a feed run today, and got some straw for the runs and the garden. Did some hoeing, spread the straw, watered, and I'm pooped too.