Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

Pic of the day--BCM cockerel #13. This boy is a bit younger than the others I have posted, I believe. Also almost no tail feathers, so I know that makes him harder to evaluate. I hate when that happens! Too many feather-pullers in the pen, I believe. So far I have: keep #12 & #37; cull #10 (the dark boy); maybe cull #11? Some liked him, Don thought bad comb but honestly I can't see the difference between his comb set at the back of the head and #37's. Now I have a better idea of what to show in the pics, I may need to get some new pics. Anyway, here is cockerel #13:

Marcy, What do you think about the comb on this #13 Male ? What is your overall opinion of this male ?

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I figure these days I need to learn Portugese and Spanish! Most of my customers are immigrants. I guess I need to add French to read what the French think of the Marans--naah. English is hard enough!!

 

[snowbird]

Marcy, I believe he means the end of the comb, as in the blade, should stop at the rear end of the eye. I can't be sure, but that is what I surmise. I've not seen any of those either that I can recall. The comb also should be standing off the neck, as in nowhere near the neck standing free.

Debbi, Look at the bottom of the comb that is coming out of the Skul above the eye ball. Has nothing to do with the blade. The blade should go back farther than the eye,

 

[gabrielle1976]

I only have the chicks I have been hatching. so serama, mixes, a d ullce and a norwegian and bobwhite quail and jumbo brown quail all two weeks one week or hatched last night or this morning

 

[desertmarcy]

Marcy, What do you think about the comb on this #13 Male ? What is your overall opinion of this male ?

This one is a bit younger than the others, so I am not sure how much that comb will change, but to me so far it looks a bit small and too close to his neck, also looks like there are 6 points there instead of the desired 5. As far as the total bird, his color looks like it is coming along. The color on the hackle feathers starts out darker at the head and gets lighter toward the shoulders--is that two-toned hackle color a fault? The SOP calls for the back to be "slightly tilted to the rear": to me, he looks too angled. I can't say anything about his tail at this point. His wings are drooping, but I think that is from the heat. I am trying to learn the best I can how to evaluate these birds, so thanks for prodding me to give my own opinion.

 

[snowbird]

Marcy, What do you think about the comb on this #13 Male ? What is your overall opinion of this male ?

Marcy, I agree with your critique almost entirely, The blade on the comb appears to be mostly missing and this causes the comb to appear to be set on the neck. If you ever get a chance to catch the male and take a look at the blade. I think the angle is just fine at the age and he will fill in more as he ages.

I think it is important for the picture posters to also give their opinion of what they see.

 

[Arielle]

I have a genetics question--When the sop calls for 5 points, how does a breeder get there. If combs have 4 points, and an occassional 5 shows up, do you use that fiver to increase the occurance of the 5 points, or is it more important to hunt down a good rooster with 6 points hope the combs from the rooster and the hen meet in the middle? Or it is FAR more complicated than that?

 

[desertmarcy]

Marcy, I agree with your critique almost entirely, The blade on the comb appears to be mostly missing and this causes the comb to appear to be set on the neck. If you ever get a chance to catch the male and take a look at the blade. I think the angle is just fine at the age and he will fill in more as he ages.

I think it is important for the picture posters to also give their opinion of what they see.

Bottom line, would you keep this male or no? Thanks.

 

[snowbird]

I have a genetics question--When the sop calls for 5 points, how does a breeder get there. If combs have 4 points, and an occassional 5 shows up, do you use that fiver to increase the occurance of the 5 points, or is it more important to hunt down a good rooster with 6 points hope the combs from the rooster and the hen meet in the middle? Or it is FAR more complicated than that?

Arielle, The best or easiest way to get 5 Point comb is use fowl with 4-6 points. Very seldom will a 1/2 point deduction affect the outcome of placing the fowl unless you are in a big show with a lot of competition. Will be a while before Marans breeders and show people have that problem, as just are not that many in a class at this point.

 

[snowbird]

Bottom line, would you keep this male or no? Thanks.

If the Blade looks ok to you and your eye, yes, I certainly would keep but the comb would have to be good.