Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[goldfinches]

They don't strike me as Marans, so I would guess they really did send you Olive Eggers.... they just didn't get the pea comb in the cross. I would just use them for layers. They may very well lay you a dark egg or even an Olive (doubtful) I sell my straight combs as just layers. But if you didn't get ANY with pea combs..... I would think they duped you. You can see the pea comb vs straight comb at hatch. I would never sell a straight comb as an olive egger.

I agree. I just hatched some eggs for the first time last month and had no trouble telling the one with the pea comb. I am sad they're not really marans, but plan to keep them as layers. They're sweet birds, docile and friendly.

 

[heath_elisha]

It is all about the development of the air cells. Many factors play a part. RH is only one. My LG is running 30-35% at times; when it runs at 35% all the time, I have insufficent air cell sizes and the dead chicks are wet. THat's why I put in the dehumidifier, as I get a better hatch rate if I can run at a lower RH. My late fall RH ranges 19-35 depending on the weather. Or if I hung the laundry in the house, or if the wood stove is going.

THe AIR CELL development will tell you what is right for your home.

Most people do well with a dry hatch method. You can start with dry and then add water if the air cells are getting too big too fast. I only dry hatch as that is what works for me in my house.

Tonight I am calibrating my new hygrometer to see how accurate it is. When I unplugged it this evening it was at 38% - with two out of the three troughs filled with water. I'll empty the water out tomorrow morning and see where it puts me. Tomorrow night is day 7, so I plan on checking air cells after dark. The house is pretty humid too..... when I took the hygro out and put it on the counter (while setting up the salt mixture) it went up about 6% in my kitchen lol. I did bring the dehumidifier up out of the basement, but didn't turn it on yet. Come 7am, I'll be playing with it all...... I just want something to hatch! I do appreciate you all sharing your experiences with me. I guess what it comes down to is just doing what works for you as far as air cell development.

 

[Cadeau]

Evening all

Finally, they're promising some rain and cooler weather!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Wynette-- could you expand on this comment. ARe you talking about the three pen rotation?

Or--- breed within one pen for 3-4 years, then swap a rooster. THis isn't rotational breeding , right? More matching best rooster tot he pen of hens, more like single mating, but to one or more hens?

 

[Arielle]

Single mate and trap nest breeders, will start on the trapnest with roll out egg tray tomorrow, Keep an eye out for the picture of finished product.

Gee, Don, would you consider taking photos along the way. I never did find any roll out trap nest combo designs.

 

[Arielle]

Question: When I was looking up "hatching eggs" I often found the words "project eggs". What do they mean?

Quote: I did a LOT of reading before trying to hatch. I figured out the high humidity was the cause of many poor hatch rates, like 0%. Some areas of the country are very dry, like the high desert, and that is when adding water is very necessary.

I figured out the key is the air cell development.

 

[Arielle]

Finally caught up-- at VBS all week and so much to do here before and after.

TYpe. How do we further discuss and illustrate type? THis most important aspect seems the most difficult for me, a newbie, to see in a picture.

Can I feel it, width between the legs? Feel width across the back?


Sorry, I will can't get back for responses until sat am.

 

[3riverschick]

======================================================
Originally Posted by 3riverschick

First lessons in poultry keeping: Second year course... - Page 119
books.google.com
John Henry Robinson - 1906 - 160 pages - Free Google eBook - Read
http://tinyurl.com/7rzxmmy
Best Regards,
Karen

===========================================
Are these books only readable on line or can you down load to say an ipad?
======================
Unless I erred, all the links I share can be downloaded. When you click the tinyurl
and the page comes up, look in the upper right-hand corner. In Google Books, there's
an icon which looks like a wagon wheel. Click on it and several options will come up. One
of them is to download in a PDF.
In Archive.org, , click on the window titled, "View the book". There are at least three ways
to download the book.
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

A "Project Egg" is a hatching egg from someone who has a project of some kind underway.
Therefore the eggs may not hatch out pure to the buyer's expatcations for breed type, color, etc.
When buying project eggs, always contact the seller and find out what the project is and how it
will affect the phenotype and genotype of the eggs you are purchasing.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

One of our fellowlisters posted this earlier :
"Just like to caution all that as long as you breed the Males with major faults sooner or later you are still going to have to cull them out of your flock. Best policy is cull as you go then when you get the type and body where you want you will have decent fowl. If you breed Marans like the ones we have been going over as brother-sister you will never have SOP type Marans regardless of what is said here."
--------------------------------------
I agree and admit to being confused on the breeding programs being proposed. Classic lit teaches us the male contributes the plumage, while the female contributes breed type,, size, and temperment....so why are programs being proposed which utilize males to improve these areas? I understand one may have deficient birds. I truly do, I understand the frustration of starting over multiple times. However, one must have excellence on at least one side of the pedgreee to proceed and failing that must use the sexes correctly to advance .
What do the females look like in these breedng programs? Is their body type acceptable? If not, that needs to be fixed.
1. Bring in some quality hens from a related or the same strain.
2.Breed them to the cock and take the best son back to the mothers.
3. Take the best male from that union and once again breed it back to the original mother which was brought in.
4. Now bring in a fab cock from the same strain and breed the best females from the latest breeding to him.
5. Take the best males and breed to the best female from step 3..
6. Then linebreed. Excellence in breed type needs to be developed thru the female of the line..
If the flock os so polluted with faults this isn't possible, Give them all away and start over again with birds from a top flock like Ernie Haire, Beverly Robertson or Peggy Taylor or (insert name).
Read that 49 page booklet "The Art of Breeding". It is classic wisdom from a renowned poultry breeder.
Best Regards,
Karen