Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
That splash is constantly kick-boxing with the darker blue in the middle and has legs like stove pipes thus, even though the comb isn't coming up I'm leaning toward male. The lighter blue might be a pullet but I'm not holding my breath because its comb is keeping right up with the splash. But I'm sure it will be clear enough in the next couple of weeks.

Regardless, I'm delighted to have a couple of Blue Coppers with nicely feathered legs. It's a hoot watching those 3 tiny creatures running around with the flock. They are very independent already.

 

[Debbi]

Oh yikes.....the weather has been just brutal for you all, hasn't it?  So sorry to hear.  We're pretty lucky for the most part with our weather, and are pretty used to >90* weather but holy smokes.. IN THE HOUSE?  So sorry to hear.  I have a question that may take your minds off stuff.....(probably not, just my ego)

I hatched one single BCM from the assortment eggs that I won in a raffle, and the baby is feathering out differently than the ones from a previous hatch.  She's got some mottled chest feathers and only mild leg feathering.  My previous kids have had the "street sweeper" (to coin a phrase) leg/feet.... there is absolutely no copper showing anywhere.  I'm going to post a picture and apologize right now.... ahem, horrible photography folks, but any suggestions?  Is this a Mottled Maran?  Is there such a thing?  Darling though.... just lemme know... I'm thrilled with your expertise.... (takes bow)




The wee Ameraucana on the right was hatched in the same two day span and is half the size.... that thing's a monster bird.... beauty.... folks, what do I have???

I've had a few Black Copper chicks that were feathered like that. The mottled look goes away, and all of them have been females here, and turned out to be the darkest colored, not much if any copper.

 

[Debbi]

Hi everyone,  I'm new to this site and to breeding.  I've had chickens pretty much all my life but never tried to better any of them and I got hooked on Marans and now I'd like to try.  I have some Wade Jeane at around 16 weeks old and two batches of Bev Davis at 8 and 12 weeks old.  Out of the Wade Jeane batch, the guy below is my best BC roo but I am concerned about his coloring.  He is a nice looking guy with good leg feathers, a pretty good comb, I think his tail is not too upright and looks like he is going to be a big full bird but the copper coloring is pretty dark and I don't see any color coming out on his saddle feathers.  Also, I do see some color coming out on his wing and I don't think that is right.  I know the pictures aren't that great but from what you can see, is this guy going to be worth working with?  Thanks for your time!  

Welcome to the Marans thread! I like him. Given he is only 4 months old, he has a lot of growing yet to do. He is going to be very darkly colored, mahogany, but he should get in some saddle color within the next few months. The color on the wing bow is supposed to be there, and be red in color. Looks like his is a bit lacking in shank feathering, but I'd hold onto him for awhile to see how he grows out. I just happen to love the darker boys!

 

[Debbi]

Well, we all survived another night in this heat. Tried putting the jug wrapped in a towel next to Uma last night, but she was having NO part of that! The Princess resides on the loveseat, and that jug was just taking up too much room for her likes. So instead, I set the jug in a shallow pan and placed it in front of the fan. Boy did that help!! Cooled the house off by about 6*, so we will be doing that again tonight. Uma got a good night's sleep, as I did, and she was up and eating this morning. Vicki, looks like we have a 40% chance of storms tomorrow! I sure hope this one does more than just put on a light show...WE NEED RAAAAAIIIIINNNNN!!!

 

[Arielle]

Glad to hear Uma had a good night!!


ANd my rain dance for today!

 

[Cadeau]

Glad to hear Uma had a good night!!


ANd my rain dance for today!

glad to hear you had a good night and that Uma is up and about!!

I'll add to the rain dance!

Vicki - how did your birds do?

 

[Cadeau]

My broody blue copper girl hatched out 4 chicks today out in the garden!

All are blue!
I put 1 in the hatcher b/c she left him half hatched and took the other 3 out in the world.

She's doing great with them so far!


Sooo...should I catch her and put them in a pen until they get a bit bigger or let her try to raise them in the garden?
I did put food and waterer out there for her, which she is using.

 

[desertmarcy]

A gal here in town has an extra Black Copper Marans cockerel. He is from Bev Davis line, but did not come directly from Bev, she got hatching eggs from another person who had Davis line. I thought I remembered reading here that results are not so good when breeding Davis line to Wade Jeane/Cottage Hill lines, which is what I have? Is this so? What would be the advantages and disadvantages to doing so? Also, this person emailed me pics of the eggs she is getting now from her pullets, they look to be about a "4" on the egg scale which I know is minimum. I know everybody wants those really dark eggs, but how many people really have BCMs that lay eggs darker than a "5"? Her pullets have only been laying for a week and only 2 of her 4 have started laying, and she said the eggs she received were very dark. How many eggs laid/how long before you can say for sure what color your pullet is laying? I thought I remembered you couldn't judge just by the first few eggs. Thanks for any insight---she is only going to keep one of her 2 cockerels, and I haven't seen her birds yet, but contemplating whether or not it would be a good idea to introduce new blood---you all have seen multiple pics of the cockerels I've got to work with, and the eggs I've been getting from my original stock are "4" at the most.

 

[jandrusrn]

Well, we all survived another night in this heat. Tried putting the jug wrapped in a towel next to Uma last night, but she was having NO part of that! The Princess resides on the loveseat, and that jug was just taking up too much room for her likes.

So instead, I set the jug in a shallow pan and placed it in front of the fan. Boy did that help!! Cooled the house off by about 6*, so we will be doing that again tonight. Uma got a good night's sleep, as I did, and she was up and eating this morning.

Vicki, looks like we have a 40% chance of storms tomorrow! I sure hope this one does more than just put on a light show...WE NEED RAAAAAIIIIINNNNN!!!

Wow, what a great ending... at least for now. One day at a time with these guys, huh? And thank you Debbi for the suggestions with my Marans (suspected pullet). She is truly lovely with the speckles on her chest, but would like a bit of copper ..... we'll see. Congratulations and I'll do a little rain dance for you too.

That should do it.

 

[laughingclown]

Im getting so disheartened with Marans. I got around 20 chicks from a member. Drove a long way to get them too. Seemed nice and her birds looked good. I got a mossy bird. 1 Maran turned out to be some form of easter egger with yellow legs and a yellow beak. Screwed up combs. Split wings. And dark blue leakage spots/stripes on all my blues(which I hope comes out. Dont know if it does). I have 6 pullets and 1 roo left. I know a few of these I shouldnt breed either but I will test them out to see what I end up with. So frustrated beyond belief.

I have spent a lot of money trying to get a decent flock together. Sad part is I dont need a huge flock. I had know Idea these birds needed this much work. I know not to expect perfection but this is ridiculous. If I dont start seeing results from my efforts Im done. I can just as easily throw my money down the toilet or out the window. Im down to 14 eggs in the bator out of 23 due to hatch Aug 1. We shall see!