Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Wynette]

Clown - if you're getting into chickens to make money, you're in the wrong business. You need to keep most breeds for so long before you know if they are "keepers" or not, the amount of feed & time you'll put in just won't pay off. Sorry, not trying to sound like a wet blanket. Unless you are showing, and consistently winning, I really doubt you'll break even. However, to have a hobby that you can make SOME money back on is awesome! consider raising up your culls and then dispatching for meat; they are large birds and make excellent table birds, in my opinion. If you cannot dispatch them yourself, find someone who will do it for you. There are several folks around here that you can take chickens to, and they "charge" 1 chicken per 5 processed, so there is not even money changing hands.

Extreme, that does not even appear to be a single comb to me - looks like a modified pea comb. Is this bird a purebred Marans?

 

[Debbi]

I wholeheartedly agree with Wynette! Unless you are a big time operation and have your own feed sources, good luck trying to make a profit! On the other hand, when you have something worth selling, even if it is on a small scale, people will seek you out, and it's nice to have a semi-steady cash flow, even if it's not a profit. As for the comb on that boy, it's not right whatever it is. Can you get a close up shot of it? Are you sure he is not an Olive Egger? Or, and I hate to even wish this on my enemies, it may be one of those awful ingrown Carnation combs. Does the back end of it look like it needs to pop out?

 

[Debbi]

Vicki, did you get any rain, or just blown away?? There were some scattered storms this morning, but they all went to the north of me. Maybe this afternoon I will have a better shot?

I have a new crower this morning, and he was sooo proud of himself. A really nice Black Silkie, that I had figured was a roo, but he has such a poofy crest and small comb, that I was starting to doubt myself. He will make some very nice chicks with the girls I have lined up for him. I'm cutting back on the colors to only White and Black, at least until I get more pens up. :/

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, did you get any rain, or just blown away?? There were some scattered storms this morning, but they all went to the north of me. Maybe this afternoon I will have a better shot?
I have a new crower this morning, and he was sooo proud of himself. A really nice Black Silkie, that I had figured was a roo, but he has such a poofy crest and small comb, that I was starting to doubt myself. He will make some very nice chicks with the girls I have lined up for him. I'm cutting back on the colors to only White and Black, at least until I get more pens up.

We got about 10 minutes of a steady rain last night around 11pm...but that was it. I see we have a chance for rain on Saturday and Next Thursday as well, so I'm praying we'll still get some more. Its been cooler this morning, but humid again, so I'll take it after the 100+ temps we've been having.

 

[pinkchick]

 

[slick4591]

I wholeheartedly agree with Wynette! Unless you are a big time operation and have your own feed sources, good luck trying to make a profit! On the other hand, when you have something worth selling, even if it is on a small scale, people will seek you out, and it's nice to have a semi-steady cash flow, even if it's not a profit. As for the comb on that boy, it's not right whatever it is. Can you get a close up shot of it? Are you sure he is not an Olive Egger? Or, and I hate to even wish this on my enemies, it may be one of those awful ingrown Carnation combs. Does the back end of it look like it needs to pop out?

I'm finding out that in my area no one only wants to pay more than $2.00 a chick no matter the breed or egg color. That's what they pay at the feed store and don't care about the breeding as long as the bird can squat an egg. Every chick I've sold has been to someone from a larger city away from my little town.

 

[blackbirds13]

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!

I fully understand how you feel about this breed. I was so disheartened myself after my first go with Marans last year. I seriously thought about throwing in the towel after last year. I thought I had done what you hear to do - "Buy the best you can". I bought myself some Bev Davis birds ($12 - $20 a piece) and sorted through them and ended up with a tolerable flock but nothing I was truly pleased with so this year, after some serious thought I started over. I really, really, really liked my BCM rooster's personality but he had too many faults and I knew I needed to try for a better one. Some may be able to hold on to a favored bird but unless I file for divorce I have only so much leeway on that point - especially with roosters. I did not go overboard with my expenses on Marans this year, intentionally, but lucked out on an auction for live chicks here on BYC and then got some really nice dark eggs from an ebay seller (hatched out 6 from 12) plus hatched out a couple of my own. I am now down to 12 (11 as I know one is definitely not an option). I have one male chick that I am really hoping will come through for me as I love his look and attitude even at 6 weeks compared to the others and I KNOW he came from a nice dark egg, but I will have to choose one of the 5 or 6 boys that I have regardless as I will not be buying anymore this year or just go roo-less until next year. I've given myself 3-4 years to get at least a decent trio or quad for breeding and if that does not happen I'll keep the darkest laying hens for layers and take a break for a year or two before I try again. I don't worry so much about whose birds they are (Wade, Davis etc) and I do pay attention to the cost as the big name does in no way guarantee 'show-quality' or keepers, though it's nice as it means that the breeder has hopefully paid attention to breeding stock quality ( is what I think) but I know that that also is not a firm guarantee of a 'perfect' bird. I go to swaps, shows and fairs and I love to lurk here on BYC and make a few posts here and there as my focus is more on educating myself about poultry as a whole and then on my specific breeds but I am not a fan of when folks tell you not to breed something and to re-buy because I do have a limit on funds that I can spend and there is a limit to the revolving-chicken-door that my husband will put up with so I know that I may indeed have to breed what another may toss out. It does not mean I don't understand the reasoning behind the advice, I just don't have the luxuries to afford that. My other breeds are imports that are not APA (part of my reason for having them also) and though I will strive to keep them to standard I know that they also will be a 'work in progress' and I may have to make some long term choices others may be able to side-step with simply obtaining new blood but the road to APA is a long one and I like being in on the ground floor. If I were to decide to show at some point I may change my tactics as I know that I may have to put a bigger financial investment into these birds... and also more time. But I intend even so to take my own route to a Marans flock or any of my other breeds. I was soooo frustrated with the whole mess earlier on this year but I re-formulated my plans and decided to stiffen my resolve to do my own thing regardless of what others say about my breeding choices or birds and I feel re-energized now. I love the look of the Black Copper Roosters and I love the eggs for color and because I do think they are a 'better' egg (and so do my friends and family) so I have to find a way to keep them in my flock and lessen (not eliminate) my frustrations. I have gotten some great advice in these forums but I have to make my own road tolerable for me to keep going. Keep trying and find your own comfort zone with this breed, I think it will be worth it.

 

[Wynette]

There have been a few issues with inverted spikes - that could be what you're referring to, Debbi? I had hatched one with an inverted spike...I "think" I determined which female was giving me issues with combs, and she is not in my breed pen any longer. It takes a ton of single mating and good records.

It's very disheartening to hear so many folks being so frustrated with this breed. I think we all need to remember that this breed is brand new to the APA.

I have been breeding Black Coppers for 6 years now, and my first year, I was thrilled with where I was going. Egg color was fantastic, birds were huge & looked quite good to me - long before the standard was approved - so I didn't know for sure, but they appeared to have "it all going on." Then, the next year, I decided to take on too much. I bred to resolve 3 issues (2 related) and took a step backwards in my next generation. So, for me, I have found it best to take on one thing at a time, each generation.

You really do need to do what works for you and your breeding program.

blackbird, I like what you say. Anyone who has never had a year where they want to throw in the towel, or has not purchased birds that they are disappointed with, has not been breeding long enough, IMHO. It happens to everyone! Learn from it, take tons of pictures and lots of notes so you can go back and see where you came from and what you are seeing, each generation. MARK YOUR BIRDS so you know which is which. And try to not be so disheartened when you are not seeing what you think you ought to. Take a new course and try it again! I personally am seeing what I view as better and better birds all the time! Those of you comitted to this breed - don't give up!

 

[snowbird]

I think that some fail to realize that the Brown Red color pattern is one of the hardest patterns to breed to any Standard. I suggest that some should switch to one of the easier patterns and go from there.

 

[gilavina]

Well hi back lady! Miss all you guys on the thread. Just been busy trying to keep things alive and prep for the show this fall amongst other things.