Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ChickenExtreme]

I have 2 hens from totally different stock, Only 2 of my roos are only from 1 stock
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Please can you explain this a bit more clearly?
Thanks,
karen

All together Iv'e got 6 BCM's . I got 1 hen and 2 roos from one place, 1 hen from another place, then 1 more roo from another place and another roo from a different place

 

[ChickenExtreme]

ok,
if it was me, for best use of Darwinian laws of variation( presuming I was using 3 lines/strains, each unrelated to the other 2), I would breed the double hybrid pullets to the male from just one line. The Darwinian Law of variation forecasts get which will very closely resemble the sire. This is why the sire of such a breeding must be from only the most elite stock in all areas of consideration. One huge consideration of how close the resemblance will be is the "Balance in the abstract" which the breeder determines beforehand. Determination of excellent "balance in the abstract" requires in-depth study of the genetics, and nuances of the lines being used. What they throw, how they throw it, When I did this on dogs, I cross-matched each line for Type, Health, and Temperament. In poultry, I am thinking it would be health ( vitality/utility ), type( SOP/Utility ) and coloration( external characteristics).
So it would look like this, listed from left to right from strongest to weakest virtues.:
Line A: Health; Type; Coloration.
Line B: Coloration; Health; Type
Line C: Type; Coloration; Health.
None of the 3 categories repeats itself in the same placement twice. Line A could be where Line C is
and Line B where Line A is,... doesn't matter as long as none of the 3 categories repeats itself
in the same placement twice. All this determination should be done before the creation of the double hybrid pullet.
This is excellence in the abstract. The amount of study and research needed to do this is self-evident.
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However, if the breeding is done backwards (using 3 lines/strains, each completely unrelated to the other 2 ), with the pullets being from one Line (C) and the boy being a double hybrid from 2 unrelated lines(A/B), this "sameness to sire" does not hold true and the get from the breeding are forecast to be dissimilar in appearance to both sire and dam. This dissimilarity does not mean the get will pick up all the good points from each parent. It means they will be Intermediate in type from both sire and dam.
Best,
Karen

Thanks, a lot of useful info

 

[TinTennessee]

I think I need to go back to school. I never did like science class.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

On a Non Marans note... we have survived the 4H Pig project... well almost. I just don't know what I would have done without Katelyn's (Cadeau) advice and support. The piggies are enjoying a last hurrah, DS wanted them to free range all day, but they started to eat the house (no kidding!) and are being put back in the pen, but not before a swim....

 

[Arielle]

I think I need to go back to school. I never did like science class.

Chickens make science FUN!!! Sounds like your science class was BORING--that's a turn off. TRy to embrace the fun of breeding chickens. If ou are just starting out, use a very simple version of 3Rivers detailed plan.

Pen A hens x Pen C rooster
Pen B hens x Pen A rooster
Pen C hens x Pen B rooster

OR single mate and see what you get then try to put together the hen and rooster that make the best offspring

Maybe DOn can fully explain single mating strategy. Or anyone better versed . . .

 

[ChickenExtreme]

Chickens make science FUN!!! Sounds like your science class was BORING--that's a turn off. TRy to embrace the fun of breeding chickens. If ou are just starting out, use a very simple version of 3Rivers detailed plan.

Pen A hens x Pen C rooster
Pen B hens x Pen A rooster
Pen C hens x Pen B rooster

OR single mate and see what you get then try to put together the hen and rooster that make the best offspring

Maybe DOn can fully explain single mating strategy. Or anyone better versed . . .

There's a lot more to it than I ever thought, lol

 

[snowbird]

Chickens make science FUN!!! Sounds like your science class was BORING--that's a turn off. TRy to embrace the fun of breeding chickens. If ou are just starting out, use a very simple version of 3Rivers detailed plan.

Pen A hens x Pen C rooster
Pen B hens x Pen A rooster
Pen C hens x Pen B rooster

OR single mate and see what you get then try to put together the hen and rooster that make the best offspring

Maybe DOn can fully explain single mating strategy. Or anyone better versed . . .

Arielle, The single mating is the easiest form of mating any breed of chickens . You can use any of the linebreeding charts and it will work just fine. Will explain how I do things and I have made it more simple. Pen breeding with one male and a group of hens is single mating also if you will use the trap best method. Will do more when the internet settles down.

 

[Arielle]

THanks, DOn.

I am trying to convince Chicken Extreme that breeding can be simple for a newbie starting out. ANd have fun keekping records and using math and learning the science of breeding.

 

[snowbird]

Before I start with the single mating topic. Want everyone to know that I am positively not one of the people that thinks fowl has to be from a line for 50 years to be any good. The genetic pool for Marans is too small to worry about what line they are from. It also does not take a large flock to get started with any kind of Fowl. 6 female and 2-3 males are all that is needed if you are trying to get a good start with out too many problems. When keeping fowl for myself I cull real heavy and do not care what line they are from. This is where you have to mark all eggs and toe punch all the chicks. No reason anyone should not be able to use a toe punch, for the Large fowl the leather punch works best of all.

 

[Arielle]

DOn, a leather punch?? Love it. THAT I have, well, DH does. Smallest hole??