Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[laughingclown]

True solid Black or Blue is hard to find. If you find any let me know I would love some and so far no luck. I keep getting bleed thru of copper on necks. Poo!

I have Blue Coppers that so far are all blue. The guy I got them from was breeding them to not show the copper. They are 5 months and so far nothing. I dont have a roo that doesnt have copper so as soon as I breed them Im sure the copper will come right back.

 

[laughingclown]

So does anyone know if as the hens lay eggs they get bigger over time. I have gotten my 6th egg and they are so small. decent color so far but I hope they get bigger!

 

[gilavina]

I have Blue Coppers that so far are all blue. The guy I got them from was breeding them to not show the copper. They are 5 months and so far nothing. I dont have a roo that doesnt have copper so as soon as I breed them Im sure the copper will come right back.

Even if a copper bird does not show the color, no matter how many generations removed from the expression of the copper, genetically they are not the same as solid blue or solid black, they will always be a copper. This is the hardest part I think for those looking for true solid birds. Either people believe they have solids, that are just coppers not expressing the color, or the solids out there have been bred into the coppers. I can't even count how many times I've tried for solid birds, only to get coppers in the end.

 

[gilavina]

So does anyone know if as the hens lay eggs they get bigger over time. I have gotten my 6th egg and they are so small. decent color so far but I hope they get bigger!

yes, when pullets first start laying they will have smaller eggs, but over time they will indeed grow larger in size. Just part of the process of a pullet starting out and growing into an adult.

 

[Debbi]

Hey Miss Vicki!

LOVE that Blue Copper girl!! Also love the Silvers! Quit showing me those pics!

Are you getting some nice weather up there? It's been like heaven here the last few days, temps in the upper 70s and 80s!

I've got 2 broody Silkie moms hatching eggs right now...again.

Almost stepped on a Copperhead snake the other night. I had just put the chooks in the run and was shutting off the water. As usual, my dog Otho and a gaggle of cats were following me. Saw a piece of glass on the ground and went to pick it up. Just before I took a step towards the wellhouse, I just happened to look. There was a good sized Copperhead about 9 inches from my foot!!!

I yelled at the dog to get back, and with all the cats there, it is amazing no one got bit! Too close for me! I now carry a hoe with me around the yard. Then there are the Yellow Jackets that have decided to hang out by the coop. I can't find a nest, but there has to be one there somewhere. One of the little suckers stung me in the side of the neck the other morning. Kind of scared me, as I've never been stung by one, and didn't know if I was allergic or not? Slapped some hand sanitizer on it, took the sting out almost at once. I hate bugs, and snakes....

 

[gilavina]

haha....tempting you yet? haha Thanks! I'm working on the marans the best I know how and takin it a step at a time. Pleased with how things are coming along so far.

Its been amazing the last couple of days. its only just now getting to be 80 and a nice cool 80 at that! I'm wearing a long sleeved shirt and jeans and totally comfortable!

Be safe lady!!!! Neither of those things are something to tangle with! I'm sooooo glad the snake didn't bite you and that you aren't allergic to yellow jackets. Hopefully with temps cooling off, there won't be too much more time left for those darn bugs.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong!!! I should be shopping for solid colours and then the copper will show up!

My coppers are all so over melanized! It would be so easy to pass them off as solid colours ... <sigh>

My kingdom for some serious colour on my girls ....

 

[gilavina]

Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong!!! I should be shopping for solid colours and then the copper will show up!

My coppers are all so over melanized! It would be so easy to pass them off as solid colours ... <sigh>

My kingdom for some serious colour on my girls ....

haha too funny! Hopefully you'll get ahold of some stock with some nice rich copper to remedy that problem!

 

[Debbi]

Hey Barb, don't feel alone with that problem! Everything I have bought or bred for copper has none. All I have bought for NO copper, has some!

 

[Debbi]

Yeah, starting to think I should wear a tool belt outside these days! One with a slot to hold my wasp spray, a place for my 9mm pistol for the woodchuck, and a loop so I can drag the hoe behind me for the snakes and Pip!

Strike the 9mm, I might be too tempted to shoot Pip!