Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[aubreynoramarie]

Aubry--have you weighed him?? Sure wish I lived closer!!

I havent but i should!.. I will!

 

[ChickenExtreme]

Hi you guys! Maybe some of you dont remember me but I had that leggy golden cuckoo cockerall, Gregory Peck. Well I promised some updated photos and here they are. Hes looking less gamey and is filling into those long legs very nicely. I still dont think he is finished growing, doesnt even have spur bumps yet! He is about 5 or 6 months old (i think?)







I think I am going to get rid of him though because he seems to only want to mate with my smallest bantams, and I am afraid because of his size that he might do some serious damage. BTW the two hens on the left are standard sized birds and he TOWERS over them. those legs, those legs...

 

[SIMZ]

Good morning!

Can anyone recommend a very basic introduction to breeding that I could read? Even a basic article or BYC post would be great! Many of the things I've tried make my head spin after the first paragraph because of terms I've never heard (line breeding, etc.). It seems my knowledge base is stuck at one hen + one rooster = fertilized eggs & future chicks. LOL Any suggestions?

 

[pinkchick]

Bangarang~

I don't believe the fluff will go away. Sorry.

I hope others will chime in with their opinions too.

 

[gilavina]

Howdy Ma'am!

 

[pinkchick]

hdowden~

Can you post another photo of the chick in question now that it has dried off? Also, do you have some updated photos of your rooster and the son that you said has way too much red like his dad?

 

[pinkchick]

Morning Lady!!!! I was just thinking about you and wondering how everyone at your place is getting along?

I'm going to try and get some more photos of the freaky Birchens today so that ya'll can help me sex them...LOL....I'm so confused with them.

 

[pinkchick]

Laughingclown~

Is this pullet missing the tail altogether like Don stated previously?

 

[gilavina]

Morning Lady!!!! I was just thinking about you and wondering how everyone at your place is getting along? I'm going to try and get some more photos of the freaky Birchens today so that ya'll can help me sex them...LOL....I'm so confused with them.

Things are going fine, a bit bumpy some days, but overall pretty good. I feel like I'm not home much with my boss out on maternity leave and prepping for the poultry show coming up. I have been working on sorting my young birds as I have a bit of time here and there and am doing pretty well. I think once we process the cockerels I am not going to keep and sell off a couple of starter pairs to some people that have been on my waiting list for a while, then I might have about 25 birds left from this years hatches to pick from, and thats in all my breeds and varieties. I need to get moving on sorting my parent stock as well to see what birds will be replace by these younger ones that are better.

I can't wait to see more pics. I gotta agree that the birchens can be harder to sex than other colors.

 

[pinkchick]

Aubrey~

Do you have an older rooster in your flock? If he is the low man in the order of things...maybe the older established roo won't let him mate with certain hens and that is why he is only sweet on the little banties.