Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[picanins]

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?

If you get a PM response, please let me know as well. I am a complete newbie and am spending WAY too much time trawling the threads which are SOO enjoyable and informative, but have been thinking the same thing regarding breeding Marans (is that what you're referring to regarding breeding?). All the questions : how many pens? how many hens? Do I keep Black coppers and Blues together, do I keep wheatens and blues togethers ..... do I keep the splash colour or not ....... aaaaaahhhhhhh

.... My first marans are only around 10 weeks old so I have a Loooooooong way to go but want to start on the right foot this time I am also getting some Olive Eggers and Super Blue layers (eggs) next week which I am Super duper excited about!!

 

[stoopid]

It isn't gonna be easy! You have to read thru ALL the threads, just like everyone else has.
It will sink in in a few years

 

[SIMZ]

It isn't gonna be easy! You have to read thru ALL the threads, just like everyone else has.
It will sink in in a few years

Well, picanins -- here's our answer! I guess there is no magic cap we can put on to absorb years of knowledge in an instant! LOL

 

[picanins]

Well, picanins -- here's our answer! I guess there is no magic cap we can put on to absorb years of knowledge in an instant! LOL

Thank you 'STOOPID' (oooooohhhh that feels horrible calling you that - LOL) and SIMZ. I'll retract to 'reading' for a few months before I have something of value to add to these amazing threads. Don't want to disturb the flow of the thread by asking silly questions

 

[aubreynoramarie]

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.

I do! He's a sultan though and can really only manage mating with a couple of the bigger girls. I think maybe the bantams are easier for him to catch and that the big girls still put him in his place when he comes around. Poooooor Gregory peck

 

[gilavina]

Thank you 'STOOPID' (oooooohhhh that feels horrible calling you that - LOL) and SIMZ. I'll retract to 'reading' for a few months before I have something of value to add to these amazing threads. Don't want to disturb the flow of the thread by asking silly questions

Do you have a Standard of Perfection from the American Poultry Association. If not, I would highly recommend one, while the Marans didn't make the latest addition, the first 30 some pages give you a wealth of information on basic faults and disqualifications that apply to all poultry that will give you a significant leg up when looking at any fowl, but especially the Marans since they need so much work. The Standard for the Marans can be found at Marans.org. While these items won't help you set up breeding pens, they will help you to study how to select birds and how to understand some of the terminology and get comfortable with the structure and build of a bird.

Poultry breeding indeed does not come overnight, its a lot of work and absorbing knowledge and these threads are perfect for that.

 

[stoopid]

If you read thru the web of questions, you will find that EVERYONE has the same questions as you, and they are all answered here.
Just a matter of finding it. There is no simple way. We make all you newbies work for it, just like we did!

 

[hdowden]

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?

yes i can. it's a bit muddy right now since the rain from the hurricane just stopped during the night and we still have a chance to get more so the pens look yucky right now. the pens were so pretty with grass at one point in time lol ok i made a thread for this one because there are a lot of pics one of each of the hens and quite a few of the rooster and 2 of the young cockerel thats about 2 months old maybe giv or take a few https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/704590/marans-genetics#post_9573550


here's the chick after it dried off.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Blue Copper Marans under the broody are hatching. I believe, 2 out so far, out of 7, on day 20. (Only had 1 out at this point with Broody Naima so things are looking good!) Think I caught a glimpse of a blue and a wet one - maybe black but I thought that before and it dried blue ....

 

[heath_elisha]

Blue Copper Marans under the broody are hatching. I believe, 2 out so far, out of 7, on day 20. (Only had 1 out at this point with Broody Naima so things are looking good!) Think I caught a glimpse of a blue and a wet one - maybe black but I thought that before and it dried blue ....

Woohoooo! Congratulations!