Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

 

[pinkchick]

hdowden~
Thanks for the new photo of the chick. I would say that it definitely is a Wheaten. Hope others chime in with their opinions too.
No hurries on the photos of the older boys...take your time.

 

[pinkchick]

 

[pinkchick]

Congrats Barb!

 

[heath_elisha]

Elisha~ I wouldn't worry too much about the little cockerels comb at this age. As he grows more you will see better what it is going to do. I have had chicks with combs like that and they eventually straighten up with age. Keep posting updated photos of it and as he grows if we all see something we can help you. I see 2 pullets and the one cockerel. I have had pullets that have a spot of copper on them near the head or the hackle at this young of age. Copper on the body (wing area and saddles) is signs of a cockerel. Start watching for this in the weeks to come. The older pullet you photo'd with the dark face.....don't worry about her at this point yet either she is still young, her face will/should lighten as she matures and nears point of lay. I have had a few girlies with dark faces like hers and they have always turned red. Oh BTW.....I love Gracie! hdowden~ Thanks for the new photo of the chick. I would say that it definitely is a Wheaten. Hope others chime in with their opinions too. No hurries on the photos of the older boys...take your time.

Thanks! I was afraid of the black one being a cockerel...... as my husband puts it- these are some expensive chicks and they better not turn out all roosters

My husband really likes the blue copper boys and I am hoping that Cowboy (the little one) is the one that stays. Its really a wait and see how they grow up. Smokey is my husband's favorite roo right now... I have yet to convince him there is better lol. Smokey is a crazy looney around people..... No matter what I do! I just started getting him to eat from my hands.... but really he is scared of people. Makes no sense... he was handled he most as a little! lol Hope he outgrows it....

Anyways- thanks for the words of encouragement. I really just want some real peeerty chocolate layers

So far I am proud of them all, regardless of their little faults. Here's to hoping for some good egg colors!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Congrats Barb!

6 out of 7 have hatched!!! And LOADS of feathered shanks! The one I thought at first glance was clean legged is not. Feathers ARE there! Best hatch rate I've EVER had with Marans. The new diet I've put together must be agreeing with them. (I'm combining a commercial layena (18%) with a gamebird startena (30%) to get the protein level up to 22%.) Broody Sally is still sticking hard to the nest. It's just day 21 now. So for all I know, all 7 may have hatched. Cute little stinkers.

 

[laughingclown]

Here is another picture of the little pullets bum. Thoughts please?

 

[hdowden]

hdowden~ Thanks for the new photo of the chick. I would say that it definitely is a Wheaten. Hope others chime in with their opinions too. No hurries on the photos of the older boys...take your time.

heres the other pics. i do have any thread all of its own. these are one of each of the 3 hens (and you can see which is his fav) and several of him along with the cockerel

 

[snowbird]

Hdowden, If you are wanting to breed to the SOP these would all be culls. They would all work if you just want dark egg layers. If you want sop do not waste your money.

 

[hdowden]

i want them in bantam form. those belong to my parents and i have told them many times that they need to replace all 4 birds that they aren't pure and have to many flaws but according to them i am wrong, just like i am wrong when i tell them that the leg color is wrong

i give up on trying to convince them. the hens do however lay some nice dark eggs (well 2 of them do the other lays a coated egg to the point were it looks pink/white).

do you know if they come in bantam form? i have seen some say they have bantam marans. i have some hatchery birds and mixes but i prefer those that are to standard.

ps. those are supposed to have come from bev/davis lines but clearly something else has been mixed in.