Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Wynette]

Hi Don
OK, that makes sense that it would be across the breed colors. Please forgive my questions, as I think it's probably been beat to death over the years but I'm new and trying to get a handle on all this white feathers/white fluff talk. Is it suspected that the white feathering seen in baby wings that usually molts out (did on mine) is caused by the same gene as the white fluff/downy feathers in wing and tail? Do you know if any scientists (universities) have done any genetic studies with Marans on this white fluff subject? Would be cool to know if it could be tested for up front and then possibly know the chance that a particular bird has to throw it. It seems (from what I've gleaned on this board) that even a bird not showing this white fluff can still throw chicks with it which suggests that it's recessive. Do I have this correctly? It sounds like you have done a lot of breeding and culling to get to nice birds without this WF, and its still showing up in your breedings but less frequently? I would assume so. I'm wondering even with heavy, heavy culling, will there always be crop ups of this WF issue?
I have found this

Finally, the off-white remexs or the white feathers are to be banned of the body.

Such subjects, possibly affected by the parasitic gene (mo) or (pi) must rigorously be eliminated especially if these genes remain present after the first adult melting.

It is impossible to identify easily the chicks which have an abnormally white down notably on the head. Moreover, this fault, contrary to others, seems to show relatively few difficulties for the selection, since at the end, it almost disappears in its totality.

under "To distinguish correctly the Brown-red variety"
here http://marans.eu/ncuiang.htm#NCUI

I'm assuming that they are referring to white feathering and possibly the last paragraph is referring to the white fluff under feathering. Do you know what the "parasitic gene (mo) or (pi)" is referring to? I'm not familiar with this terminology.

Thanks! Lisa

It's important to note that the brown-red is genetically different from our Black Copper here in the states.

 

[Wynette]

On the white underfluff, around here for me I never bred with any stock that I hatched out of shipped eggs. Those were either sold as layers or went to freezer camp depending on cockerel or pullet. As far as the white in the wings or tail, I have culled really heavily for this. Any birds that have held onto their white after their juvie molt have to go. I don't care how much I love them, they go. In the last two years I've significantly seen a reduction of any white past about the 6 to 8 week mark. We'll see if this spring's hatches will do as well and carry on the progress

So.....what was the point of purchasing the eggs, then? Not trying to be controversial, just curious! Were you simply not happy with the hatchlings?

 

[Wynette]

WHEW! Okay, caught up. I took a picture of the BB (he was a Black Copper) male's legs at the APA Nationals - here it is - comments?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I have done that too. Bought hatching eggs, found things out or saw things in the chicks I didn't like and sold them. I figured I have enough to worry about without adding to my problems.

 

[Wynette]

I've done the same; just wondered about such an "all-inclusive" statement. Again, not trying to cause controversy, just curious.

 

[pinkchick]

I seriously doubt that the blue gene is responsible for the genetic mess of Black Coppers.

 

[snowbird]

I seriously doubt that the blue gene is responsible for the genetic mess of Black Coppers.

Kim, I have no idea of where the mess started with on the BC. The only thing from me is if you breed the BC and blue copper together please do not breed the BC off spring back into the BC pool as it is just going backward with trying to improve the BC. This is another fact and not a opinion.

 

[snowbird]

WHEW! Okay, caught up. I took a picture of the BB (he was a Black Copper) male's legs at the APA Nationals - here it is - comments?

Picture is pretty self explanitory, was this the only Marans exhibited.

 

[pinkchick]

Kim, I have no idea of where the mess started with on the BC. The only thing from me is if you breed the BC and blue copper together please do not breed the BC off spring back into the BC pool as it is just going backward with trying to improve the BC. This is another fact and not a opinion.

Well since I breed for blue and not black and only use black for making blue, I see no problems keeping a black pullet or black male to use every now and then when breeding for blue.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I have found this

Finally, the off-white remexs or the white feathers are to be banned of the body.

Such subjects, possibly affected by the parasitic gene (mo) or (pi) must rigorously be eliminated especially if these genes remain present after the first adult melting.

It is impossible to identify easily the chicks which have an abnormally white down notably on the head. Moreover, this fault, contrary to others, seems to show relatively few difficulties for the selection, since at the end, it almost disappears in its totality.

under "To distinguish correctly the Brown-red variety"
here http://marans.eu/ncuiang.htm#NCUI

I'm assuming that they are referring to white feathering and possibly the last paragraph is referring to the white fluff under feathering. Do you know what the "parasitic gene (mo) or (pi)" is referring to? I'm not familiar with this terminology.

Thanks! Lisa

mo is mottling. pi is pied.