Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Hey Don, quick question for you. It might have been covered on here, but can't remember reading much on it. I know we have discussed the lighter leg color on the Marans and other attributes that you have found to correlate on the bird, but what I was wondering is about the dark leg color. Can you tell me what types of things seem to be tied to other aspects of the bird? I've been working hard at breeding the nice medium color with the pale pads and have had the best luck with the overall quality of the bird, but was just curious.
I also was wondering about your take on the birchens and what color legs they should have. I know the proposed standard is still not approved and such, but know most breeds that have a birchen color, will tend to be on the darker side of leg color, so just been mulling it over.

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, Thats interesting and would be good if we could pin point where it comes from, but probably like looking for a needle in hay stack.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking too. The Ameraucanas I had were just beautiful, but could not get past the fact that no matter how hard I tried to cull for it, it would continue showing up, usually after the Juvies went through their molt and grew all their feathers back. Talk about irritating to see it on black birds, and would seem to come out of nowhere

 

[snowbird]

I have always thought the Marans were no different when it comes to breeding them than any other breed. It is nice when someone is breeding to the Sop because we never know when we might want to sell some eggs or stock and can do so and be pround of what we are letting go.

I have had many breeds and varietys over the year and do occasionally show at some of the larger shows. I still would not consider myself a show person , since I get more enjoyment out of just trying to make whatever I have better.

 

[snowbird]

Hey Don, quick question for you. It might have been covered on here, but can't remember reading much on it. I know we have discussed the lighter leg color on the Marans and other attributes that you have found to correlate on the bird, but what I was wondering is about the dark leg color. Can you tell me what types of things seem to be tied to other aspects of the bird? I've been working hard at breeding the nice medium color with the pale pads and have had the best luck with the overall quality of the bird, but was just curious.
I also was wondering about your take on the birchens and what color legs they should have. I know the proposed standard is still not approved and such, but know most breeds that have a birchen color, will tend to be on the darker side of leg color, so just been mulling it over.

Vicki, I like the medium Slate males for breeding and would choose the Dark leg before the Light leg, I simply would not breed the light leg male.
I would think they would have the color on the birchen male be Medium to dark and the females should be dark like the BC.

Last year all the BC pullets I raised with the Copper color were out of dark leg colored males and the males from this mating had less than about 5% with white in wing and Tail. I am bringing in a BC male from out in the country in a few days and he has the color of leg I like on BC. Will take a couple of pictures to show you whaat I am talking about.

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, I like the medium Slate males for breeding and would choose the Dark leg before the Light leg, I simply would not breed the light leg male.
I would think they would have the color on the birchen male be Medium to dark and the females should be dark like the BC.

Last year all the BC pullets I raised with the Copper color were out of dark leg colored males and the males from this mating had less than about 5% with white in wing and Tail. I am bringing in a BC male from out in the country in a few days and he has the color of leg I like on BC. Will take a couple of pictures to show you whaat I am talking about.

That would be good. I had birchen modern game when I was a kid and in particular on the females, like you said, the color of the legs was really dark, as well as the pads of the feet were darker. Do you think that it should be the same for the birchen marans on the pads? Its been interesting doing single matings and seeing how the different matings produce different leg color and am trying to get down to the last of my culling for the season and just got me to thinking.

I agree on the leg color seeming to affect the amount of white in the wing and tail. As I have started working with birds and have culled specifically for the correct slate leg color with the pale pads, the occurence of the white has drastically reduced.

Good to hear you are bringing some Marans back to your place! Looking forward to the video of your presentation when you do that.

 

[unkadan]

I think I need to ask my question again, maybe I wasn't clear with what I meant.

my BCM pullets did lay eggs that were in the 5-6 range on the chart, this lasted about 6 weeks, now I get few if any of the darker eggs, I know by the number of eggs, the shape. and some that have dark spots they are still laying.

Is this a normal "cycle" or could there be outside reasons for them only laying the dark eggs for a 6 week period

thanks for any thoughts or experiences

Dan

 

[snowbird]

I think I need to ask my question again, maybe I wasn't clear with what I meant.

my BCM pullets did lay eggs that were in the 5-6 range on the chart, this lasted about 6 weeks, now I get few if any of the darker eggs, I know by the number of eggs, the shape. and some that have dark spots they are still laying.

Is this a normal "cycle" or could there be outside reasons for them only laying the dark eggs for a 6 week period

thanks for any thoughts or experiences

Dan

Dan, The pullets will usually lay real good for a while and will slow down and the color will Lighten up a little and they should start back up shortly with the darker eggs if they are going to lay darker eggs, The speckled eggs are usually lower on the chart, below #4.

The hens will usually lay a more uniform egg color wise than the Pullets.

 

[unkadan]

Thanks Don

as always much appreciated

 

[math ace]

Math~ I never bury thats too much work, striking a match is way easier and I can make smores at the same time.

Roflmao =

 

[gilavina]

evenin' Lisa

How are ya?