Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Hens and Roos]

I am not NPIP so I can't ship, and I'm not very inclined to be for various reasons.

can't blame you there

everyone has to do what works for them!

 

[nova022]

I sure hope so. I have several really nice pullets and hens I'm wanting to make sure I have time to test mate. The only think I don't like is waiting a month for them to clear so I can start collecting eggs on the next matings. So, I'm hoping if I come up with an alternating plan I can collect eggs regularly from the different matings. I'm determined to make some really good progress this next year.

I am a complete novice to breeding chickens, so may I ask what test mating involves and why you do it? I am guessing to see what the offspring of a particular pair would be but just want to be sure that is correct.

 

[Hens and Roos]

I am a complete novice to breeding chickens, so may I ask what test mating involves and why you do it? I am guessing to see what the offspring of a particular pair would be but just want to be sure that is correct.

testing mating is putting 1 rooster with 1 hen at a time so you can track the offspring easier. So you are correct with what you are thinking. Test mating is done if you are trying to figure out which birds are throwing offspring with a particular feature- for example side sprigs on the comb- where there is a point coming off the side of the comb that shouldn't be there. Hope this helps!

 

[gilavina]

Test mating is also something I use to control color factors with eggs and the color of the bird. It can also be used to enhance certain features you want out of your bird, such as improved size, color, body type and etc

 

[Debbi]

Hi all!

Vicki, I posted a few pics on my FB page for you to look at, the one I am concerned with is of "Kiwi", the black girl with the freaky tail! No NPIP huh?? I can understand why on several counts. Here is a quick pic I got today of my only Wheaten girl, "Wheatie Pie" at 23 weeks. She is going to be a big girl, she is already almost the same size as my hens!

 

[gilavina]

Hi all!

Vicki, I posted a few pics on my FB page for you to look at, the one I am concerned with is of "Kiwi", the black girl with the freaky tail! No NPIP huh?? I can understand why on several counts. Here is a quick pic I got today of my only Wheaten girl, "Wheatie Pie" at 23 weeks. She is going to be a big girl, she is already almost the same size as my hens!

Hey Lady!

I'll have to check out fb here in a bit. I was writing from my phone at work which ran out of battery, so didn't get to look at your posts. Wheatie Pie reminds me a ton of how my young girls that have the best size and body type looked when they were about that age. Luella was always bigger than most of my males up til about the 5 month mark.

 

[gilavina]

I could use one of those for starting my blue birchens!

Get to Colorado and we can certainly do some talking about that possibility. Oh, depending on where you are looking into, I met someone at the show over here this year that is from CO and she and her husband are great people! I think you'd like them!

 

[gilavina]

That is exciting to hear isn't it- that someone has hopefully found some pure blue stock to work with-

. I know what you mean about trying to find some.

Solid blue Marans were the first Marans I went looking for and started looking about 6 years ago now and just now might finally have the chance to have a go at getting a line started. My dad has always raised blue breeds of birds, so they are like second nature to me to work with since I learned with them. Something I hope really gives me a leg up on getting a nice solid line going.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Solid blue Marans were the first Marans I went looking for and started looking about 6 years ago now and just now might finally have the chance to have a go at getting a line started. My dad has always raised blue breeds of birds, so they are like second nature to me to work with since I learned with them. Something I hope really gives me a leg up on getting a nice solid line going.

I am glad you are making progress in finally getting a chance to start a line up. DD and I were talking and she will be starting her 4th year in working with her Blue Andalusian chickens- she has just 1 original hen left from the chicks she got. We are excited to see what the offspring will look like with the coming year hatches. She has 2 cockerals who are showing some better lacing

There is just something eye catching about the blue chickens, it will be neat to hear how things progress for you

 

[Debbi]

Hey Kim, I hope you aren't in all of those storms out there?? Stay safe if you are!