Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pawtraitart]

I had problems with feather picking among my BCM last year. I agree about the protein. That's what did the trick in my flock. I also grow them fodder which they enjoy picking through.

 

[lindsay297]

Hi there everyone......I am soon going to be the proud momma of 4 BCM and 9 Cuckoo marans. I am thrilled to read through the posts that are on here. I had brown layers (production breeds) for the last few years and have found a Maran Breeder near me that is selling some of their "too many hatched". I dont know alot about the breed and found this very insightful and informative.

The girls I am getting are 10-15 weeks and just wondering if there is anything I should know that might be a bit different from my previous flocks. I will note the protien thing and watch for a need to up the amount.

Glad to be joining all of you. Please keep the information flowing.

 

[pinkchick]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!


Vicki~ So sorry to read about the all the eggs! Huge BUMMER! Guess they just weren't meant to be and I can imagine that all of the shipping didn't help any of them at all.


Don~ Glad you are back! Hope you are feeling well and doing well!
Could you elobrate a bit more on your statement about the Blue Coppers? Please?

Marquisella~ Hi! Hope you and yours are doing great!
I have a question, I was reading back through the thread and saw your comment on the Splash birds and how they are not suppose to have any copper? How can the Splash birds that come from the copper variety not have any copper in them? If all Splash birds are not to have copper, then wouldn't that be confusing and wouldn't we be creating a whole new mess of things if folks were to just willy nilly breed any of the Splash varieties of Marans together? Just curious and looking for some more thought on this. Thanks in advance!

 

[pinkchick]

Debbi~ I too give my birds whole bales of straw.......they go crazy for them!!!!!! Like little ninja chickens, its hilarious and you are very right about how they are entertained for hours with it!

 

[DMRippy]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

 

[gilavina]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Vicki~ So sorry to read about the all the eggs! Huge BUMMER! Guess they just weren't meant to be and I can imagine that all of the shipping didn't help any of them at all.

Don~ Glad you are back! Hope you are feeling well and doing well!
Could you elobrate a bit more on your statement about the Blue Coppers? Please?

Marquisella~ Hi! Hope you and yours are doing great!
I have a question, I was reading back through the thread and saw your comment on the Splash birds and how they are not suppose to have any copper? How can the Splash birds that come from the copper variety not have any copper in them? If all Splash birds are not to have copper, then wouldn't that be confusing and wouldn't we be creating a whole new mess of things if folks were to just willy nilly breed any of the Splash varieties of Marans together? Just curious and looking for some more thought on this. Thanks in advance!

Yeah, to be honest I wasnt that surprised because of everything they went through, but it is indeed still a bummer.

I was doing some reading last night since I couldn't sleep on the use of birchens in working with the solid blues and think that I have the makings to still work on stuff. Of course I won't know til I see what I end up keeping over the winter and what I end up test mating in the Spring.

 

[vebyrd36]

I was wondeing who else has the solid black Marans. I only have two hen and one Roo since the coon. I do have eggs in the bator tho from them. I'll place the blacks and blue together to get black blue splash.

 

[gilavina]

I was wondeing who else has the solid black Marans. I only have two hen and one Roo since the coon. I do have eggs in the bator tho from them. I'll place the blacks and blue together to get black blue splash.

I'm working on solid birds, but will need at least 4 generations for the the test mating process.

 

[vebyrd36]

After the 4th generation most of the babies will follow suit to the parent stock, at least mine has. The issue could be maintaining type, pondering on this one. I really like my blacks, and blues. My splash needs some work on type and dark egg color.

 

[gilavina]

After the 4th generation most of the babies will follow suit to the parent stock, at least mine has. The issue could be maintaining type, pondering on this one. I really like my blacks, and blues. My splash needs some work on type and dark egg color.

Indeed. I have silver based stock to work with along with some solid blue hens and a splash, so after the initial crosses of F1 and F2, if the F2 generation are test mated correctly, by the F4s I should be to 100% E/E birds.