Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[chisNchickens]

Seems odd to post pictures of him asking for advice if you truly don't care. Absolutely NO way we can determine what colour egg genes he might be carrying based on his picture.

I didn't ask for advice on him. I just posted his picture. I asked advice on my pullet.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Sorry. I must have misunderstood the intent of the "should I attempt to breed the two" question.

 

[Ray from PA]

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to comment on my questions about white feathers and underfluff.

Just trying to make some educated choices to decide what birds get reproduced and what birds become part of the egglayer flock.

I would like to add that if anyone here offers eggs for hatching, that has consistant good reproducing lines without so much of the "DQ" attributes, I would be very interested in hearing from you. Please feel free to PM me.

I do like a nice, dark colored egg.

Like so many others, I have tried my luck with other sources, ebay and such, not all of which has been bad.

thanks again, EVERYONE, for your help and time.

Ray from PA

 

[chicken pickin]

Greetings all. I need a little Marans input. In June, I bought Marans eggs (Black Copper and Blue) from a private farm. Three of them hatched in July (two females and a male). The females are pictured in the first photo below, and the male in the bottom photo. I sure that one girl is a splash. I thought the other girl is a blue, but her neck has gotten pretty copper recently. The male is starting to grow some reddish feathers, but I've assume he's a black rooster.
Any help on who/what I've got? Thanks.

They are Blue Copper and Black Copper

 

[bwalden]

Greetings all. I need a little Marans input. In June, I bought Marans eggs (Black Copper and Blue) from a private farm. Three of them hatched in July (two females and a male). The females are pictured in the first photo below, and the male in the bottom photo. I sure that one girl is a splash. I thought the other girl is a blue, but her neck has gotten pretty copper recently. The male is starting to grow some reddish feathers, but I've assume he's a black rooster.
Any help on who/what I've got? Thanks.

Splash, Blue Copper & Black Copper

 

[rudy_rooster]

Splash, Blue Copper & Black Copper

So, when I breed them, I will get mostly blue copper chicks (75%) and 25% black copper chicks?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Black x Splash = 100% blue
Black x Blue = 50/50 Blue and black

 

[rudy_rooster]

Black x Splash = 100% blue
Black x Blue = 50/50 Blue and black

Thank you. By the way, I love your homemade incubator! So awesome. I'm going to keep my eyes on craigslist for cabinets and other useful items.
So, if I wanted splash copper birds, I'd need to breed a blue male to blue females, correct?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Thanks! Yes or a blue to the splash or splash to splash

 

[Wynette]

Ray from PA, BarNgodess (thanks for the hand slap, Don

), Don -

Ray, I'm really happy that you brought this up again.

Barb/Don - I really REALLY would like to get to the bottom of the whole white feather thing. I hear one thing from folks who have been breeding Marans for many years, see mature birds with white feathers in tails/wings/hackles being placed, and hear that Walt has communicated something slightly different to Don privately...which is it?

I view the whole white feather issue as an issue that seems to sort of be being swept under the carpet. Why? Is it super difficult to breed out? In the shows I attended this year, I looked at many black-based chickens in different breeds, and saw much of the same issue. Maybe this is just a "black-based chicken thing"? Is that possible?

Am I putting too much thought into this, is it something no one else worries about? I am seeing more and more of it, and maybe I am needlessly worried about it. Thoughts?