Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Zanna]

Really enjoying the conversations about white feathers, all I can add is that my latest BCM Cock Cull also showed no white anywhere until he was almost 2 years old. Then after a full molt, came two 3/4 white sickle feathers and white in wing tip feathers on each side which could only be seen when the wing was spread. Looking forward to more conversation on this subject.

These eggs are a progression from a young BCM pullet of my breeding. She lays super speckled eggs. The bottom egg is todays, lighter looking as it is covered with bloom. What are the thoughts on the speckled eggs?? Her mom and none of her sisters that are laying so far are laying speckles. The other reason I wanted to post these pics. is to show how different the colour shades of the same eggs look with a different background. Of course, this happens with the pics. of birds we all post as well. Any ideas on the best type of light/background to show true colours?? I would say the true colours of these eggs is inbetween the colour of both pics.





Good morning all. Posted this late last night when most had gone to bed! Re-posting this morning

 

[Debbi]

Hey Kim!

 

[aceschix]

Quote: When spending time with him, I vacillate from thinking his back line is too flat and then I will look at him and the front part of the back looks too steep. interesting how their shape seems to change from day to day and lighting situations. It does not help that active birds are NEVER still

I hope and or worry that when he finishes growing his tail in it will change the look of the back line completely... you know ?

In what way do you dislike the backline or other parts? I feel I need to isolate that in order to counteract it while selectively breeding and culling.

Thanks Again!
April

 

[Debbi]

Zanna, Personally, I love the speckled eggs. I have one hen that lays them with lots of tiny speckles, and one that lays a nicely colored egg with very dark and fewer speckles! The two in the picture are from Charlotte (blue copper genetically), and her hatchmate Olivia (BCM, genetically). Neither one of them displays copper is what I am trying to say there. Both of these girls came from Pinkchick. Kim, you should see how Charlotte has finally molted out! Lovely lacing now!!

 

[Debbi]

Zanna ~ As for the best type of lighting to take egg pics, I have found it to be; inside near a bright window, not in the direct sunlight, and take the pic without the flash. The pic above was taken this way, and it is almost right on in color.

 

[Zanna]

Zanna, Personally, I love the speckled eggs. I have one hen that lays them with lots of tiny speckles, and one that lays a nicely colored egg with very dark and fewer speckles! The two in the picture are from Charlotte (blue copper genetically), and her hatchmate Olivia (BCM, genetically). Neither one of them displays copper is what I am trying to say there. Both of these girls came from Pinkchick. Kim, you should see how Charlotte has finally molted out! Lovely lacing now!!

I love them too but how would they fare in a show?? Something good to breed forward or not?

 

[gilavina]

When spending time with him, I vacillate from thinking his back line is too flat and then I will look at him and the front part of the back looks too steep. interesting how their shape seems to change from day to day and lighting situations. It does not help that active birds are NEVER still

I hope and or worry that when he finishes growing his tail in it will change the look of the back line completely... you know ?

In what way do you dislike the backline or other parts? I feel I need to isolate that in order to counteract it while selectively breeding and culling.

Thanks Again!
April

The backline is one I can't tell you 100% on without being able to view him in movement, but I believe his back is too flat and am not sure if the tail will help or harm that only because it all depends on the angle of the bird. I also am not in love with his legs, they are longer, which in an of themselves are not wrong, I just don't see his weight sitting balance on them in a way that there is proper flow from the chest down into the undercarriage then into the leg. The devil's really in the details, so for me, the easiest way to go about it I think is to hatch as many as you can and select really carefully. I would also, if you have facility for it, have your three girls in separate pens and alternate him into each pen on a rotation basis so that you can be sure who is giving you what in terms of offspring and track who is giving you the best attributes when crossed with him.

 

[geebs]

Acechix... It is hard to assess the rooster (birchen) as he isn't quite all there.... I however do like his size and proportion. I do not have a problem with his topline... Yet... it is really hard to visualize a tail that doesn't exist... A thought on that would be.. Does the diet of your birds provide enough protein so that they are not prone to feather eating... that is an easy fix with Catfood... Just an observation. Not everyone is aware that marans have a need of elevated protein levels that other breeds seem to get by without... That makes them prone to feather picking and egg eating to make up for the deficiets.

One more point: I love the coloring. It is very hard to get such substance and good (non-split genes) in the same bird... I would work with him providing there isn't any MAJOR faults...He looks like there is enough there... (thumbsup here)

 

[Debbi]

I have seen pics of them at shows, with ribbons, so I guess they are fine. The darker the better of course, and they need to be the same type, size, and I would think consistency in the speckling to win. i have never placed any of mine in an egg show, may have to try it once or twice.

 

[Debbi]

Acechix ~ I would have to make one other comment here on something to watch for, and that is the comb. Those half sized points can also lead to other anomalies. Check for sprigs too. As for his short back, breed him selectively to hens with longer backs. My main boy here is very short and slanted in his topline, but none of his babies have had the problem.