Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

A quick question for a newbie please. I know many here are breeders and I only have a hatchery pullet but I hope you will impart some of your wisdom. My pullet just started laying. yea! (caught her in the act lol) I was surprized her egg wasn't any darker than my other non maran hens. Will they get darker or will they stay lighter because she is from a hatchery? She is a Cockoo Maran. Thanks in advance.

Most of the hatchery Cuckoo I seen lay a very light colored egg. I do not believe she will lay a darker egg later.

 

[kivi]

Thanks for the quick responses. I kind of thought this might be the case but though I should ask the experts. Thanks again

 

[Wynette]

I have a couple question regarding Black and Blue Copper Marans that I was wondering about if anyone has any thoughts on this thanks.

I notice a couple of mine have little fuzzy tuffs on the side of their face.....what does this mean?

I also notice one of their combs are not as bright red as the rest and wondered why.....she has good food (ff) no frost bite (not that cold yet).

What makes the eggs glossy, so far I've only had the two eggs and was just wondering if it's the food or??

Thanks

Hmmm....fuzzy tufts to me would make me question whether they are purebred or not. Can you provide pics? I breed "olive eggers" that look very much like Black Copper Marans, down to the shank feathering, but they have peacombs (the ones I keep) and tufts like you describe.

Their combs turn bright red when they are in lay - so, it sounds like you have one laying and one hasn't started yet.

The glossiness to the eggs is simply heredity, unfortunately! I WISH it was food related!

 

[gilavina]

Well, got some photos today, its overcast, so they don't have the best lighting, but still got some decent ones.
I have three silver Marans pullets and all three laid this morning. Here's the egg color Lynette. They need work, but that's what I love to do!




I also got some more shots at different angles of those girls I posted the other day Don. Excuse the white feathers everywhere, some of my Sussex hens are still molting. grrr







this hen's tail set is the one on the right of course. Love her street sweepers. Randy inspired me to get the tail shots. Still have some work to do, but they are coming along I think.




blue's tail from a different shot




That black girl you really liked Don, from a front angle. Just those eyes are what I would change, nothing else. I'll be working on it this next spring




one of the youngsters




ok, just for fun. One of my favorite birds to watch. She's a blue birchen marans crossed onto a light sussex offspring. Talk about a beauty. She will make a lovely addition to the layer flock. Just 3 to 3 1/2 months old and very built




Just had to throw this shot in there, some of the birds working their way up the little hill to see me.




All the birds still need fine tuned, but overall I am happy with what I'm seeing breeding forward and less inconsistency from them overall.

 

[snowbird]

Vicki, You have the most important part with these females and that is type and big Beefy bodys. It would be hard for an olde country boy like me too screw up these.

 

[snowbird]

Vicki, what is that old Brown Red looking male doing in the picture. Do you keep all these Marans locked up at night.

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, You have the most important part with these females and that is type and big Beefy bodys. It would be hard for an olde country boy like me too screw up these.

haha, I think I just luck out because I was raised mostly learning on dual purpose birds, so know how to select for what I want. The OEGs and Moderns and such were to learn how to handle the birds and to breed for color. My dad was a good teacher. I would think in about 2 years I'll have the birds right about where I want them, and down to working on the small small details. I already had a chat with myself and will not start setting eggs til end of January or beginning of February at the very earliest.

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, what is that old Brown Red looking male doing in the picture. Do you keep all these Marans locked up at night.

Gigantor? Probably looking for treats I sprinkled on the lawn. He's like a puppy dog and follows me everywhere. All my birds get locked up at night. Each have their own buildings or huts, or go into the barn. With predators, four legged and two legged (and I don't mean just the owl), I can't afford not to.

 

[snowbird]

Gigantor? Probably looking for treats I sprinkled on the lawn. He's like a puppy dog and follows me everywhere. All my birds get locked up at night. Each have their own buildings or huts, or go into the barn. With predators, four legged and two legged (and I don't mean just the owl), I can't afford not to.

Vicki, I knew who the Beefy Boy was just keep up the good work.

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, I knew who the Beefy Boy was just keep up the good work.

haha, ok! I was thinking maybe you were having a spell of amnesia haha
Thanks, I do love this breed very much and want to see them be the best I can possibly get them to be. I'm happy with my decision to close the flock last year