Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Organics North]

Interesting on the blood meat spots... I seem to notice it more in fall.. Either molt or when supplemental lights go on... I tend to just try and delay molt by doing maintaining 12 hours light after the equinox until December..

Yep it is the only flaw I can think of in an otherwise superior egg... The Marans egg that is...

___________________

PINK......

It has been some time indeed...

Yes our boys are very similar...What I like about yours and mine for that matter is the proportion of the comb to the head size, many Marans I see seem to either have too big of a comb or too small of a head... Your birds seem to have some real heft to them also..

Me thinks that when the day comes to bring in some new blood, it will be from your birds.... I forget, if the origins are from the same line?? They seem to have similarities. I would not mind a chat about what your challenges have been, strengths and weaknesses you see and so forth... You are much more in tune with this stuff than I ..I am just someone with a few chickens I happen to think are really cool and would like to see the BBS Marans shine bright as a clean line without copper creeping in... A personal goal is to keep them hefty too.. Nice plump little butterballs... Though I have not selected for size, actually just the opposite my darkest egg layer was tiny, unfortunately a Fisher had her for dinner.... (Out of all the other chickens I would have not minded loosing, of course one looses the most cherished....)

 

[upthecreek]

Where can one find this book by Morley Jull ? I would love to know what Morley says concerning the light process(?) . Snowbird Thank You for this info

I've never used lights , just never needed them or thought it the thing to do . I know the 'word/answer' around egg laying is allways centered around 'light' ..... i have older hens laying right now(Marans)in the winter , cold and rain , they layed all year round (not like a White Leghorn)but like a marans(smile). A big part of the reason for this is what they are Fed(daily) , i've seen this over and over for 59 years .
Yes there is always exceptions such as moult .

I am not one that subscribes to the mass raise theory , i think with quality bloodlines and good selection there is no reason for a big surplus of birds . The mass producers are using a shotgun approach , which if it works i'm happy for them .
Nothing can surpass Single Mating and/or trap nesting .... line breeding is essential(and inbreeding)also wing banding . No out crossing except in a planned circumstance . Also important is leg bands , wing bands , Toe Punch and Toe marking , keeping record and notes /books .
To many questionable birds would make this almost impossible especially if you are the only chicken person .
Sorry I have no response to eggs with spots .... thank goodness i've never had this .

Lisa, I have to admit that I myself do not at present know what is up with the blood spots and I do believe it is worth investigation and see if we can pin point the problem. I have not started the id. part with the females but plans are in the works to begin shortly. The only way I know to id. the females is to # all eggs and break and see if there is blood. Once a female is considered clean then hatch some eggs and grow them out and and test the young when they start to lay.

I never used artificial lights on the Marans I was collecting eggs for hatching so that would rule out the lights. In the Poultry breeding book by Morley Jull he explains what happens in the process.

 

[snowbird]

Where can one find this book by Morley Jull ? I would love to know what Morley says concerning the light process(?) . Snowbird Thank You for this info
I've never used lights , just never needed them or thought it the thing to do . I know the 'word/answer' around egg laying is allways centered around 'light' ..... i have older hens laying right now(Marans)in the winter , cold and rain , they layed all year round (not like a White Leghorn)but like a marans(smile). A big part of the reason for this is what they are Fed(daily) , i've seen this over and over for 59 years .
Yes there is always exceptions such as moult .
I am not one that subscribes to the mass raise theory , i think with quality bloodlines and good selection there is no reason for a big surplus of birds . The mass producers are using a shotgun approach , which if it works i'm happy for them .
Nothing can surpass Single Mating and/or trap nesting .... line breeding is essential(and inbreeding)also wing banding . No out crossing except in a planned circumstance . Also important is leg bands , wing bands , Toe Punch and Toe marking , keeping record and notes /books .
To many questionable birds would make this almost impossible especially if you are the only chicken person .
Sorry I have no response to eggs with spots .... thank goodness i've never had this .

The article I was bringing up is about the Blood Spots. The book is Poultry Breeding by Morley Jull and the cheapest and best place to get is abebooks.com

 

[flgardengirl]

We have a LOT of raccoon in this area. I use live traps baited with plain sardines in oil. I works great most of the time. I have treated a few wondering tomcats to fish dinner but it is worth it to catch the raccoons. In warm weather, I have caught them with spring traps baited with foil wrapped on the trigger submerged in shallow water. I know the spring traps are pretty cruel but I have witnessed how they (raccoons) treat chickens too many times.

Thanks I will try that next. I've tried canned catfood but it didn't work. The only thing I ever seem to get in my traps around here are possums and housecats lol.

 

[flgardengirl]

In my limited experience, I see blood or meat spots in pullet eggs or a mature hen after a hard molt. I have not yet had a BCM hen who lays blood spots regularly. Anyone else?

-Keara

Yep same here.

 

[Brandi Leigh]

Love the egg color.

 

[TheCosmos]

My week old "blue birchen" Marans complete with colored leg bands so I can figure out the shade differences and what it means when they get bigger...

I posted them in the birchen thread, but who doesn't love pictures of cute chicks right?

Also opinions on whether or not they are cockerels or pullets are encouraged!! I have my opinion already but want to hear yours!


Red


Yellow


Brown


Green


Blue


Orange (my fav)


Purple

 

[jeb251]

Hi all,
I have BCM's that I got from green fire a few years back and I love them, but I am looking to start a project and am in need of some very dark egg laying cucko marans, can anyone point me in the right direction

 

[DMRippy]

Hi all,
I have BCM's that I got from green fire a few years back and I love them, but I am looking to start a project and am in need of some very dark egg laying cucko marans, can anyone point me in the right direction

Who isn't

Can you be a little more specific? Do you want nice type feathered legs or do you just care that they are Cuckoo with Dark eggs?

 

[jeb251]

all I care is that they are silver and lay dark eggs