Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

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Debbi, these are the kind of observations that are very helpful . Thats the reason I am single mating all my chicks this winter and will photograph all the chicks at hatch and mark them for future reference. I believe that way we can raise less and still get better Marans because we know what is producing the good and the bad. I will still breed the old fashion way.

THIS should be our GOAL - - to see the patterns and recognize them early so that we can do a better job of improving the breed - - QUICKER ! That 7 generation fault removal thing is going to KILL me

 

[ruth]

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In my pittiful experience ( 5 marans) if they did not have plenty at hatch, then they did not have plenty upon maturity.

From my limited experience what you see at hatch is what you get, sometimes you will get less as they grow and the leg feathers also molt out.

I agree - if they are clean legged at hatch, they stay clean legged. I have hatched a few, out of many, and did not ship them, I kept them and they are still clean legged (and not in any breeder pens).

What I have experienced a lot of is that even if they are heavily feathered (legs and toes), they lose them as they get older and run around the farm, especially the roos. You can see a leg of stubs, but no feathers. But then again, they are losing all of their tail feathers also and only have naked butts. I'm wondering if it's a feather-eating thing or maybe a parasite (I never worm, vaccinate, medicate or use any chemicals) but then again, never had a sick bird or see any sign of something that needs to be treated. So I don't know if it's a molting thing or what.

 

[pinkchick]

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Dave, we all have setbacks - trust me! I think what is key is learning from them. If you take good information away each time you need to make a change or cull from your breed pen, how can you feel like throwing the towel in? Yes, it can be VERY frustrating. Just when you think you have something figured out, breed to remove it (or add it), and then something ELSE crops up...but hey, keep your chin up, be up for the challenge, and when the fruits of your diligent labors and decisions are seen, WAHOO!!!!

and just when you want to throw the towel in......you notice one or a few very nice birds in your pens that keep you going.

 

[Raven1]

Please Pink show me Gnarles Debbie really has me

and I have my

I am ready!!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Dave, we all have setbacks - trust me! I think what is key is learning from them. If you take good information away each time you need to make a change or cull from your breed pen, how can you feel like throwing the towel in? Yes, it can be VERY frustrating. Just when you think you have something figured out, breed to remove it (or add it), and then something ELSE crops up...but hey, keep your chin up, be up for the challenge, and when the fruits of your diligent labors and decisions are seen, WAHOO!!!!

and just when you want to throw the towel in......you notice one or a few very nice birds in your pens that keep you going.

...AND, don't cull ANY birds based on ONE or two small faults if they are otherwise very nice! Improvements can be made with the next generation! The goal is to improve with each new generation, in my opinion!

 

[ruth]

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I also have a couple of questions regarding standards:

1. Is it still "light or sparsely" feathered legs/toes and if so, what determines that? I'm seeing pictures of birds with feet that look like Cochins.

2. Leg color. The MCC website and their Yahoo group still list "dark slate". I had heard it had been revised to "white" but can't find it on their site (maybe I'm just missing it) - but it too is very important to know before culling/breeding. What happened to the French "pinkish/grey"???

I think it would be extremely helpful to everyone if someone from the MCC club (the one writing the proposed standards) would post the current version so we could all learn and know what to breed towards.

Thanks for any help/insight.

 

[snowbird]

Debbi, would be interested in what you call small faults. Some of the small faults are the ones that cause most of the problems in my limited experience.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I also have a couple of questions regarding standards:

1. Is it still "light or sparsely" feathered legs/toes and if so, what determines that? I'm seeing pictures of birds with feet that look like Cochins.

2. Leg color. The MCC website and their Yahoo group still list "dark slate". I had heard it had been revised to "white" but can't find it on their site (maybe I'm just missing it) - but it too is very important to know before culling/breeding. What happened to the French "pinkish/grey"???

I think it would be extremely helpful to everyone if someone from the MCC club (the one writing the proposed standards) would post the current version so we could all learn and know what to breed towards.

Thanks for any help/insight.

I will like to nominate my roo for a feather shank inspection - - - I can not do it until later today - - - BUT I need your thoughts on whether he is "lightly" feathered OR feathered too much for the standard . . .


See ya'll later

 

[pinkchick]

For geebs~

You asked me about Bills eye color a few days ago. Here is is.

You know I could just put that mean old Barred Rock hen in a stew pot for taking his first point off!!!!!