Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[varanisblack]

I figured I would post them since it was mentioned about the whit ears in reference to Marys Marans

I will have to look tomorrow to see the sprig mentioned I do believe what appears to be a sprig is actually a discoloration possibly caused by scrapping with another rooster before we set the three up, the boys were in a separate pen and the girls were in with the laying hens except for the Spanish which were the same age and grown together.

 

[ashandvine]

I was waiting for someone to see the comb, It is good education when someone else finds the faults.

I do believe this is a sprig, though at first I wrote it off as scab. The shadow behind it would indicate its volume. I had an orp cockerel with them and learned the hard way. Thank you Don for trying to share knowledge with me. With regards to WFBS... I know what the males look like as well without a photo. We have to folks here raising and showing them (one in a club I joined) but I didn't realize the hen/pullets could look so much like Marans. Please, excuse me. I went back and did note the clean shanks. BTW that WFBS nooks nice from the bit I can see. I can't judge type well.

We hope to have some better quality with the blues and splashes but no one can tell until they mature how close to standard they will be.

The ones in the next pen with the white ears are Marys White face Black Spanish the heritage breed she is also working with.
Here is a better pic of those,

 

[UnionMan]

I was sold 2 black colored pullets that were suppose to be black australorps. After posting them on here some people suggested the one is a BCM. She has a little bit of feathering on her shanks and has some gold/copper feathering coming thru on her neck. What do you experts think.

 

[Zanna]

I was sold 2 black colored pullets that were suppose to be black australorps. After posting them on here some people suggested the one is a BCM. She has a little bit of feathering on her shanks and has some gold/copper feathering coming thru on her neck. What do you experts think.

I am no expert but I would say it is possible Do you have a full side view shot?

 

[UnionMan]

Here is a picture from a couple weeks ago. As close as I have right now. Can take some tomorrow. She's the one in the middle.

 

[kowgurl62]

OK guys,,,I have a general question. I'm not saying I want to breed birds with sprigs,,,,but WHY are sprigs an undesirable trait in purebred poultry? Is there a production, vigor, or health issue with having a bird with sprigs? I cull every one I find, just found one today that I missed earlier. This will be the first year hatching anything from the hens I have, so big job ahead. Just wondering from the APA, SOP point of view is as to why they are undesirable.

 

[OHmamma]

OK guys,,,I have a general question. I'm not saying I want to breed birds with sprigs,,,,but WHY are sprigs an undesirable trait in purebred poultry? Is there a production, vigor, or health issue with having a bird with sprigs? I cull every one I find, just found one today that I missed earlier. This will be the first year hatching anything from the hens I have, so big job ahead. Just wondering from the APA, SOP point of view is as to why they are undesirable.

They are undesirable in all breeds. I would say it is a consistency issue. Since the breed standard calls for a clean single comb it only makes sense to DQ those with sprigs. If one was allowed then you would just see a mess of them trying to sneak by. Then there would have to be a description of sprigs added to the SOP and it would be one more thing to try to perfect.

It has nothing to do with health or vigor it is just that they are ugly.

Nicol

 

[OHmamma]

Here is a picture from a couple weeks ago. As close as I have right now. Can take some tomorrow. She's the one in the middle.

Copper and other colors can bleed into the hackles of any black bird especially if it is not pure black based.

You will know if she is a Marans if she lays you a pretty chocolate egg !!

 

[OHmamma]

I wanted to share photos of my Back Copper and Blue Copper bantam Marans hens. They both won 1st BV, and the blue won BB at the National Meet this past weekend. I was so happy with them they laid everyday we were gone and did not even stop when we came home. That is the first time that has ever happened with any of my hens!!

 

[kowgurl62]

They are undesirable in all breeds. I would say it is a consistency issue. Since the breed standard calls for a clean single comb it only makes sense to DQ those with sprigs. If one was allowed then you would just see a mess of them trying to sneak by. Then there would have to be a description of sprigs added to the SOP and it would be one more thing to try to perfect.

It has nothing to do with health or vigor it is just that they are ugly.

Nicol

Hi Nicol,
I understand about it being a dq, in all breeds, I just wondered why it became a dq in the first place. I think carnation combs on penes are ugly , but for the breed that's their standard, and I think huge massive combs on roosters(or hens) are ugly also. I was just sitting around the other day thinking about sprigs, and wondered, "ok, how and why, did these poultrymen back in the what, 1800's figure that sprigs are bad, other than the aesthetic issue?"............I tend to sit and think too much.
BTW congratulations on the wins with the birds!!