I think the unwanted white is Pearl white as seen on the lobes of leghorns. When laying all my BCM hen/pullets red earlobes get kind of chalky looking. I don't think there is anyway to prevent that from happening. My thinking is it is similar to my lovely yellow Delaware pullet legs getting lighter and lighter the more they lay. Always learning and these are just my thoughts on the subject, maybe someone else will chime in
When hens are heavily in lay, they often do lose the brightness in their combs, wattles, and even in their legs. Anyone with Plymouth Rocks can attest to this - a nice, bright yellow leg in the "off season" often turns to a dusky yellow in the height of the lay season.
I know what you mean - I'll remember talking about something but can't remember exactly when it was...I like to use the "search this thread" option at the top. You could put "culling for sprigs" or something like that as your words to search on, and it will bring up all the posts that mention that in the narrative.
Nicol is the right one to ask - I know she's been working on them for some time. There was someone else working on them down south....I want to say it was Jesus, but I'm just not sure. And, I do not believe he's doing it any longer. Also, Janice (geebs) was considering working on them...I don't know if she followed through or canned it, but she's got good genetic background & would also know who (at least back then, a couple years ago) was working on them. If you're interested, we could sure use more folks to work on them! Find someone that you click with, and ask a whole lot of questions! Most are more than willing to help!
Chickens, even those at the biggest shows, are NEVER perfect. Even the ones on Champion Row in well-established breeds have "bits" we can pick at. I hope everyone also remembers that here, on this forum, we are also dealing with the added disadvantage of judging photographs. That said, those lobes weren't truly "white" as in Leghorn white. Nor were the eyes as dark as they appeared in that photo. Type is the biggest thing. No comments or question on type? And what about egg colour? Have any of us asked how she is doing with egg colour? Marans in general are still VERY much a work in progress. Especially those varieties that are not yet approved. I, for one, think it is FABULOUS that so many folks are working so hard with Marans and going to the trouble and expense of getting them out to shows.
It is truly discouraging when one posts a photo of birds that they are proud of - that they are making the effort to get out on display so we ALL can move forward with these birds on a serious basis - only to be met with a comment like this.
Don, we will NOT move forward unless folks are willing to show pictures. Folks will NOT show pictures when met with criticism. Here's the thing, and you and I have had this discussion many, many times. There is ALWAYS a way to say something without coming off as accusatory, negative, or snarky. For example - rather than saying something like, "how can a bird with yellow legs have been put up for BB?" perhaps something more like, "I may be not seeing the picture in the right light - does the bird have yellow legs? Just wondering."
