Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

Barb, I believe that the Judges in USA and Canada would need to be educated on what shape the Marans egg should be. It would have to be something like what is going on with judging the Marans.

 

[OHmamma]

Just a little something on the Cuckoo not being asked to be approved. Now is the time for everyone that wants Cuckoo to be recognized to raise the best you can in as large numbers and show them to have a chance before long to show what you have. It has not been long since the BC and wheaten were in the same boat. Right now I just do not believe the numbers are there for good type Cuckoo. I see on some threads and sites where some are backing away from raising them for a while. Now is not the time .

THANK YOU DON!!

That is exactly what I said. Why put them off when they need work?

I know that there are quite a few long time breeders that are dedicated to the Cuckoo. Had they been able to come to the meet things might have went differently. It might just have been a lack of knowledge as far as exactly what they are supposed to look like. I went into it a little more on the cuckoo thread.

 

[pawtraitart]

Has anybody done a comprehensive photo study on BCM chick down variations on up to adult plumage?

 

[bamachicks8]

Would love to see this can't wait to get a maran

 

[ashandvine]

I asked about eye color not down a while ago, last year, but haven't seen any results yet. Now that I have my own birds who knows what will come about. Junk maybe.

Snowbird, how are you using those barrels in your album? Do your birds ever range?

Another question:
Let me lead with this; I keep Orloffs here, not many, but I do. I was on feeding level with my orloffs and comparing head shapes. I have one female who has a nice wide brow and the others are more narrow-- a result of breeding. The wide is where its at but most folks don't know to even look for it. This comes to Marans because I was looking at pictures of Mr Don's birds and referencing them with some BCM that a woman has had for some time here in Maine. Hers are all melenized or very dark. Hers, and I would say Don's, appear to have thick, very round heads/brows. Two of the ones I have do have good color but their heads are more... well these girls remind me of fine porcelain tea pots. The head is narrow on the neck. I don't know how to describe this any better. Its about how big the head is on the neck. I wondered if this was a trait that indicated lineage or if it was a trait that should be watched in breeding... or if it doesn't matter at all.

 

[snowbird]

I asked about eye color not down a while ago, last year, but haven't seen any results yet. Now that I have my own birds who knows what will come about. Junk maybe.

Snowbird, how are you using those barrels in your album? Do your birds ever range?

Another question:
Let me lead with this; I keep Orloffs here, not many, but I do. I was on feeding level with my orloffs and comparing head shapes. I have one female who has a nice wide brow and the others are more narrow-- a result of breeding. The wide is where its at but most folks don't know to even look for it. This comes to Marans because I was looking at pictures of Mr Don's birds and referencing them with some BCM that a woman has had for some time here in Maine. Hers are all melenized or very dark. Hers, and I would say Don's, appear to have thick, very round heads/brows. Two of the ones I have do have good color but their heads are more... well these girls remind me of fine porcelain tea pots. The head is narrow on the neck. I don't know how to describe this any better. Its about how big the head is on the neck. I wondered if this was a trait that indicated lineage or if it was a trait that should be watched in breeding... or if it doesn't matter at all.

I built the Barrel wall for bantam Brahma and was the best investment I ever made. I use them now also for Marans females to seperate them out and check the egg color. I only use #6 or higher in breeding.

I like a good strong Skull on my Marans and breed for that. The narrow thin heads and skull can very easy go into being crow headed. I have used a lot of the overmelanized females in my BC Marans, They will produce just as good or better than the pretty colored BC.

I believe the most important thing with Marans is tighten up your flock and do not bring anything in unless it is necessary. If at all possible stay away from the brother-sister matings as they are never any good.

 

[snowbird]

Question for all, Have you ever hatched any Marans chicks with fluff between the toes, not the toe itself. In the past I had some Cuckoo that produced chicks with the soft feathering between the toes.

 

[snowbird]

AshandVine, The black eye in the marans BC is usually caused from the birds being overmelanized. I have used them because we have breeders and we have show birds. In the Parti colored show chickens I have always double mated them for male and female color.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Question for all, Have you ever hatched any Marans chicks with fluff between the toes, not the toe itself. In the past I had some Cuckoo that produced chicks with the soft feathering between the toes.

I hatched one Black Copper male with fluff between his toes. His sisters have ABUNDANTLY feathered shanks that seems to get even heavier as they age. We are talking serious street sweepers on these ladies.

 

[snowbird]

I hatched one Black Copper male with fluff between his toes. His sisters have ABUNDANTLY feathered shanks that seems to get even heavier as they age. We are talking serious street sweepers on these ladies.

Barb, I believe it is all connected, heavy feathering and middle toe feathering, and the web fluff. Since you mention it I think all of the ones I had were males also. I guess we need to start documenting some of this stuff. I know I do myself.