Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ashandvine]

Please do not be offended when I ask this question (learning here) but is this a pinched tail in these photos?

Wynette.... regarding tweed an wine dots... what I think might be nice if someone came up with a houndstooth chicken. Very distinguished

 

[Irishgirl]

Thank you all for this thread. I have 11 BCM eggs in the bator right now and am sooooo excited for them to hatch! We are about 1/2 way there. I can't wait to see the little babies. They are from the Wade Jeane line and I purchased them from a local breeder so I am hoping to have a good start. I also have some of my own eggs in there from a pair of Blue Copper Marans, I am not sure of their history or quality (I have a feeling it is not great and one day when I am feeling tough skinned I will post some pics). I posted them when I knew even less about Marans, and today you can fit what I know inside an egg shell

. Anyway, just wanted to subscribe and say hello.

Hello!

 

[Irishgirl]

Thanks Irishgirl!

I drew it myself.

Wow!

That's really good!

 

[Bakerentllc]

Here's my eggs from last 2 days. I havnt pulled out the darkest or put on a white background. As you can see there are some smaller eggs from young hens. They seem to get darker every day which is Wierd to me. Aslo I have some young cuckoos that's eggs are kinda light? I thought maybe I got dipped and they are barred rocks but I have got really dark ones from them. They have been laying less that 2 weeks. Again they are getting darker the more they lay. Is this normal?

 

[OHmamma]

Here's my eggs from last 2 days. I havnt pulled out the darkest or put on a white background. As you can see there are some smaller eggs from young hens. They seem to get darker every day which is Wierd to me. Aslo I have some young cuckoos that's eggs are kinda light? I thought maybe I got dipped and they are barred rocks but I have got really dark ones from them. They have been laying less that 2 weeks. Again they are getting darker the more they lay. Is this normal?

Mine do the same thing. I know it is odd from what most people have but I don't complain.

As for the cuckoo there are not too many that do lay very dark eggs. Post some pics on the cuckoo thread of the birds and eggs. There are many pictures there to reference, and several cuckoo breeders to help you determine if they are something else.

The thing with Cuckoo Marans is that they have been around quite a while and some one somewhere a long time ago realized that by crossing them with BR you get an easier to sex day old.

-Nicol

 

[Bakerentllc]

They are cuckoos I have no doubt but usually my eggs start dark and lighten closer to molt. But last 2 batches I've raised have been the opposite. They are starting off light and getting darker! Also I can take my darkest eggs put them on white plate and take picture as people do on ebay and they are very dark but it depends on my hens cycle how dark the eggs are! I have introduced 3 different groups of hens to my flock and seems like they never get it together. Some hens will lay dark this month and others next month.

 

[Bakerentllc]

It all depends where the hen is in her cycle to how dark my eggs are. I have 3 diff ages of hens and they all lay dark some weeks. I hatched 100s of Marans and I have kept the best of the bunch out of the darkest eggs. I have 3 ages out of 3 unrelated flocks in my pen and I hatched them all! It seams like they never get it together one hen will lay dark 1 week and another next. But as I sell the worst and keep the best my eggs keep getting darker and darker!

 

[Ray from PA]

Thanks again for all the compliments. It really gives me great incentive and motivation. I can look back at this months from now when times get rough for a boost and a smile.

OK Ray, I'll jump in and post a couple of pics of my girl. These photos aren't ideal and wish she would stand still while I take them. Ha! I took them with my iPhone.

I know there's a few things that could be improved on her, mainly the comb and a little thicker on the shank feathering. She's a bit smaller than I'd like.

I love her shape and her "low-rider" profile and eye color.

Please ignore the bread. I rarely give them this and the day I took the photos a couple weeks ago, was treat day for my girls.

I really love the dark mahogany hackle feathers. I wish they were more abundant. Does anyone know if there's a chance this trait would be passed along in her offspring?



I put saddles on her and another hen that have these qualities and put them in with my Rooster Cogburn. I am anxious to see what they throw. Very exciting time for me now!

Thanks for posting her photo Geo,,,, nice hen you've got there... I like her head and thickness of her neck,,,, I agree her mahogany coloring looks good on her. Good luck with her offspring, hope she produces well for you !

 

[Ray from PA]

Thank you all for this thread. I have 11 BCM eggs in the bator right now and am sooooo excited for them to hatch! We are about 1/2 way there. I can't wait to see the little babies. They are from the Wade Jeane line and I purchased them from a local breeder so I am hoping to have a good start. I also have some of my own eggs in there from a pair of Blue Copper Marans, I am not sure of their history or quality (I have a feeling it is not great and one day when I am feeling tough skinned I will post some pics). I posted them when I knew even less about Marans, and today you can fit what I know inside an egg shell

. Anyway, just wanted to subscribe and say hello.

Welcome aboard Tammy, there is alot of good stuff going on in this thread,,,, thanks to everyone that contributes their experience with this breed,,,, you know who you are. I can relate to your situation. Many of us here are at the same point you are,,,, and have similar goals, just want to learn how to better our stock with a little knowledge and a little luck. Think you'll find what you want here,,,, I know I really enjoy the input given here.... Good luck with your hatch !

 

[Keara]

Please do not be offended when I ask this question (learning here) but is this a pinched tail in these photos?

Wynette.... regarding tweed an wine dots... what I think might be nice if someone came up with a houndstooth chicken. Very distinguished

Not Wynette here, but will say that it is hard to tell a pinched tail unless you are looking,,, uhhem...

up her skirt,.... as it were! A view from the back would show you a pinched tail.... if it is there.

-Keara