Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

Quote:

I am so glad you posted pictures of your girls.

I was hoping we could talk about HENS TAIL POSITIONS today.
I hope you won't be offended if I use your picture as a jumping off spot !

1.) I have never seen any hen have that stray feather that this girl has . . . On the roos we call that feather something special - - SOMEBODY JUMP IN here and remind me of what that one crazy feather is called ? ?

2.) When we are trying to decide our birds tail's angle . . . do we include or exclude the stray feather ? ? If it was LEGAL to pluck this splash marans stray feather out - - - the remaining feathers would be at a much lower angle.

3.) ALSO, What should a HENS tail look like - - what angle or shape should we be looking for ? ? Does anyone have a good example of a good hen's tail angle ? ? I know from the back the tail should be open, not pinched.

Thanks everyone. If everything goes well in 14 more days, I will be hatching a couple of dozen of marans and I want to be able to evaluate some of them on my own as they mature. I have a pretty good feel for what faults to look for in the roos. Not so confident on the hens . .. .

 

[pinkchick]

Don~

You asked me about the feathers on the outer toe. I realize what the standard calls for and am not too excited about that because I believe it used to be different, or something somewhere that I have read, outer toes were acceptable with little feathering or none. I really rather would have preferred that it would have stayed that way. I like having variety/choices, such as the leg color...it used to be acceptable to have all three.
The outer toe free of feathers to me is just very clean looking as opposed to some that look like street sweepers. Now having stated that, I do have birds that do not have feathers on the outer toes but the last couple of feathers coming down the shank lay over the outer toe and give the appearance that they have feathers on the toe........is that bad? Who knows!!!
I really do wish that this was one of the things with the standard that gives a person room for personal choice. i.e.....we get to choose the color variety we want to work with so why can't we decided whether or not we like them with feathered outer toes...... in my flock at least they'll have feathered shanks.
But who am I?

 

[pinkchick]

Lilac~

I love the Splash birds! You lucky gal! I like her big stocky look. LOL ....I have a gal Phat Sassy that looks like a C-130 trying to get clearance from the tower that she has permission to leave the holding pattern and come in for landing. When she comes running......I move out the way and clear a path! Congratulations! Love the name Smudge!

Mornin' Math!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Good Morning Pink - -

I love this description. . . . My big butted girls can not get very much lift so o o o they are kinda scarry when they come down the run way this way

This is EXACTLY what Dh wants to video and put on You tube. I have to turn around sometime just to make sure they aren't going to "crash" into me !

It is definetly a case of "WALKING BY FAITH" when I lead them to the free range area.

 

[pinkchick]

Morning my friend! Where ya been? I've been cruising and reading on BYC since around 3AM. Couldn't sleep!

lol.....I have to admit, sometimes I will toss some goodies quite a ways a way just so that I can watch Sassy take off running for it. I love seeing her move. She flies that thing like she is driving a Jaguar at 90 mph on the Audobon (sp?) and man o man can she corner that thing with agility.

I can't wait for the others to get here this morning and discuss female tails! Nice suggestion for a topic!

 

[Debbi]

Mornin' ladies!

I'm questioning the hen tail set myself. Is it possible to have too long a back? My girls' tails all seem to extend straight out from their rears, not looking like some of the pert, up in the air tails of a lot of pics I've seen on here. Their bodies are long, they remind me of an old Oldsmobile!

The only time they have their tails up at 45* is when they are excited. Do they grow into the tail set being higher, or is theirs due to their long backs? They are only 4 months old if that helps.

 

[pinkchick]

Morning Debbi!

Oh yes they can have too long of a back......would you like to see some birds with long backs?

 

[Debbi]

Yes, please Pink!

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
You got it! I gotcha covered, O' I can show you a couple birds with long backs.

*previously recorded in my Silicone Sally voice* (Silicone Sally is what I refer to as those automated voice phone persons like things)
"This could take a moment or two and we appreciate you patience....please continue holding for the next available representative, someone will be with you shortly."

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I have been trying to clean out my inbox. The problem is I don't want to delete anything that has breeding advice in it or lists of good breeders to contact later on . . . Oh Decisions Decisions. . . .

Plus, I have done two loads of clothes, made breakfast for the kids ( scrambled eggs and toast), turned my hatching eggs a couple of times, etc. . .Still haven't made it out to the chicken coop yet. I have to go put another load of clothes in the washer and come back and see if you all are talking about "TAILS" yet . . .

Oh by the way, I would love to see some pictures of good tails OR bad tails with pink highlighter on them