Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Hi Kim, Done with treatment . We have little over 100 chicks all together. The welsummer were not fertile as I believe the male is about 5 year old. might try one more batch of eggs just to be sure.
My son bought six dozen Marans eggs from six different people to do a study with and they are even worse when I started 6 year ago. We are planning on growing them all out and documenting a few things as we go along. The eggs from Lisa Olson hatch this weekend and I look forward to these chicks.

Can't wait to see the chicks from Lisa! I'm hoping to get some more progress shots up soon. Might start a folder here on BYC with each hatch so the progress can be seen. I keep folders on my computer for that reason, so figure might as well make them so others can see if there is interest there.
Too bad that the chicks Kevin hatched out aren't turning out all that well. More and more I'm convinced I'm ready to close my flocks as of this year. I think I finally have enough diversity to keep me going for the long haul in all the Marans colors.

 

[snowbird]

Just a little food for thought. It is really weird buying eggs from six people that are supposed to be winning at the shows and getting mostly cull chicks hatch out. I firmly believe the only way to stay with the BC Marans is buy a few eggs, chicks or adults if you can observe them before buying and start your own line of Marans by culling and breeding more and culling again and keeping only the best and keeping a record of everything you plan on keeping. If you do not know the parentage of the breeding prospect do not use going forward. Once we get the initial Marans close the flock and do not bring any new Marans into the future breedings. This will mean you will start with just a very few Marans at the beginning and should produce a few more each year after. Do not worry about the small numbers as we only need a male and a female to get started. Do not breed brother-sister for any reason.

In the fall I will make some matings with the Mossy and the brown breasted Marans to set the results down in writing and not have to depend on what someone else says will happen. Will also mate some of the clean shank Marans and see what shows up. Will breed several Marans that I would cull at any other time. I will post the results of these test hatchings on my profile page. Will start posting chick pictures in a few days, I have all the chicks numbered and marked that are hatched.

 

[Charlcie]

I was replying to the post that indicated the poster (maybe not you?) had observed an side sprig and was wondering if they should use the bird for breeding.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Just a little food for thought. It is really weird buying eggs from six people that are supposed to be winning at the shows and getting mostly cull chicks hatch out.

At what age do you start judging the chicks? Janet

 

[dcba flock]

I remember reading a ways back about purpleish feather sheen being a possible cull just not remembering why?? Anyone have any thoughts I have a young bird with minimal copper coming in and this sheen starting to come through? Thank you

 

[snowbird]

At what age do you start judging the chicks? Janet

I have started day of hatch with record keeping.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I have started day of hatch with record keeping.

Where do I find out what to look for in chicks and at what ages?

 

[snowbird]

Where do I find out what to look for in chicks and at what ages?

I mostly look for things that I know from experience that are not good and what also is good. I make notations about the amount of white on the BC and also the amount of brown feathers on the BC. These will be important later on as they mature. Lot of the faults can be found at a very early age and culled out before a lot of money is wasted.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I mostly look for things that I know from experience that are not good and what also is good. I make notations about the amount of white on the BC and also the amount of brown feathers on the BC. These will be important later on as they mature. Lot of the faults can be found at a very early age and culled out before a lot of money is wasted.

I may decide to seriously breed BC Marans. My first chicks will be coming late June or July. If I photograph them as they grow, can someone in the group show me what to look for? I have a good eye for conformation in animals--I bred and showed dogs and I bred racehorses.

Thanks, Janet

 

[snowbird]

I may decide to seriously breed BC Marans. My first chicks will be coming late June or July. If I photograph them as they grow, can someone in the group show me what to look for? I have a good eye for conformation in animals--I bred and showed dogs and I bred racehorses.

Thanks, Janet

Lot of opinions here for new breeders.