Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

Don, this is surprising to me, as you've always said the same thing - that it's best to not bring in outside lines, breed the line you have, linebreeding is the best way to bring out the positives in your flock, etc. I thought you of all would appreciate the post, so it confuses me that you're bothered by it.

Ben has been breeding fowl for longer than I have been on the planet, and Marans I believe for 8+ years. Longer than most any of us. So, I would think he probably knows what he's doing...who knows? I don't personally know the man - have met him, but I do not know how many fowl he breeds a year and what his reasoning is behind what and how he does it. I was only providing some insight into ONE person's thoughts on breeding. Doens't mean it's right, doens't mean it's wrong. It's just one person's opinion.

What I have done, personally, is that I have duplicated my flock with another breeder several states away. This is someone I have faith in; we made decisions on our flocks together so that we always know what the other's flock is looking like, and we help each other with birds on occasion to help issues along. Then, every 4-5 years, we will swap a good cockerel. This way, we have the same line going, but this is a way to infuse "new blood" for vigor. That works for me - for us - might not work for you or someone else. Again, it's just food for thought.

Wynette, I think you remember I told you I only brought in new Blood for my Buff Brahma Bantams one time in over 30 years of working with them. The way this works you must have on hand a lot of different lines to be able to use them together.

What you are doing is a good method as long as the two yards are bred with the same goal in mind. I also think it is a good idea to just bring in a male bird instaed of a female. I have always tried to keep my own female going and have always kept a lot of extra females. Most know I do not like to use Pullets unless it is absolutely necessary. I want them to survive at least one winter.

 

[Sylverfly]

Just hatched this chick out and it sure looks like a lavender, at least to me...almost like a lavender Ameraucana actually, but It came from my copper pen and I don't have any Ameraucanas or lavender colored chickens at all. I hatched a few splash chicks from this group and you can pick it out of the splash groupings, that's how different in color it is, I'm not saying its a lavender because I don't know. But it does have 2 tiny splotches of copper on its neck and head so that's kind of weird too. Anyone know what color she/he will end up?

 

[gilavina]

Just hatched this chick out and it sure looks like a lavender, at least to me...almost like a lavender Ameraucana actually, but It came from my copper pen and I don't have any Ameraucanas or lavender colored chickens at all. I hatched a few splash chicks from this group and you can pick it out of the splash groupings, that's how different in color it is, I'm not saying its a lavender because I don't know. But it does have 2 tiny splotches of copper on its neck and head so that's kind of weird too. Anyone know what color she/he will end up?

I believe you have a splash there.

 

[Runawaylobster]

so excited i can't stand it... My first generation eggs are due to go on lockdown on thursday ... can't wait to see what chickies come out.. They are BCM's

 

[gilavina]

so excited i can't stand it... My first generation eggs are due to go on lockdown on thursday ... can't wait to see what chickies come out.. They are BCM's

Congrats! It is such an exciting feeling isn't it? Been hatching for as long as I can remember, and I still get so excited too! Will do the first round of candling on eggs in the incubator and they are due the 14th of May, so not far behind you

 

[SRHartley]

Congrats! It is such an exciting feeling isn't it? Been hatching for as long as I can remember, and I still get so excited too! Will do the first round of candling on eggs in the incubator and they are due the 14th of May, so not far behind you

I have my first batch of BCM going into lockdown tomorrow, so excited!!

 

[gilavina]

I have my first batch of BCM going into lockdown tomorrow, so excited!!

Tis the season! Lots of excitement going around for everyone it seems!

 

[Sylverfly]

So splashes can vary greatly among each other color wise? Can they have copper color on them as well? All my splashes have been white with a slight blue/grey cast none of them so dark and with the blue copper pattern only in light grey, will it have darker splashes on the white as an adult or is the darker chick color irrelevant? Thanks.

 

[gilavina]

So splashes can vary greatly among each other color wise? Can they have copper color on them as well? All my splashes have been white with a slight blue/grey cast none of them so dark and with the blue copper pattern only in light grey, will it have darker splashes on the white as an adult or is the darker chick color irrelevant? Thanks.

Yes, splashes can vary quite a bit, they have a double copy of blue, so how it expresses can be way different than the next one. I'll have to get a pic of the Splash Marans rooster I have in with my ladies in the layer flock, he is goooorgeous in my opinion, but don't often get colors like his. He was a similar color to the chick you posted as he was growing, but have had others with the same color and come out totally different. The Splash Copper Marans male in my avatar is one that expresses copper, so it is possible.

 

[Sylverfly]

Cool! When I think about all the crazy things there are to know about chickens..colors, combs, feather type, body shape, eggs, quality...man it makes my head feel like its going to explode. Then you talk to someone and they say, a chickens just a chicken right? That's true but a mammal is a mammal too and frankly I'm rather dissimilar to a fruit bat, so whatever. I have the utmost respect for people who keep to the grindstone in the pursuit of perfection or at least with breed preservation in mind. and I'd love to see your rooster too!