Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

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!

indeed, that's why I love breeding poultry, the learning will never end, there will always be some challenge, even when one thinks they are getting close to nailing them, there will still be things to work on. I'll see if I can get a picture tomorrow of that male, I'll be working and then coming home to cover the whole garden because they are calling for snow for the next three days. Disgusting.

 

[OHmamma]

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?

Is it just me or is her beak crooked? My light blue copper hens looked like that as chicks...





-Nicol

 

[OHmamma]

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.

Since Ben was the one quoted, I will add that I heard him say the same thing. Never bring in a hen only a rooster.

I have a huge problem with that because the roosters egg color genetics are just as important as the female and using an unknown male can get you into trouble in that aspect. Unless of course you can trust the breeder 100%

I wanted to bring up inbreeding. pawtraitart mentioned the mess you get when crossing siblings. I have seen that first hand and yes it is a mess. From that experience I did learn which of my lines was hiding what. I only did that one season but I was wondering how much more I could have pulled out if I had bred those sibs back to each other? Does it keep getting uglier?

 

[ashandvine]

FINALLY!!! I finally have a Marans chick hatched out. I had fertility issues for a bit because this one pullet just kept getting out, the stinker.

This is a bit of a different tone than the last few posts. Sorry if I am a warm/wet blanket here. Now... on to sexing chicks.

edited to add pic

 

[Runawaylobster]

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

My family just doesn't understand why i get so excited, it's good to know you are not alone.. . Good luck on your hatch too!

 

[Glory Bee]

Can someone suggest a pop hole size for Marans? Our coop is in final stages of construction.The pop hole size is 12 in high x 11 in wide.Can a rooster get through that?

 

[Runawaylobster]

Can someone suggest a pop hole size for Marans? Our coop is in final stages of construction.The pop hole size is 12 in high x 11 in wide.Can a rooster get through that?

haha.. if you put a hen inside he will make sure he can get through

but all of the holes i made in my coop are 14 x 14 to accommodate the big fat cochins..

 

[snowbird]

Since Ben was the one quoted, I will add that I heard him say the same thing. Never bring in a hen only a rooster.

I have a huge problem with that because the roosters egg color genetics are just as important as the female and using an unknown male can get you into trouble in that aspect. Unless of course you can trust the breeder 100%

I wanted to bring up inbreeding. pawtraitart mentioned the mess you get when crossing siblings. I have seen that first hand and yes it is a mess. From that experience I did learn which of my lines was hiding what. I only did that one season but I was wondering how much more I could have pulled out if I had bred those sibs back to each other? Does it keep getting uglier?

Nicol, The brother-sister matings can be done successful but the person doingit must be able to cull very hard. At the present time I know of no line of Marans that are strong enough to attempt this method.

If you bring any new Marans to your flock they should be test mated before including them in your breeding program. Most of the regulars on BYC know that I hatched over 400 cull BC Marans as a result of not testing the male heavy enough.

 

[choptank330]

Good morning everyone !! I have another question as always, I have gotten offered a splash marans rooster. I have a fbcm hen. Those would make blue babies correct????

 

[snowbird]

Good morning everyone !! I have another question as always, I have gotten offered a splash marans rooster. I have a fbcm hen. Those would make blue babies correct????

You would most likely get some Blue Copper