Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[puhtz]

8Hi y'all.
My husband brought home a BCM rooster on my birthday in January. I was NOT at all happy about this bird. My first concern was about the
safety of the 3 bantams (a pair of Light Brahmas & a female Cochin) that made up my "flock." Because of the size of this guy, I didn't think my little ones stood a chance. So when the next auction came (2 wks. later) we took that BCM to the auction to give him back to the fellow my husband bought him from. Well, that didn't happen. The fellow was there, but really didn't want him back. Instead, he gave me a quick education about the breed, coaxed me into giving his bird a second chance and we brought him back home with us!! I am SO
GLAD we did. He is so cool. Very personable

 

[Lilwanis]

Quick and easy question: when does eye color change? Do you ever see dark eyes go lighter? I was noticing that one of my 10 week old cockerels has very black eyes. Otherwise, so far, he has the best look to him (to my untrained eye) per the standard. He is also my only blue birchen.

 

[snowbird]

Quick and easy question: when does eye color change? Do you ever see dark eyes go lighter? I was noticing that one of my 10 week old cockerels has very black eyes. Otherwise, so far, he has the best look to him (to my untrained eye) per the standard. He is also my only blue birchen.

Eye color can change at any time, I have seen them change up to 9-12 months old. Just let nature take its course.

 

[lawatt]

hi thread -- i'm a relative newcomer here, with two little birchen marans chicks who are nearly three weeks old (friday) -- and i've noticed, one has longer/more primary wing feathers than the other at this point, although they otherwise look identical. is there anything to be read into this re: gender, or is it just natural variation? (both still have very dark brown/black little combs, so no hints there.)

thanks!

 

[gilavina]

if you have time to get a couple of photos of the chicks to post here that will help. Feather sexing is not something that works for all birds, and usually needs to be done when they are a couple of days old. If you could get side shots of them that show them clearly, that will help us to see what you have.

 

[lawatt]

if you have time to get a couple of photos of the chicks to post here that will help. Feather sexing is not something that works for all birds, and usually needs to be done when they are a couple of days old. If you could get side shots of them that show them clearly, that will help us to see what you have.

aha, these may be too old, then -- but i'll do my best to get photos! they are growing up with a broody, & so it is hard to get them lined up for the camera... but here are two photos from when they were 10 days old (june 1st):






left-hand one is turned the wrong way in this second photo, i just realized!

 

[gilavina]

aha, these may be too old, then -- but i'll do my best to get photos! they are growing up with a broody, & so it is hard to get them lined up for the camera... but here are two photos from when they were 10 days old (june 1st):






left-hand one is turned the wrong way in this second photo, i just realized!

You said these were birchens? In the first photo I believe the one on the left is a cockerel and the one on the right is a pullet. The one on the right has some strong mossiness coming thru. Depending on what you are wanting to do with them, if breeding is a goal, it may cause you some trouble down the road for sure

 

[lawatt]

You said these were birchens? In the first photo I believe the one on the left is a cockerel and the one on the right is a pullet. The one on the right has some strong mossiness coming thru. Depending on what you are wanting to do with them, if breeding is a goal, it may cause you some trouble down the road for sure

yes, birchens from Thistledown Farms:
http://thistledownfarmgy.com/marans.html

i'm not sure that i'll end up doing any breeding (I'm still only a year into having chickens at all, and so a relative newcomer!), but not clear what you mean by mossiness? greatly appreciate any guidance!

 

[gilavina]

yes, birchens from Thistledown Farms:
http://thistledownfarmgy.com/marans.html

i'm not sure that i'll end up doing any breeding (I'm still only a year into having chickens at all, and so a relative newcomer!), but not clear what you mean by mossiness? greatly appreciate any guidance!

Mossiness is what you can see on the wings and even up onto the head, where it is reddish flecks and markings. In birchens in particular, where they will color in silver this kind of mossiness has never been something I've been able to work with in my breeding pens.

 

[lawatt]

Mossiness is what you can see on the wings and even up onto the head, where it is reddish flecks and markings. In birchens in particular, where they will color in silver this kind of mossiness has never been something I've been able to work with in my breeding pens.

got it -- thank you! i'll keep an eye on them as they keep developing... and is there a particular age when one can often tell marans' genders, or does it vary too much to say? (my only other marans are two cuckoos, they were easy!)