Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Wynette]

Desertmarcy is correct. Marans are now emerging from years of "creative" breeding ( which included some poorly thought out crossbreeding to other breeds). The last 6 years ,dedicated breeders have done a wonderful job of setting traits in strains and winning at the shows in top competition. Mixing strains like you want to do is a step backward because of the color balancing in the BCM and the need to set traits if you want birds which show consistent breed type..

There are lots of folks out there who have been working with Marans for 5+ years. Stick with those folks and you'll at the least, get someone who has experience with this breed, which is half the battle, it seems. I've been working the Black Copper variety for 7+ years, and though I'm happy where I am, my flock still has a long way to go.

Here's one strategy that has been working for me. Find someone you get along with well, who has the same aspirations that you do. Get that person a good representation of your flock, via sending a breeding trio, quad, or with hatching eggs & help them make cull decisions early on. In taking some guidelines suggested in the heritage large fowl thread by Bob Blosl, choose a "breeding partner" several states away. The thought is that the distance between you makes both flocks hardier (nutshell version). Then, every 3-5 years. swap a cockerel. This way, you have the same line you are both working, but you're essentially bringing in "new" blood every few years. This has worked well for me, my breeding partner is fabulous, and I feel very fortunate to have found someone who shares my passion & aspirations!

[Sidebar: having a breeding partner with the same genetics is also helpful if you should every, say for example, lose your flock to predators, a barn fire, etc.]

 

[mtadkins5]

Are Marans good mothers and how often do they go broody? Are they a calm breed?

 

[papua1]

Hello,

i am starting with Marans, i bougth my first trio one year ago.Can you please check my pictures and give me a opinion about the standard,they hare black copper marans.
I have one doubt about the hens comb, because in the standard they say that is a single comb, but they dont refer nothing about the number of pics or form.Thank you all.

 

[papua1]

thank you for your help.

 

[knightie]

I have a friend of a friend with gold and silver salmon Marans, she sent some eggs but we had a horrible hatch, figured outmost of the issues So we thought we'd start with a more common color but one that would work with the salmons... Since there is so little info on them I'm not sure where to start. So the question is if we plan to breed gold/silver salmons in the not too distant future what colors could we use to improve them (I know the person told us their egg color needed some work, I think the rest of them overall was pretty good, but I'm trying to think ahead.). Any suggestions?

 

[TammyTX]

Question about Black Copper Marans eye color.

I bought 2 pullets on Saturday. One has a medium dark greenish(?) eyes and the other has light green eyes. I actually thought the light green eyes look weird. The pullets look like they are about 5-6 weeks old. Is it too early to tell? What color are their eyes supposed to be?

Also, do BCM roos and hens have the same color of eyes....? I'm a little worried about my two "pullets"!

Thanks.

 

[desertmarcy]

Question about Black Copper Marans eye color.

I bought 2 pullets on Saturday. One has a medium dark greenish(?) eyes and the other has light green eyes. I actually thought the light green eyes look weird. The pullets look like they are about 5-6 weeks old. Is it too early to tell? What color are their eyes supposed to be?

Also, do BCM roos and hens have the same color of eyes....? I'm a little worried about my two "pullets"!

Thanks.

Yes, it is too early to tell. They change a lot. Sometimes the pullets' eyes do not change color until they start to lay. Both sexes should have bay colored eyes.

 

[maryhysong]

Are Marans good mothers and how often do they go broody? Are they a calm breed?

I have had BCM since Dec so very much a noob to this breed. however, I've had 2 pullets about 5-6 months old try and go broody. It's too hot so I tossed them into different pens to break them up. I had about 12 roosters and culled down over time to 4. These boys were raised together and are still penned together. One is very sweet and easy to pick up. The other three are a bit harder to catch, with one being very wary. One has challenged me a couple of times, but not in a super aggressive way. They are much much calmer birds than my easter eggers. They are not as nosy, friendly as my buff orpingtons, which will come sit in my lap if I sit down in the coop, (and peck at any stains or lint on my clothes) but are more like my Welsummers; calm and cool, but not lap chickens.

My sweet BCM boy is one of my favorite chickens.

 

[mtadkins5]

I have had BCM since Dec so very much a noob to this breed. however, I've had 2 pullets about 5-6 months old try and go broody. It's too hot so I tossed them into different pens to break them up. I had about 12 roosters and culled down over time to 4. These boys were raised together and are still penned together. One is very sweet and easy to pick up. The other three are a bit harder to catch, with one being very wary. One has challenged me a couple of times, but not in a super aggressive way. They are much much calmer birds than my easter eggers. They are not as nosy, friendly as my buff orpingtons, which will come sit in my lap if I sit down in the coop, (and peck at any stains or lint on my clothes) but are more like my Welsummers; calm and cool, but not lap chickens.

My sweet BCM boy is one of my favorite chickens.

Thank you very much! I have also ordered Welsummers and Easter Eggers from breeders. So you helped alot

 

[R-FuzzyButtFarm]

Sorry but what are Pullet eggs?