Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[MandyFitch]

Also, is my "girl" actually a Blue?

Thanks for your patience and input, BYC is the best!

 

[upthecreek]

Also, is my "girl" actually a Blue?

Thanks for your patience and input, BYC is the best!

You have some beautiful Blues !!
I'm not able to pick out the pullets from cockerels , at least not good enough to help anyone but there are people on here that seem to be able to do it perfect .
If you don't get a good responce in a day or so just post it again someone who knows will eventually catch the post .

Best to You and Your beautiful Marans ,
Shannon

 

[DMRippy]

And here they are at nearly five weeks: Alleged roo 1 same guy alleged roo 2 same guy alleged hen - no black feathers at all. (weird?) same girl, nice comb and waddle. Also bigger than the boys, right from the start. boy left, girl right. If you look closely at girl, a tiny speck of copper coloring on back of head. Or else someone pooped on her... Thoughts? Am I wrong?

all are blue and all look like roos to me. the one you think is a girl is 100% a roo. pullets at that age don't have any pink combs. sorry.

 

[upthecreek]

Quote: I was kinda shocked when i first looked at your birds with them all looking to be roosters to me but i'm not used to doing that kind of comparison except actually looking at the chic(i'd rather play monday morning quarterback behind someone else like DMRippy who does an excellent job with this .
Sometimes you might have an exception but not to often ,
Best of luck with your birds ,
Shannon

 

[MandyFitch]

I was kinda shocked when i first looked at your birds with them all looking to be roosters to me but i'm not used to doing that kind of comparison except actually looking at the chic(i'd rather play monday morning quarterback behind someone else like DMRippy who does an excellent job with this .
Sometimes you might have an exception but not to often ,
Best of luck with your birds ,
Shannon

Wow. That is such a bummer. Sigh.

 

[Wynette]

Good morning, Marans peeps!

Don't forget to get your set of eggs shipped off today or at the latest, tomorrow, for the egg show the Marans Chicken Club is hosting at the Michigan Fowl Fancier's Fowl Fest this coming weekend! Ribbons, cash prizes for "fun" contests, and a small original "Marans inspired" painting are the prizes that will be given!

PM for more info. - a set includes 3 eggs; ship via priority mail, and I'll get them included in the egg show!

It's a GREAT way to see how your eggs compare to others, and show them off a bit!

Here is the flier that was done for the show:

October 12 – 13, 2013
Michigan Poultry Fanciers
Michigan Fowl Fest ~ Birch Run, Michigan

Marans Egg Show*

Ribbons awarded for Best of each variety & People’s Choice
Trophy: Best Overall

**JUST for FUN**

$20 Cash Prize to the winner of each contest below!!

The special contests below are all based on 3-egg sets,
just as with regular egg shows. All must be
Marans eggs (or Marans cross for first contest):

Prettiest “Olive-egger” eggs

Most Heavily Speckled

Smallest set (by weight - all 3 egg weights combined)

*Anyone can enter – you need not be an MCCUSA member to enter!
$5 entry fee for each set of 3 eggs entered (eggs will be destroyed
upon end of contest, unless we are otherwise instructed)

PM with any questions, and for more information and a PDF of the entry form.
Eggs must be received by Friday, October 11 (you may also submit them in person at the show no later than 10 a.m. Saturday).​

 

[Bangarang64]

I let my wheatens out to free range a bit the other day. I only do it for an hour at a time just before dusk because we have a bobcat problem. They inspected one of my lemon trees and gave their approval.

 

[MandyFitch]

I let my wheatens out to free range a bit the other day. I only do it for an hour at a time just before dusk because we have a bobcat problem. They inspected one of my lemon trees and gave their approval.

 

[taterdee]

Hello. I have just got started with a back yard flock of marans because I love the color of the eggs and the beauty of the eggs. I have two 10week olds that the sex is still a mystery to me any options welcome. Also I have more 5 week olds how do you tell?

Anyone able to help with any input?

They both look like Roos to me but a closer picture might help more. Compared to many other breeds, Marans all have more prominent combs early on but eventually you start seeing some of them getting bigger, redder combs and wattles faster. Mine about 10 weeks too.
Pullet

Cockerel

 

[MandyFitch]

all are blue and all look like roos to me. the one you think is a girl is 100% a roo. pullets at that age don't have any pink combs. sorry.

DMRippy, I appreciate your experience here so I'm just double checking as I'm about to give the birds to a 4H kid who swears they won't be food. Is there any chance that any of them might be pullets? If there's a hair's breadth chance, how long should wait until I can be 100%? I will still give away T Rex (formerly She-Rex) so the kid won't go empty handed.