Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[chasehope]

I am hoping that I can get opinions and critique of this 4 month old pullet. She ha not started laying yet so I am not sure what color her eggs will be. She has adequate foot/shank feathering

 

[Broad St Farm]

I am hoping that I can get opinions and critique of this 4 month old pullet. She ha not started laying yet so I am not sure what color her eggs will be. She has adequate foot/shank feathering

I do better looking at males, but will give it a try. I'm using my phone so it hard to see. It's not quite a side shot but it looks like the top line is nice. The chest could maybe be a little more rounded, but that may be the crop sticking out. Mine look like that sometimes. The bottom line is ok and I like the balance it has. The tail looks pinched to me. Could be a bit more open. Also the wing carriage might be a bit high. Again all my thought are looking off a small picture. I will let someone more exp chime in.

 

[Wynette]

I do better looking at males, but will give it a try. I'm using my phone so it hard to see. It's not quite a side shot but it looks like the top line is nice. The chest could maybe be a little more rounded, but that may be the crop sticking out. Mine look like that sometimes. The bottom line is ok and I like the balance it has. The tail looks pinched to me. Could be a bit more open. Also the wing carriage might be a bit high. Again all my thought are looking off a small picture. I will let someone more exp chime in.

I agree on most of your assessments; however, the topline is not correct. It should run slightly DOWNHILL from base of neck to base of tail. Her breast will fill out more, and she does, in fact, have nice balance, though slightly front heavy. JMO, based on this one pic. I am not an expert.

 

[Broad St Farm]

Wynette, I tried to take into consideration the slight angle that she is facing. From my view it looks like her top line does go down hill a bit. Again I'm looking at a 3x3 inch picture on my phone lol.

 

[chasehope]

I will see if I have any full profile pics of her, she does in person have a more sloping topline. She is a big girl and I can't wait to see her mature. Its been a process to get cuckoos with feathered shanks and I am sure they will continue to be a project.

 

[Wynette]

Its been a process to get cuckoos with feathered shanks

It's been a process for many folks, so I feel your pain there! I hear there were two lines that were quite nice, but have been lost as the years have gone by. What a shame. Glad to see folks working on the Cuckoo!

 

[chasehope]

Now if I could find an awesome Rooster! I am growing this guy out, but not sure what to think of him. he is about 12 weeks

 

[chasehope]

These are my 12 week old pullets I am growing out. Its all I have to work with so they are keepers for now.

 

[Broad St Farm]

The male has topline issues for sure and a pinched tail. Make sure you try and breed forward wide birds to help offset the pinched tails and keep an eye on their back angles.

 

[ajcress]

Does anyone have any pure cuckoo Marans hatching eggs or peeps for sale? My youngest son loves the barred rock look buti would like the nice dark eggs..french would be great but not a must long as the eggs are dark..please pm me if anyone is willing to help me..thanks in advance!