Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[chickadoodles]

Several folks are working on Blue Birchen; I don't know if this woman is doing that, but that's how you would go about it (well, that's one of the ways). When you say "not worth anything" I'm a bit concerned; if you are getting these birds to try to make money, you need to know up front that poultry keeping is not really a money making venture. Don't get me wrong, there are folks that do make money with it, but they are few & far between.

Hi Wynette, I am raising several breeds in hopes of selling the hatching eggs and chicks this spring. I know I have not made much money and that is fine. I needed a hobby more than anything. I appreciate your helpful advice Wynette. Thank you!

 

[DMRippy]

Hello, I am trying to get some Marans for my first time. I found a lady that has Blue Maran hens with a Birchen Rooster over them. She showed me pics of the offspring and they are blue. But does that mean they will be a mixed mess? Not worth anything?

make sure the blues are not really coppers. that would be a mess to fix. solid blue Marans are HARD to find. I have 2 blues but they were accidents....hehe. I need an accidental. solid roo now.....years down the road the hard way.

 

[chickadoodles]

make sure the blues are not really coppers. that would be a mess to fix. solid blue Marans are HARD to find. I have 2 blues but they were accidents....hehe. I need an accidental. solid roo now.....years down the road the hard way.

.

 

[Wynette]

Its an infection of the bottom of the foot. They get a sore, or dirt and poop that builds up and makes a big infectious cyst. If you dont do surgery to get it out it becomes septic and they die. Do a web search.

Many oldtime breeders do not treat for bumblefoot; (I am one that does not). I find they usually heal up on their own without issue. They need to have cut themselves - stepped on something sharp, and the bacteria is in the dirt; if they have a healthy immune system, their body will "deal" with it and recover without issue.

Mareks CAN most definitely present as a weakness in one leg. Typically, one leg will be held out to the side.

 

[Wynette]

Here is a pic she sent me of her birds. What do you think of them?

IMHO, this is a poor quality (type) pullet/hen. Topline is quite off; it should run downhill from the base of the neck to the base of the tail - this female's topline is exactly opposite of the SOP. Her eye is a bit light. Tail is pinched. That said, there are not a lot of blues out there.

 

[Wynette]

Hi Wynette, I am raising several breeds in hopes of selling the hatching eggs and chicks this spring. I know I have not made much money and that is fine. I needed a hobby more than anything. I appreciate your helpful advice Wynette. Thank you!

They are most definitely a fun hobby! BEST of luck to you!!

 

[chickadoodles]

IMHO, this is a poor quality (type) pullet/hen. Topline is quite off; it should run downhill from the base of the neck to the base of the tail - this female's topline is exactly opposite of the SOP. Her eye is a bit light. Tail is pinched. That said, there are not a lot of blues out there.

Thank you for your HO! I guess I will keep looking around for some.

They are most definitely a fun hobby! BEST of luck to you!!

Thank you Wynette! I enjoy them so much!

 

[Wynette]

My understanding is:

French = feathered legs
English = clean legs

Just saying "Marans" without specifying can refer to either or both.

Maybe my understanding is wrong.

The breed is still new, so it will take a while to clear up people's confusion and settle on a universal vernacular.

If you are in the U.S. - they are Marans, and they have feathered shanks.

If you are in the U.S., and are referring to a Marans that has NO feathers on the shanks, it is not considered a Marans, in the harshest form of interpretation of the SOP. A clean-legged "Marans" would be disqualified in a show. That is not to say that a clean-legged Marans is not helpful for breeding - on the contrary. If I had clean-shanked hens with very good type and a cock bird that was HEAVILY feathered, I would put them together, in hopes that the offspring would be a "happy medium."

Anybody have any idea what kind of Maran this lovely girl is? I also have a black copper maran, no doubt about her. This brown hen lays the most eggs of all and they are dark. I just got all my hens a month ago and had ordered the two marans. Also got two light Sussex and two rhode island reds and an americauna. They are all the most inquisitive and friendly girls. So far, only the Marans are laying, but expect the rest to start soon.

She is lovely, but is not a Marans. She has a partridge pattern, white on her lobes, eyes are much too dark; all indicating she is not a purebred Marans. Her hackles almost appear Wellsummer-ish. she is probalby a Welsummer or Marans cross.

 

[Old Hens House]

Thanks for the correction.

"S" will be there from now on. I have named all my hens and know them by name, funny thing they even respond to their names. I have named them, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russel, Nefertti, Queen Elizabeth, Hillary Clinton, Blonde ( the singer) Shug, Jodie Arias, Ruby Ruby, Little Lilly Langtree. Tessa Girl, Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz. They do make me happy, entertain me and the neighbors and best of all give me beautiful extra large eggs.

I really appreciate BYC

for all the great blogs, information and help I am able to obtain from this sight. Everyone is so nice and friendly, thanks

 

[midnight2157]

After the comments, I looked at the Welsummer online and she very well could be one or a Marans cross as she has feathers on her legs. Although, I bought her as a Marans. Ultimately, it doesn't matter as she is an awesome hen. I am absolutely loving having hens.