Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[KsKingBee]

Did you see the link I posted earlier in the thread for you- here it is again if you didn't see it:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/218/vitamin-e-deficiency

Yes we did, and I replied thanking you for the good read, sorry you missed it. It kind of affirms what I thought all along but what we have is not exactly what was in that article.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

I hope you get some answers.

I have ALWAYS advocated FEED only. I only use scratch to get them to do what I want. Hahaha. The fodder would only be a supplement and not their diet. I am sure it would be better than scratch. Mine don't get to free range AT ALL so I think it would be good for them.

Was the fodder on this thread????

The BCM thread was where I was talking about barley fodder.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Opinions about this May pullet? Is this what is referred to as "mossiness," where the copper is all over the place? I am new to Marans. Photos taken with a phone. I will post photos of a cockerel separately.

Anyone?

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Opinions on this early June (I think) cockerel? A couple of people have called him a splash (from early AM photo in the fog) and I am wondering why? The splash I have seen have a base color of near white or very very light ash gray, whereas this guy is blue base. He is very skittish (I have had him only one month), so he is difficult to photograph. He is just starting to get copper on his shoulders and it is a darker copper than his hackles. Is this common with the blue coppers? The first photo is with a pullet of the same age he came with who may be an OE. Her comb leads me to believe this is the case...it doesn't look at all like my other pullets' single combs.

Opinions?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I can't say that I have ever seen mossiness in a blue before.....I have never had a GROWN mossy pullet either. Mossiness is something I have only seen on chicks before a molt. I would guess that could be called mossy, I would call it leakage. I am convinced she is an olive egger and will probably NOT lay olive eggs but time will tell.

 

[Wynette]

I wonder if it's actually brassiness caused by the sun?

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

I wonder if it's actually brassiness caused by the sun?

What? The SUN causes the feathers to turn copper? Oh man Wynette, now I'm really confused...

 

[Wynette]

It can, it's difficult for me to see in that picture, but brassiness is usually on the "topside" - i.e., on the back. However, I have a splash Jersey Giant cock bird that gets quite brassy on his sides as well, because he's out in the sun all day.

I just looked again, and the pics appear fuzzy - do you have pics that are more clearly focused?

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

I can't say that I have ever seen mossiness in a blue before.....I have never had a GROWN mossy pullet either. Mossiness is something I have only seen on chicks before a molt. I would guess that could be called mossy, I would call it leakage. I am convinced she is an olive egger and will probably NOT lay olive eggs but time will tell.

This is a different pullet than we have been discussing in PM. To my knowledge, this breeder does not have any OEs. As far as I know and have been told, this is a blue copper pullet. I would only cross her with a clear-breasted male with no copper on the chest or just put her in the layer flock. If anyone wants to speak to conformation I'm happy to hear what the more experienced folks think. I'm here to learn and don't take constructive comments personally.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

It can, it's difficult for me to see in that picture, but brassiness is usually on the "topside" - i.e., on the back. However, I have a splash Jersey Giant cock bird that gets quite brassy on his sides as well, because he's out in the sun all day.

I just looked again, and the pics appear fuzzy - do you have pics that are more clearly focused?

All I have is the smart phone camera

I do reduce the file size before I upload them, should I not do that for better resolution? The files are over 1 MB orginally. She has no copper on her back, just chest spreading out toward the sides and belly.