Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Keara]

Quote:
Debbi,

Thanks.... you guys are a tough crowd and I think it is great! I tell you, at first I could have cared less about breed standards, I just wanted a good dual use bird. But after coming across this thread I have become infected with you all's passion for this breed.

I'll let you know how it goes. Guess it's time to buy a notebook and some leg bands so I can keep track of what I'm doing.

-Keara

Keara, so glad to hear it! Yep - keep records, make notes on anything you see...things that may seem miniscule now could prove helpful in the future! Did you post pics of your girls? Maybe we can help you choose a perfect fit for your boy!

I will try to get a few good photos tonight. I only have two girls right now. My plan is to buy and hatch some of your (Wynette) eggs in the spring, plus I have a few juveniles on order with greenfire. So hopefully I will have lots of good birds to work with next year. I guess I should be adding a few breeding pens too! Who knew I would become a chicken purest

!

 

[sewandgrow]

Quote:
Debbi,

Thanks.... you guys are a tough crowd and I think it is great! I tell you, at first I could have cared less about breed standards, I just wanted a good dual use bird. But after coming across this thread I have become infected with you all's passion for this breed.

I'll let you know how it goes. Guess it's time to buy a notebook and some leg bands so I can keep track of what I'm doing.

-Keara

Speaking of leg bands you experts out there......................Is there a place I can find a system of identifacation I do do with leg bands to keep track of who's who & which generation. I just started last year & want to be able to tell at a glance. Am I hoping for too much? I tried the raising chciks thread but there is no attivity there. Are suggestions in a book somewhere?
Thanks
Karen in California

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Debbi,

Thanks.... you guys are a tough crowd and I think it is great! I tell you, at first I could have cared less about breed standards, I just wanted a good dual use bird. But after coming across this thread I have become infected with you all's passion for this breed.

I'll let you know how it goes. Guess it's time to buy a notebook and some leg bands so I can keep track of what I'm doing.

-Keara

Speaking of leg bands you experts out there......................Is there a place I can find a system of identifacation I do do with leg bands to keep track of who's who & which generation. I just started last year & want to be able to tell at a glance. Am I hoping for too much? I tried the raising chciks thread but there is no attivity there. Are suggestions in a book somewhere?
Thanks
Karen in California

I would suggest you toe punch the chicks and when they are adults put the three hole adjustable aluminuin band on them as it is numbered. You could also toe punch and put the wing band in their wing when they are about a month old. Keep a note book to keep the numbers down in and any other info. that you might think needs to be written down.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Wynette, Will give you my take on a Marans with a flat back on the Male. If you have a nice broad chested bird with broad back this will lower the front end a little causing the back to level off some. The proposed Standard only calls for the back to have a slight incline from the top of the shoulders. On the length of neck the standard only calls for a medium length, here again if the front is developed it will drop a small amount causing the neck to look short.
If the male does not have white in tail or wing or neck undercolor I would be glad to have one like him to use with my females. A test mating would show real quick if he was going to transfer anything.

Well I checked my roo "Frodo" last night, and found no white feathering/undercoat, tail , wing or, under hackles. I did find one feather on one foot that was white at the tip but black at the base.

So I guess I will hatch some of his eggs once his girls have been laying for a bit.

-Keara


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/KearaMc/PA250026.jpg

I would use that bird for breeding. That is a much better start than most people have had from what I can see. He looks like he has a great body.

Walt

 

[Ivywoods]

Toe punch? I've never heard of it.

I, too, am going to have to develop a system as I want to raise BCM's and some black and lavender ameraucanas.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Keara, so glad to hear it! Yep - keep records, make notes on anything you see...things that may seem miniscule now could prove helpful in the future! Did you post pics of your girls? Maybe we can help you choose a perfect fit for your boy!

I will try to get a few good photos tonight. I only have two girls right now. My plan is to buy and hatch some of your (Wynette) eggs in the spring, plus I have a few juveniles on order with greenfire. So hopefully I will have lots of good birds to work with next year. I guess I should be adding a few breeding pens too! Who knew I would become a chicken purest

!

I'm beyond that....I'm a chicken snob.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Toe punch system

You will need to buy a toe punch and leg bands. The punch marks make sure that you still know all the info you need if the band comes off.
Use the lines next to the punches to write your info. (mother/father etc).

Walt

 

[Debbi]

Walt,

Looks like a good back up system. Do they allow this or deduct any points for this in show birds?

 

[Debbi]

Just curious here. Will the MCCUsa ever come out with leg bands like the MOAC has?

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
No points off. Some people even clip out the whole web.

Walt