Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[savannahm0m]

I have two Blue Copper Marans pullets that are 9 months old. All of a sudden last week, they stopped laying eggs, and I haven't gotten a single once since then. Oddly enough, until they took a break, they were laying machines, 1 a day or every other day. I know (or hope) they will start laying again soon. They are not broody. I picked them up and examined them yesterday, and everything looks fine...vent looked comparable to the other hens, and they didn't have any signs of distress or of being egg-bound. Has anyone experienced this with this breed? They are eating & drinking normal. Thank you!

 

[gander007]

I have two Blue Copper Marans pullets that are 9 months old. All of a sudden last week, they stopped laying eggs, and I haven't gotten a single once since then. Oddly enough, until they took a break, they were laying machines, 1 a day or every other day. I know (or hope) they will start laying again soon. They are not broody. I picked them up and examined them yesterday, and everything looks fine...vent looked comparable to the other hens, and they didn't have any signs of distress or of being egg-bound. Has anyone experienced this with this breed? They are eating & drinking normal. Thank you!

Sounds normal as winter approaches but if you want you could add some protein to their diet and a good source is rabbit pellets I normally soak them in water till it turns into a mush then mix it with the regular feed and serve and I am still getting 6 egg's a day average from 10 hen's and one has chicks and two are laying under the shed and I am not in my 40's anymore so them egg's stay put..

 

[Debs55]

Hi all! I saw an ad for a maran flock being sold at a swap I will be attending. Ive always wanted some of those dark eggs but cant seem to find hatching eggs near me. From the pictures it look like she has splashe hens, a black copper hen and a black copper rooster. I really like the look of the splash...but I wanted them for breeding. Im not sure how the colors work in marans. Do you breed between colors?

 

[LAChick]

Hello all, I am Rochelle, wanted to share & confirm that the only surviving Marans chick in this clutch is looking to be a cockerel! Really enjoy the posts! Thank you

 

[ladycat]

Hello all, I am Rochelle, wanted to share & confirm that the only surviving Marans chick in this clutch is looking to be a cockerel! Really enjoy the posts! Thank you

Looks like a boy to me.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Hi all! I saw an ad for a maran flock being sold at a swap I will be attending. Ive always wanted some of those dark eggs but cant seem to find hatching eggs near me. From the pictures it look like she has splashe hens, a black copper hen and a black copper rooster. I really like the look of the splash...but I wanted them for breeding. Im not sure how the colors work in marans. Do you breed between colors?

black X splash = 100% blue
black X black = 100% black

 

[Debs55]

thanks! I am getting a quad next week. 3 splash hens and a black copper rooster

 

[taymar's flock]

I have a question about my laced black copper rooster. He is six months old and still does not have tail feathers, other than that he is a beautiful bird. I have noticed that often my marans roosters have tail feathers come in later than my other breeds, but now I'm concerned that he has a tail deformity instead of late growth. I was wanting to keep him for breeding. So what I am asking, has anyone had a rooster get his tail feathers after six months of age?

 

[desertmarcy]

I have a question about my laced black copper rooster. He is six months old and still does not have tail feathers, other than that he is a beautiful bird. I have noticed that often my marans roosters have tail feathers come in later than my other breeds, but now I'm concerned that he has a tail deformity instead of late growth. I was wanting to keep him for breeding. So what I am asking, has anyone had a rooster get his tail feathers after six months of age?

No, that is not normal. In fact, by 6 months of age, he should have molted out tail feathers and be growing in new ones. Are you sure another bird is not picking/pulling his feathers out? The pullets seem to be worse in that behavior I have noticed.

 

[taymar's flock]

I wish that was the case, but he has never had any feathers to pluck. He did not even have baby tail feathers. I have watched him closely and none of the other chickens are missing tail feathers. I guess I knew he was not right. Thank you for your help. I really needed a second opinion.