Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

Quote:
I have two marans hens that lay 5 out of 7 days. . . That is pretty prolific to me. The one hen lays a JUMBO egg. So, don't go worring about your eggs yet. . . . .

 

[pinkchick]

Ok Math these are for you. Discuss away!

 

[math ace]

Thanks pink - -

I guess the easiest way to do this is ask which of these pretty hens has the BEST back / tail combo and which has the WORSE.

 

[geebs]

OMGosh the byline is great.... I just slobbered on the screen... ha ha... Geez you are funny Pink!!!

May I critique your birds????

 

[pinkchick]

Absolutely Jan!

 

[pinkchick]

Just thought that I would share all of todays pretties.

 

[geebs]

Are we talking just tails... I must say... You have some long tales... and tails. Okay... here it is..

Bird one… (hard to grade due to the blinding I am taking looking at the rooster in the background!!! But I see a dark eye…could be the angle… I see a good shaped bird and the tail I like well on this one… I do notice a lack of feathering that is likely to be improved on the next generation The bird is standing odd and wouldn’t fit very well into the frame so I cannot give a yay or nay on the bird quality… I can however say that the length of back is desirable…the blue is nice and even… horn and leg color good and it appears to be a pullet so it is likely to gain more substance as it matures.. also might have a lighter eye then also.

Bird 2 I like the size of this bird and the eye color appears to be in the correct realm (hard to see)…. Horn on the beak is correct.. I can see some leaking of the copper in the neck which would make me think this bird would produce nice copper necked offspring when mated with a coppernecked male. About the back… It’s length is good however it isn’t as level as I like and there is entirely to much length on the tail feathers… I do like the angle.. It is nearly impossible to see the feathering but I can see that the leg color appears to be blue.

Bird 3 The general shape of this bird is appealing… It has a nice eye and the comb and wattles are coming in nice… This is going to be a nice hefty bird… I like the length of back and the tail, however it is seamless and I am not sure if I like this as well as a bird that has a less seamless transition from the coverts to the tail itself.. This may also improve with maturity. This is certainly a top choice so far.

Bird 4… I would have to ask what variety as there is no Copper.. It is a young bird with a very long tail already… So much so that it appears unbalanced… Nice eye and cute face…The quality of the black is good from what I can see… mousy underneath and beetlegreen on top… I like the transition of the tail but it is not the birds best feature in my opinion… It may improve with age.

Bird 5 The General appearance of this bird is good… The back is a little long and I can see that this is a young birdd with lots to offer…The copper is still coming in and appears to go to the front…Nicely done The leg feathering is there.. I would have to say for myself that this is my favorite of the display so far.. the tail is a good length. They eye color is kinda hard to see… I am hoping it is in the range.. it is hard to tell.. I love the long neck on this bird… It should fill in and have good substance and the feet/legs… Excellent. I love the white toenails.


Bird 6… I like the face and head of this young pullet.. It has a nice long skull like number 2 bird though not quite as long… I like the front end of the bird and another picture may well make me like her much better…I don’t feel I can give a fair assessment of this one due to the way she is standing… If I were to critique her it may leave her with less merit than is due..

Bird 7 I love the comb.. They eye may be a little dark, however for a splash/blue hen it is VERY attractive… The comb is perfect and should yield nice males.. The horn super ice.. I love the back… nearly level and the tail angle is good… The tail is a little long though very attractive on this heavier bird… The leg feathering though hard to discern appears to be there…You need to ship this one to me!!! And the black one… ha ha

Thank you PinK for the chance to look at your flock and assess them… You are brave!!!

 

[math ace]

Oh PINK where are yoooou?

OK, so I need to know what shape the back / tail should make on a hen and what angle the tail should be for a hen. . . .

Geebs, if you can help me identify the good and bad, I would appreciate it.

 

[pinkchick]

Yes, Math has been wanting to discuss tail sets for female birds.

 

[math ace]

I am guessing here - - since the roos are prefered to exhibit a 45 degree tail set . . ..

Then, I am assuming the hens should NOT have a u shape tail . . . If this is true, then I would have to pick hen # 3 (blue ) and hen #5 ( black ) as the best. Hen #5 is young and concerns me because the back looks long.

So - - -now experts ( or at least better than me) friends - - - PLEASE step in and correct all my wrong assumptions !