Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[scflock]

Just took a picture for another thread, but it's a good representation of the color of hatchery cuckoo Marans egg color. The others are Ameraucana

 

[KF0002]

Just took a picture for another thread, but it's a good representation of the color of hatchery cuckoo Marans egg color. The others are Ameraucana

Looks like someone is about to set some eggs! Lucky you! My freeloading bunch is on strike except for one little game pullet thats been laying pretty regularly. Im about to fire up the crock pot.. lol.

 

[scflock]

Looks like someone is about to set some eggs! Lucky you! My freeloading bunch is on strike except for one little game pullet thats been laying pretty regularly. Im about to fire up the crock pot.. lol.

Yep, that's the next set. I'm hatching out some AMs this weekend, then in they go

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

Quote:
Yes, the Cuckoo are much lighter, almost what you would expect from a PBR. Cukoo's are pretty birds, I am old school and prefer the BCM's myself. I have a growing flock outside. Two Roo's and right about 23 hens, 19 of which are still pullets. One of mine has gone broody and is sitting on quite a clutch of eggs. We're letting her incubate some of my Blue/Splash Ameraucana eggs at the moment too. At the moment I have an automatic turning Brinsea. If I get more serious about hatching, I may move up to a Sportsman. When I get my Coronation Sussex in and mature, I might end up needing it.

 

[scflock]

Quote:
Yes, the Cuckoo are much lighter, almost what you would expect from a PBR. Cukoo's are pretty birds, I am old school and prefer the BCM's myself. I have a growing flock outside. Two Roo's and right about 23 hens, 19 of which are still pullets. One of mine has gone broody and is sitting on quite a clutch of eggs. We're letting her incubate some of my Blue/Splash Ameraucana eggs at the moment too. At the moment I have an automatic turning Brinsea. If I get more serious about hatching, I may move up to a Sportsman. When I get my Coronation Sussex in and mature, I might end up needing it.

I'm growing out my first breeder quality flock of BCM from Julie Akers right now

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

Quote:
Yes, I had a lot of culls along the way. Many roosters didn't make the cut either due to a mean streak or just wasn't a good representation of the breed, and I didn't want them passing on their genes. The lead rooster I have that survived the culls, Chauncy, is a big beautiful roo and breeds regularly and is fertile.

 

[scflock]

Quote:
Yes, I had a lot of culls along the way. Many roosters didn't make the cut either due to a mean streak or just wasn't a good representation of the breed, and I didn't want them passing on their genes. The lead rooster I have that survived the culls, Chauncy, is a big beautiful roo and breeds regularly and is fertile.

My first BCM flock was a total bust. I sold them all and started over. I think I have a much better start this time

 

[KF0002]

My first BCM flock was a total bust. I sold them all and started over. I think I have a much better start this time

Yeah I know what you mean. I am growing out some BCM that are a mix of Bev Davis/Wade Jeanne bloodlines right now and I'm seeing traits in them that I don't like already. Such as there was one clean legged roo that cropped up out of a total of 9 that hatched. There are a couple that I've noticed that have a few small feathers on their middle toes. The eggs they hatched out of were pretty dark so I am just going to be very choosy as to who goes into that laying pen, and who goes into the breeding pens. I have some BCM chicks coming in March that are a mix of Greenfire Farms and Little Peddler lines so I'm looking forward to working with them. They are all being toe marked as chicks and wing banded when they get a little bigger so I know who is who and who came from where. What hens I don't use for breeding will supply us with beautiful dark brown eggs to eat.

 

[KF0002]

Quote: Rooster, I would love to see some pics of your flock if you have them.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

Quote:
The Bev Davis/Wade Jeanne bloodline is what I am working with. My big roo is not clean legged. Neither is the back up roo. I don't like clean legged BCM's for sure.