Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[KF0002]

LP are $125 for 6 if your on her site, so you werent far off stating $200 a dozen.

I knew the price was way up there. Lol

 

[3riverschick]

Hey all, I'm pretty new to chickens, only being in the game a year so bear with me I'm a newbie to genetics. I have a line of blue and splash Marans originally from Bev Davis. I've been thinking of introducing black copper or blue copper into my flock. I've done some research into the genetics but don't understand the genetic difference in black copper vs black and blue copper vs blue. Where (genetically) does the copper come into play? (Before anyone gets upset, I am not breeding for SOP, just a hobby.)

Hi,
You really need to understand the genetic formulas for these varieties to see the difference in gene make up between them. And the be able to explain your genetic wants and needs with color experts. They most always use and respect the genetic formulas when giving counsel. The book "Genetics of Chicken Colours-The Basics" by Van Dort is superb for this. The latter half of the book is a color atlas of chicken colors which pictures are captioned with their genetic formulas. Worth every penny. http://www.chickencolours.com . Basically all copper comes from the Black Copper variety. Blue Copper comes from adding Blue to the Black Copper. Black can come from several color sources so it is necessary for you to determine the genetics behind your Blacks so you know what you will get when you mate them. . Add Blue to Black and you get certain genetic ratios of Blue, or Black or Splash colors. (look it up on the Net). Add Black Copper to Splash and you get genetic ratios of several colors There are pages around the Net discussing and explaining the genetic ratios one gets when mixing Black, Blue, Splash and Black Copper Marans. Keep track of what you mix with what. When selling the get always tell the buyer the genetic color history behind them. Even if they look like they are pure for one color, the buyer should be informed the come from a mix of colored parents.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

I knew the price was way up there. Lol

That's not a lot. I spent 50. a bird for my started Light Sussex when I bought my foundation trio. Buy the best and breed the best to the best. You don't need a bazillion to start. Just a trio (1M,2F) or a quad (2M,2F) will do Then make contacts with other Little Peddler breeders who are at least 500 miles from you and have been breeding them for 5 years. Veteran elite poultry breeders say this is the way to keep breeding "pure in the strain" and avoid inbreeding depression.
2 breeders, same strain, Living 500 miles apart. Each making their own management and breeding decisions in breeding to the Standard. In 5 years, their stock will be different enough that exchanging bird and breeding the into one's flock will be like a linebreeding, not an inbreeding, even tho the birds all came from the same strain. Swap top birds back and forth every 5 years to keep diversity and a pure strain.
Best,
Karen

 

[KF0002]

That's not a lot. I spent 50. a bird for my started Light Sussex when I bought my foundation trio. Buy the best and breed the best to the best. You don't need a bazillion to start. Just a trio (1M,2F) or a quad (2M,2F) will do Then make contacts with other Little Peddler breeders who are at least 500 miles from you and have been breeding them for 5 years.  Veteran elite poultry breeders say this is the way to keep breeding "pure in the strain" and avoid inbreeding depression.
 2 breeders, same strain, Living 500 miles apart. Each making their own management and breeding decisions in breeding to the Standard. In 5 years, their stock will be different enough that exchanging bird and breeding the  into one's flock will be like a linebreeding, not an inbreeding, even tho the birds all came from the same strain. Swap top birds back and forth every 5 years to keep diversity and a pure strain.
 Best,
 Karen

I wouldnt mind paying $50 to $100 each for good chickens. Believe me we have paid a whole lot more than that for our original game brood stock. I just said $200 was a lot for shipped eggs that you arent guaranteed will hatch.

 

[scflock]

I wouldnt mind paying $50 to $100 each for good chickens. Believe me we have paid a whole lot more than that for our original game brood stock. I just said $200 was a lot for shipped eggs that you arent guaranteed will hatch.

Two years ago I would have said you were crazy. After getting a novice start into breeding, and a rude awakening when posting pictures of my first birds on the BCM thread, I agree. That foundation flock is so important, and in the long run is the cheapest part of keeping chickens

 

[forgetful]

I bought a dozen LP and had 5 hatch. All pullets. I now have 4 good hens that are in need of a cockbird. At the moment it looks like I will be waiting for a cockerel from Brenda and will have to wait a year for him to mature. I wish there was a directory of people with the same strain. I'd love to find someone with extra cockerels that I can pick from to contrast my hens' weaknesses

 

[KF0002]

I bought a dozen LP and had 5 hatch. All pullets. I now have 4 good hens that are in need of a cockbird. At the moment it looks like I will be waiting for a cockerel from Brenda and will have to wait a year for him to mature. I wish there was a directory of people with the same strain. I'd love to find someone with extra cockerels that I can pick from to contrast my hens' weaknesses

That was a decent hatch then! Now if only you wouldve gotten a cockerel out of the bunch it wouldve been perfect. I may contact her and reserve a spot on her waiting list. Im sure she has a high demand. How long did u wait on your eggs? How were they packaged? Do u have pics to show how dark they were? Did she send any extras? Sorry for all the questions. Lol

 

[forgetful]

Yes I agree on the good hatch rate! I ordered when she had very few requests so they were shipped within a week. She packaged fantastically and I think she has photos on her site? If not she can send you photos of how she packs. Eggs weren't as dark as they normally are because it was the end of the season, but the hens I hatched lay lovely dark eggs. No extras, but they weren't laying well at the time for extras

 

[KF0002]

Yes I agree on the good hatch rate! I ordered when she had very few requests so they were shipped within a week. She packaged fantastically and I think she has photos on her site? If not she can send you photos of how she packs. Eggs weren't as dark as they normally are because it was the end of the season, but the hens I hatched lay lovely dark eggs. No extras, but they weren't laying well at the time for extras

Do you have any pics of your eggs from your LP hens? How old were they when they started laying?

 

[forgetful]

They were about 5 and a half months old. This is two of the first eggs I got



The darker one are about a week later, in a few different lights