Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Chicken from the hood]

Hey everyone

I posted some pics of my Wheaton Maran pullets a while back, but now after hearing everyone talking about standards and what not I'd like too know if my birds

meet up to the standards

and if they don't, what the flaws are.
Thanks in advance

This is Juliet.

This is Juliet and her sister Misha to the left.

Misha

 

[Goose and Fig]

I think I've got a new color marans- copper blue

He's in the middle:

 

[ruth]

n.smithurmond :

Thanks for the input Pinkchick! I was able to get some better pics. I read a bit about the tail angle just now in a 4-h pamphlet, it never occurred to me before you mentioned it! It depends on how he's standing; in which posture is the tail angle measured since the angle changes with his stance? The more upright he is the more upright his tail angle is.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c381/nickismith/BCMpullet1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c381/nickismith/BCMRooster3.jpg

I think the roo is beautiful and a perfect example of a FBCM. His legs are the "pinkish grey" that the French standard call for. His size, comb, tail angle are all great. I still have no idea how or why the proposed APA standard for leg color is going to be "dark slate" since that color is specifically listed by the French as "not preferred".

If someone talks you into culling this guy, I'll buy him and pay for shipping.​

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
In picture #6 - #7 they look really nice and have super back and width with length. Don

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
I think the roo is beautiful and a perfect example of a FBCM. His legs are the "pinkish grey" that the French standard call for. His size, comb, tail angle are all great. I still have no idea how or why the proposed APA standard for leg color is going to be "dark slate" since that color is specifically listed by the French as "not preferred".

If someone talks you into culling this guy, I'll buy him and pay for shipping.

Ruth, I do not know why after all this time we are still talking about the French standard when we talk about these Marans in the USA. The French Standard means nothing when we will be showing. For us there will only be one standard and that is American. For as long as you keep breeding to the French standard your Marans will not be acceptable in the USA show room. Don

 

[n.smithurmond]

If I were breeding to the American standard would his leg color be troublesome? I didn't end up with any cockerels (out of the four) that had slate colored legs, just the two pullets.

Pinkchick- sorry, I missed your question! I was wondering what is the significance of the BCs showing wheaten influence? Are we saying that wheaten influence in a Black Copper= an incorrectly colored bird?

And also Don, if this particular cockerel didn't have white feathering (as the others do, just like you suggested) is there another way in which he's showing "wheaten influence?"

Sorry if these questions don't make much sense, I'm still very new at this and would love to understand what you're talking about! I appreciate all the feedback and critiques!

 

[ruth]

Quote:
I think the roo is beautiful and a perfect example of a FBCM. His legs are the "pinkish grey" that the French standard call for. His size, comb, tail angle are all great. I still have no idea how or why the proposed APA standard for leg color is going to be "dark slate" since that color is specifically listed by the French as "not preferred".

If someone talks you into culling this guy, I'll buy him and pay for shipping.

Ruth, I do not know why after all this time we are still talking about the French standard when we talk about these Marans in the USA. The French Standard means nothing when we will be showing. For us there will only be one standard and that is American. For as long as you keep breeding to the French standard your Marans will not be acceptable in the USA show room. Don

Because it means something to some of us (meaning ME). Everyone else can breed white chickens, with green legs, with purple heads that lay yellow eggs and call it a Marans for all I really care (all humor intended). My line came directly from France and it's the French standard I will breed to - at least some of them - I see no need to "reinvent the wheel" and it seems that those that do, are having a hard time reinventing it consistently (meaning they are having to cull 100-1). I may also do an APA breeding program for those that want to show birds but I'm not a show person. I got the birds for the beauty of the bird and the beauty of the egg.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Ruth, I do not know why after all this time we are still talking about the French standard when we talk about these Marans in the USA. The French Standard means nothing when we will be showing. For us there will only be one standard and that is American. For as long as you keep breeding to the French standard your Marans will not be acceptable in the USA show room. Don

Because it means something to some of us (meaning ME). Everyone else can breed white chickens, with green legs, with purple heads that lay yellow eggs and call it a Marans for all I really care (all humor intended). My line came directly from France and it's the French standard I will breed to - at least some of them - I see no need to "reinvent the wheel" and it seems that those that do, are having a hard time reinventing it consistently (meaning they are having to cull 100-1). I may also do an APA breeding program for those that want to show birds but I'm not a show person. I got the birds for the beauty of the bird and the beauty of the egg.

Ruth, Breed any way you would as you are paying for the feed. Not going to argue where your Marans came from as It does not make any difference to me one way or the other as it will be much easier for me to win in the show room . Good luck peddling your eggs. Don

 

[ruth]

n.smithurmond :

If I were breeding to the American standard would his leg color be troublesome? I didn't end up with any cockerels (out of the four) that had slate colored legs, just the two pullets.

Pinkchick- sorry, I missed your question! I was wondering what is the significance of the BCs showing wheaten influence? Are we saying that wheaten influence in a Black Copper= an incorrectly colored bird?

And also Don, if this particular cockerel didn't have white feathering (as the others do, just like you suggested) is there another way in which he's showing "wheaten influence?"

Sorry if these questions don't make much sense, I'm still very new at this and would love to understand what you're talking about! I appreciate all the feedback and critiques!

Your rooster is not Wheaten nor does he show any wheaten influence. He's a beautiful example of a french black copper marans. Please don't let those that are a little too zealous over "proposed" APA standards convince you that your roo is not worthy. I'm serious - I will buy him. Even if you did show him, there's no disqualification for pinkish grey legs so he could still win.

Who did you buy your birds from?​

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Because it means something to some of us (meaning ME). Everyone else can breed white chickens, with green legs, with purple heads that lay yellow eggs and call it a Marans for all I really care (all humor intended). My line came directly from France and it's the French standard I will breed to - at least some of them - I see no need to "reinvent the wheel" and it seems that those that do, are having a hard time reinventing it consistently (meaning they are having to cull 100-1). I may also do an APA breeding program for those that want to show birds but I'm not a show person. I got the birds for the beauty of the bird and the beauty of the egg.

Ruth, Breed any way you would as you are paying for the feed. Not going to argue where your Marans came from as It does not make any difference to me one way or the other as it will be much easier for me to win in the show room . Good luck peddling your eggs. Don

Gee Don - someone rub you the wrong way or something? As was posted earlier, a clean-legged Cuckoo Marans won best of breed at the Ohio National so nothing is carved in stone.