Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[geebs]

why wait... Babies can be hatched from pullet eggs and the genetics sets the size not the egg size.

Throw them babies in!!! The quicker in the quicker they lay in the spring.

 

[berkeleysprings]

yes thats what i was thinking and i read about in lots of places the 3 basic colors ... theres nothing about that 3 color in the draft , i think it should be kinda worded different if they do mean wheaten and wheat are the same hears a pic of dark and light hens ,

, i was told that the dark hen is less desireable on the left and hen on right was better color .is that true ? the pictures are old and bad and hens were less then a year


,,,
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Shoulder of wing and back should be the same color.

A wheaten should basically have three colors - the neck, the chest/underside, and the back/shoulders. (and of course the black or blue tipping, but we're talking from a distance)

 

[Illia]

I would say so. My two best girls are just like that - One is quite light, the other very dark. I'm no expert on Wheaten coloring and what is good, what is bad (Walt would be the one to ask) I just know they vary a lot, and it can be hard to focus on the good stuff. Your dark one is indeed pretty dark of color, but otherwise I don't see much else wrong with her. She's got a good chest, not too much brown in her tail, but still, it should be mostly black. . Your light one seems to have a better body though.

 

[blackdotte]

The bird on the right is the correct color, the one on the left has unwanted Mahogany in it's make-up.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
That's what I was thinking, too. When carrying my own dark Wheaten I said the exact theory - "You must have some mahogany in there. . "

 

[berkeleysprings]

thank you ,,, any time your speaking i listen close And your knowledge shared is greatly appreciated ... i get that color from the result of one roo and 3 hens , but not every time i hatched a chick i think .....is that possable ?edit the proposed standard color calls or says disqualifations is washed off back colors to me the one on right is washed and left is better

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[snowbird]

Quote:

Randy, In your breeding program both of these females will work just fine, # one is a little dark but will produce some nice colored Males and # 2 is a little light in the hackle and will produce some nice females, these can be bred to the same male with great results. Don

 

[berkeleysprings]

Thanks for the info, I think you suggested to me that my darker back hens , to stear around in my small breeding program and I rehomed 2 hens like that…like u well advised ,,thanks very helpful ,
Quote:

Randy, In your breeding program both of these females will work just fine, # one is a little dark but will produce some nice colored Males and # 2 is a little light in the hackle and will produce some nice females, these can be bred to the same male with great results. Don

 

[wthchristi]

I was wondering if I could get feedback on my BCMs. Not the greatest pictures, but would love to know if I am at least going in the right direction with this breed. Thank you in advance.

One of my 2 roos (the oldest)

A few of my young pullets (have 7, may still cull 1 or 2). All have feathered feet.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Randy, In your breeding program both of these females will work just fine, # one is a little dark but will produce some nice colored Males and # 2 is a little light in the hackle and will produce some nice females, these can be bred to the same male with great results. Don


Randy, look at the thigh and leg on #1 and you can see that the laced wheat feathers are leaking through to this area. #2 you will notice has a really nice crean color in this area. Don