Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Harris5]

What are the monumental incorrectable faults?

I thought the outline of my rooster looked pretty good until he developed a white feather, white fluff, some lighter hackles, and now looks like his 'lobes' are red with a little white tinge. The older he gets...the more he falls apart. I have a rooster without all of the above faults, but he is a full pound smaller than the first rooster I mentioned.

Rooster one:

Rooster two:

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[geebs]

Roach back.... Foot issues... Tail to one side... Late feathering gene. something that can breed forward than would likely affect the crop of youngsters that isn't a fault but a DQ for the conformation of any bird...

 

[cpartist]

Quote:
Absolutely Geebs

with Marans it seems to be all about complimentary,
and compensation breeding. I don't think you need to hatch a gazillion chicks to do
this. Just don't breed any with obvious faults and DQ's...

A lot of this is about having a good eye and seeing potential in the pairings.
(As an artist it is like mixing paint to me).

Always being mindful not to lose egg color, which makes this breed more challenging (FUN!!)

 

[geebs]

My personal opinion: Rooster one... has it going on!!! NICE BIRD... about the white feathers.... I would use a hen with red hackles and a green beetle sheen to breed to the rooster...This will likely correct the lack of melaniser present that doesn't allow for enough color in the feathers... I have done this with success... Try it and tell me how it works for you.. You have a good working male there.. the bottom one...

Well it is lacking compared to the first rooster. I will give it another look and write up what I think.

I like you Cpartist...You are exactly right.. I don't hatch millions of birds... a keen eye and selective breeding can really save a lot of feed and $$ or you can do like everyone else... I just don't possess the real estate or the capital to hatch willy nilly. It has to be controlled and I have to have some idea of the outcome...

 

[Harris5]

I have some hens that are like you described. I'll definitely try it and keep you posted on the results. I appreciate the suggestion. I love this guy (rooster one), but have been discouraged by all of the color issues that keep popping up. Rooster two is not done filling out, but just built totally different. Thank you for the feedback, it will really help!

 

[geebs]

Rooster 2 appears on the surface to be overmelanised… He also looks a little roach backed..the tail marriage..not as desirable He is losing color though I can see this by looking at the quality of copper and the ear coverts.. so he may turn out better in the end than expected.. If the back isn’t curved as it appears in the picture than he would be worth watching..He is younger than the other one so the comparison really isn’t in his favor.. I would still watch him mature…Some times I get surprised.. His comb is kinda funky… but the eye color and beak horn and leg color indicates a good balance that has not show up yet.. In the end he may be a breeding quality fellow…It just doesn’t appear that way now… If this is all I had…I would use it… I really would.. It isn’t terrible… You just have a better looking one above him currently.. that could change with time and maturity.. 

 

[Harris5]

Thank you, Geebs. He was very black for a long time. I'm surprised at how much copper he has now. I also thought he was a pullet for a long time because he matured slower than the others. I'll wait till he fills out more and post pictures again to see what you all think.

 

[geebs]

I have seen some amazing things with these birds... Even as 2 year olds they can be polar different from what they looked like as a one year old... I think good things are coming for that boy... He is likely a late bloomer...

 

[geebs]

Well I am off to bed... Getting late here..even for the West coast!!! Tomarrow will come all to quickly...

 

[Ivywoods]

Off to bed, huh? I got off work a little after 3 a.m, did some shopping then came home and started reading. I hope to be in bed in a few minutes, then hopefully I can sleep for at least 4 hours, maybe longer if I'm lucky.

One of my roos got beat up yesterday by one of the other roosters. Yes, I guess I'm crazy for keeping so many roosters running loose in the yard, but they are so dang pretty....even the culls. This boy was one of my culls. Light colored hackles and a white wing feather. His wattle had a tear in it, and the whole front side of him was bloody. I guess whoever way-layed him got their point across because this guy wouldn't even go near the others, even when I put feed out. Yes, he ate, but not until the others were done eating. The funny thing is, this one is one of my bigger roosters.

Boys will be boys, but if this crap keeps happening I'm going to have to make some chicken and noodles.