Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pusskatkins]

I love these babies! They're wild with my cats! I have them in a 75 gallon aquarium and every time my cats pass, the chicks run toward them! Back and forth, back and forth! In two of these pictures, the stinkers were frozen like statues because my kitten was standing beside me as I snapped the photo's. LOL! Right now they're fighting over who can stand on top of the feeder. Needless to add, they keep us entertained!
Quote:
Nice lookin' chicks there. They look so healthy and gosh those FEET

nice feathering too on all but 1 that I can see. Can't wait to see them all grown up

Hi guys and thank you for the nice compliments on the chicks.

Just wanted to jump in there (hope that was ok) I believe you are looking at the inside of the left leg on the little chick that looks like it is not feathered. Looks like he is raising his right leg....so you can't see the feathering

In the next photo you can see both legs (sorrrrry just wanted to add that

)

They are looking really good, nice job pusskatkins!

Nellie

 

[pusskatkins]

The pictures don't show the true beauty of these babies! They are all feathering quite beautifully.The same two roo's are displayed in the other pictures. The other pic's show their fuzzy footsies.
Quote:
Hi guys and thank you for the nice compliments on the chicks.

Just wanted to jump in there (hope that was ok) I believe you are looking at the inside of the left leg on the little chick that looks like it is not feathered. Looks like he is raising his right leg....so you can't see the feathering

In the next photo you can see both legs (sorrrrry just wanted to add that

)

They are looking really good, nice job pusskatkins!

Nellie

 

[Illia]

Quote:
I believe I actually mentioned in that poll why I wouldn't nominate this thread. You have to consider, this thread has been around for more than just this year, plus, to me the Heritage Large Fowl thread was educational all the time, filled with new info. I don't want to sound rude, but this thread is about 50%, if not more, of topics that are irrelevant to Marans or non-educational but about Marans. I love this thread, follow it a lot, but I find a lot of it is just chatter.

Anyway, a quick show off of my Blue Wheaten cockerel again. Tried getting some photos of my Wheaten Marans, too, but they were already asleep in the coop.

Can't wait to get some chicks from him this spring.

 

[kathyinmo]

There is a thread asking for suggestions for, "forum reorganization," here that you may be interested in. Please give your opinions and suggestions here.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=438886

 

[aussieheelr]

Illia- I must say that is a very striking photo. I don't no a lick about Blue Wheatons but he sure is easy on the eyes.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I believe I actually mentioned in that poll why I wouldn't nominate this thread. You have to consider, this thread has been around for more than just this year, plus, to me the Heritage Large Fowl thread was educational all the time, filled with new info. I don't want to sound rude, but this thread is about 50%, if not more, of topics that are irrelevant to Marans or non-educational but about Marans. I love this thread, follow it a lot, but I find a lot of it is just chatter.

I just checked to confirm - - -but this particular marans thread was started 8/10. . .. .
I have learned so much about marans on this thead - - - Until recently, there was very little non-educational chatter on this thread. . . This thread had the reputation for being the "too serious" thread. . .

I just LOVE

this thread and know that each to their own . . . Learning is GREAT in which ever thread it occurs.

Have a WONDERFUL day everyone.

 

[VillageChicken]

Hey Pink and others who use EM's. How warm does it need to be for them to do their thing?

 

[Debbi]

Mornin' all

Personally, I like the chit-chat here, and therefore makes it easier for me to learn new things. I would rather learn new and hard to explain data from a friend with layman's terms, than from a text-book type environment. I get very bored with the technical descriptions that I have to go look up just to try to fathom! Many here make the learning soooo much easier! If it gets a bit "friendly" from time to time, and I'll admit I'm a big part of that problem, well so be it. I'll take friends over text books every time. If my little dittys insult some of you, you have my apologies. Staying on topic, it's so cold here this morning, I sure hope my Marans don't get frostbite!

 

[pinkchick]

Bev updated Color Variety Proposed Standards on the MCC not too long ago. I thought that it would be good to share them here because some may not have had the opportunity to see them. Here's the General and as time permits I will be posting the other color varieties.

General Description (approved 7/26/10)

The Marans breed originated in France, in marshy areas close to the Atlantic coast. The breed is named after the historic port town of Marans. Evolution of the Marans type bird is said to have begun as early as the 13th century, with crosses between the local marsh hens and various gamecocks brought in to the port on ships. Gradual development of the breed then continued through the centuries, including the introduction of Brahma and Langshan blood during the late 1800s. Marans in their modern form first began appearing in French poultry shows in 1914. The Marans Club of France was organized in 1929, and that club established the first standard for Marans in 1931.

Marans have been imported to the USA in small numbers for many years now, probably beginning around the time that soldiers returned to the States after World War II. Over the years, birds and eggs have been brought in not only from France but also from countries such as England, Canada, Australia, and possibly Belgium and Switzerland. Importations of "English type" clean-legged Marans have led to the establishment of many clean-legged flocks in this country, especially in the cuckoo variety; nonetheless, the American standard adheres to the French standard calling for lightly feathered shanks and toes.

Marans are best known for their large, russet brown eggs. This is a defining characteristic of the Marans breed, so selection for egg color and size should never be neglected. Physically the Marans is a medium-sized bird with the character of a rustic farm hen, giving an impression of solidity and strength without being coarse. The legs are lightly feathered, but leg feathering should never be excessively heavy. Eye color is bright and clear in all varieties, never darkening into brown nor paling into yellow or pearl.

Economic Qualities (approved 7/26/10)

The Marans is a general purpose fowl for production of both meat and eggs. The breed is most famous for its large, dark chocolate-russet eggs, but it is also known for the fine flavor of its meat. Color of skin, white; color of egg shells, very dark reddish brown.

Disqualifications (approved 7/26/10)

Yellow on shanks or toes. White ear lobes. Pearl or black eyes. Absence of feathers on shanks. (See General Disqualifications and Cutting for Defects.)

Standard Weights (approved 6/11/10)

Cock….…..8 lbs Hen……6 1/2 lbs
Cockerel….7lbs Pullet…..5 1/2 lbs

Shape—Male (approved 6/11/10)

COMB: Single, moderately large, straight, upright, evenly serrated with five points; the blade not touching the neck.
BEAK: Long, stout and well curved.
FACE: Smooth, skin fine and soft in texture.
EYES: Large and prominent.
WATTLES: Medium in size, oval, skin fine in texture.
EAR-LOBES: Average in size, long.
HEAD: Moderate in size, slightly flattened on top, and long.
NECK: Moderately long and full, arched. Hackle abundant, flowing well over the shoulders.
BACK: Wide at the shoulders, long, flat, slightly tilted to the rear. Slightly more inclined than that of the female.
Saddle feathers -- abundant, saddle large and slightly raised.
TAIL: Full, rather short, carried at an angle of 45 degrees above horizontal.
Main tail feathers -- broad and overlapping, shorter than average.
Sickles -- shorter than average.
WINGS: Short, held close to the body, carriage nearly horizontal.
Primaries and secondaries: broad and overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.
BREAST: Strong, broad, and full. Well rounded when viewed from both the front and side.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body -- deep, long and broad, especially through the shoulders which are carried high. Overall, rectangular in shape.
Fluff -- medium in length.
LEGS and TOES: Legs set well apart and straight when viewed from the front.
Lower thighs -- strong and well feathered.
Shanks -- medium length, stout, and straight; lightly feathered down the outer sides.
Toes -- four long and well-separated toes on each foot. Outer toes lightly feathered, middle toes free from feathers.
PLUMAGE: Moderately tight and smooth textured.

Shape—Female (approved 7/09/10)


COMB: Single, smaller than that of the male; straight and upright, evenly serrated with five points, and fine in texture. No female in or near production with the rear portion of the comb lopped should be discriminated against.
BEAK: Long, stout and well curved.
FACE: Smooth, skin fine and soft in texture.
EYES: Large and prominent.
WATTLES: Medium in size, oval.
EAR-LOBES: Average in size, long.
HEAD: Moderate in size, slightly flattened on top, and long.
BACK: Wide at the shoulders, long, flat, and slightly tilted to the rear. Slightly less inclined that that of the male.
NECK: Moderately long and full, arched.
TAIL: Full, rather short, carried at an angle of 45 degrees above horizontal.
Main tail feathers -- broad and overlapping, shorter than average.
WINGS: Short, held close to the body, carriage nearly horizontal.
Primaries and secondaries: broad and overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.
BREAST: Strong, broad, and full. Well rounded when viewed from both the front and side.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body -- deep, long and broad, especially through the shoulders which are carried high. Should be more rounded than the male.
Fluff -- medium in length.
LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from the front.
Lower Thighs -- strong and well feathered.
Shanks -- medium length, stout, and straight; lightly feathered down the outer sides.
Toes -- four long and well-separated toes on each foot. Outer toes lightly feathered, middle toes free from feathers..
PLUMAGE: Moderately tight and smooth textured.​

 

[pinkchick]

Draft Color Standard for
Copper Blue (Blue Copper) Marans





Disqualifications
White in ear-lobes. Two or more white feathers in plumage.

Color of Male

Comb, Face, Wattles and Ear-Lobes: Bright red.
Beak: Dark Horn.
Eyes: Reddish bay.
Shanks and Toes: Slate, bottom of feet, pinkish white.
Head: Lustrous deep coppery orange.
Neck: Hackle—Lustrous deep coppery orange with narrow blue stripe through the middle of each feather terminating in a point near its lower extremity.
Front of neck—Blue with narrow lacing of deep orange.
Back: Back—Lustrous deep coppery orange.
Saddle—same as hackle.
Tail: Main Tail—Blue with slight luster
Sickles and Coverts—Lustrous blue.
Wings: Shoulders and Fronts—blue.
Bows—Lustrous deep coppery orange to match back.
Coverts—Lustrous blue.
Primaries—Blue.
Secondaries—Blue, with exposed portion forming wing bay, with slight luster.
Breast: Upper breast, blue with narrow lacing of deep coppery orange.
Lower breast—blue.
Body and Stern: Blue.
Legs: Lower Thighs—Blue
Shanks and Toes—Blue.


Color of Female

Comb, Face, Wattles and Ear-Lobes: Bright red.
Beak: Dark horn.
Eyes: Reddish bay.
Shanks and Toes: Dark Slate, bottom of feet pinkish white.
Head: Copper. (edited per Bev, it will be corrected on the proposed standard)
Neck: Hackle—Coppery orange, with a narrow blue stripe through the middle of each feather, terminating in a point near its lower extremity.
Front of neck—Blue with narrow lacing of coppery orange.
Back: Blue.
Tail: Blue.
Wings: Blue.
Breast: Upper breast, blue with narrow lacing of coppery orange.
Body and Stern: Blue.
Legs: Lower Thighs—Blue.
Shank and Toe Feathering—Blue.​