Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[BarnGoddess01]

I'm hoping you Marans fans will be able to explain an egg color question I have. The thing is...I want some Wheaten Marans, but my husband wants *dark* (8s and 9s only) eggs.

Through all my searches, I have found only 1 breeder of Wheaten Marans that are consistently laying 8s and 9s, and that is only due to a sport roo they were blessed enough to hatch out and placed into their breeding program. All the other Wheaten Marans I have seen, are laying 6s and once in a great while I've seen some 7s...but mostly 6.

You are expecting WAY too much ....

Even the Black Coppers rarely lay 8's and 9's, regardless of what people may try to sell you.

 

[Debbi]

Yes Barb! I'd love to know the name of this breeder that is producing these 8s and 9s on a regular basis! PM me if you will, that is unless they are cross varieties, then all desires are off the table.

 

[pinkchick]

Oh and Don......you remember those 2 Splash Copper pullets that you liked the wing set on that I posted photos of a couple months back? Well my friend, you were 1000% absolutely correct on which one you thought was the best bird. I chose to cull based on your advise and kept the one you liked best. She is a nice bird. The other one, Oxanna, somewhat (to me) resembles a game bird and lacks in substance and holds her wings very high on her back ....too bad she lays a nice egg, but such is life. The hen that she came from was the same hen that was culled from the flock this morning.
*Will try to get another photo of her as the one I was trying to load won't load*




This is Roberta, the girl that you liked best. She is the one in the front of the photo...just incase you couldn't see her in the sea of Splash.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Yes Barb! I'd love to know the name of this breeder that is producing these 8s and 9s on a regular basis! PM me if you will, that is unless they are cross varieties, then all desires are off the table.

I don't care even if they're mutts! If there is something out there that even resembles a Marans and lays an 8/9, I'm in!!!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Actually I was responding to the original poster but hope it gives you some good information too

As far as egg color- each color- cuckoo etc is still a work in progress, different breeders talk about picking the darkest eggs from their groups to hatch from hopefully improving the next generation of egg color. I have some blue cuckoo's that are just project and they lay maybe a 5 on the Marans chart. Having a Marans egg chart helps show the different shades- it is hard to take a picture and get an accurate color for others to see.

If you can go to shows that have an egg contest as well for Marans, that would give you a good visual of what other breeders are producing- it is also very neat to see all the eggs side by side.

 

[Debbi]

Pretty girl Kim! I love the Splash, even if I only have the one!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Oh and Don......you remember those 2 Splash Copper pullets that you liked the wing set on that I posted photos of a couple months back? Well my friend, you were 1000% absolutely correct on which one you thought was the best bird. I chose to cull based on your advise and kept the one you liked best. She is a nice bird. The other one, Oxanna, somewhat (to me) resembles a game bird and lacks in substance and holds her wings very high on her back ....too bad she lays a nice egg, but such is life. The hen that she came from was the same hen that was culled from the flock this morning.
*Will try to get another photo of her as the one I was trying to load won't load*

This is Roberta, the girl that you liked best. She is the one in the front of the photo...just incase you couldn't see her in the sea of Splash.

Pink I think you should send her to me- she'd fit in great here

 

[snowbird]

Pink, what do you plan on breeding this splash female with / go to post 41983 and look at the Blue Copper young male. This is what you will eventually get if you breed too much Black Copper into the Blue Copper and Splash.

I believe that the black male might have some Blue in him, is that possible ?

 

[pinkchick]

Thanks everyone! I am very satified with the decisions I have made and look forward to seeing what I will get out of the few selected birds that I have left this upcoming hatching season....if they ever give me any stinkin' eggs again, ARGH! Whats up with this weird laying pattern that is going around with the birds?


Don~ To answer your question..........
I plan on test mating the Black Copper male back to his Aunt, my original Splash Copper hen, Darryl (the egg show winner) and seeing what I can get by way of Blue Coppers. Is this what you meant or were you looking for more?
I base my matings on type and egg color first and foremost, this is paramount to me. Obvious DQ's will not be bred and workable less offensive faults, such as the slight twist in the front of the Black Copper males' comb will be worked on later, as well as the thumbprint, which I have been battling for years, but until I can get the other things right the comb will have to wait (unless it is the dreaded carnation comb or sprigs.....no mercy here for that offense) for now, I will work with what I've got in the cupboard.

What are your thoughts on this and that Black Copper male. BTW, he is the product of Blue Cpr x Blue Cpr. He is wonderfully dark rich black with absolutely no brown tinges or white anywhere.
I would love to have a Blue Copper male like the one that Vicki posted a pic of a couple days ago and man o man, could I tear it up with that Luella girl of hers. I would say those 2 birds are the best example of Blue Coppers I have ever seen! Period!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gilavina]

For Vicki......
the best shot of the Birchen cockerel I could get........he is a wild little stinker. He has 1 partial white primary feather on the left wing, it is starting to cover with normal base color and quite fast I will add. He hatched July 2nd and will be 5 mos. old next week. Is it safe to assume that this should molt out or grow out just like it does in the BC?

The other Birchen cockerel that I got from this hatch was JUNK! He was culled this morning.
Oh and MARCY....good on you girl!!!!! It is hard to cull, but often a very necessary evil to keep us from temptation.

From what I've experienced Kim, and some may have already posted on this, I haven't read ahead yet, but I believe the influence of the white feathers in the primaries comes in the birchens when there is a crossover into the BCMs. In and of the birchens themselves I do not deal with white in them regardless of blue or black. The chicks also hatch largely all dark. This males legs look to be on the lighter side than what I like, so you will want to be mindful of the pullets you mate him with. Otherwise, he looks like he's coming along nicely for you.