Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

If you remember back a few months SUE had some Marans eggs almost as dark as these. I myself am happy with a six.

 

[Debbi]

I am all about the egg colour. I don't care if they look like Guinea fowl crossed with Sebastopol geese. If they lay an egg that looks like that, I'll work with them!

Now that would be interesting!

I like the egg color, but I want the eggs to come from what the breed is supposed to look like too. I had initially gotten into the Marans for the egg color, but as fate would have it, the more I knew of what the breed should look like, the egg color and the type seemed to be more what I wanted to work towards. I like my ruby eggs, and hopefully can improve the color and the conformation and type of the birds from there as well. It will take me a long time with as little as I hatch, but I can wait....hopefully.

 

[snowbird]

Vicki and Debbi, I went to a livestock sale close to where I live and someone from ohio brought in some young male BC and blue copper. Will contact a lady I know who works in the office and see if I can get an address. The color was pretty good.

 

[gilavina]

Hey Don, off subject for a second. On Birchens, what would be the range of leg color? Also, pad color and toe nail color tends towards being darker. Is that a factor determined by the difference in the genetic base of the bird? Kind of like how the chicks will hatch mostly all dark? I have what I breed for, but don't often hear people talking about specifics like this in the birchens since not a whole lot of people have them

 

[gilavina]

Vicki and Debbi, I went to a livestock sale close to where I live and someone from ohio brought in some young male BC and blue copper. Will contact a lady I know who works in the office and see if I can get an address. The color was pretty good.

Oh yeah? Planning on tracking them down to see what their stock is like?

 

[snowbird]

Hey Don, off subject for a second. On Birchens, what would be the range of leg color? Also, pad color and toe nail color tends towards being darker. Is that a factor determined by the difference in the genetic base of the bird? Kind of like how the chicks will hatch mostly all dark? I have what I breed for, but don't often hear people talking about specifics like this in the birchens since not a whole lot of people have them

Vicki, In my opinion for what it is worth it the leg and toes should be BLACK. This is what most breeds of Birchens have for leg and toe color.

I know you realize it might be entirely different unless Walts steps in at approval time. I know for a fact the Committee is trying to unify the SOP on the different breeds.

 

[Debbi]

Vicki and Debbi, I went to a livestock sale close to where I live and someone from ohio brought in some young male BC and blue copper. Will contact a lady I know who works in the office and see if I can get an address. The color was pretty good.

I would be interested in knowing too. As long as I don't lose size and combs in the process, I am in dire need of color!

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, In my opinion for what it is worth it the leg and toes should be BLACK. This is what most breeds of Birchens have for leg and toe color.

I know you realize it might be entirely different unless Walts steps in at approval time. I know for a fact the Committee is trying to unify the SOP on the different breeds.

Sounds good. that's what I've been working on. How is the pad color when related to black?

 

[Debbi]

Vicki, In my opinion for what it is worth it the leg and toes should be BLACK. This is what most breeds of Birchens have for leg and toe color.

I know you realize it might be entirely different unless Walts steps in at approval time. I know for a fact the Committee is trying to unify the SOP on the different breeds.

this is what I don't understand about some of these standards. Shouldn't they go with what genetically works, as opposed to what some of the big wigs are getting in their breeding programs? Therein, lies many of the problems with this breed, or at least that is how I am seeing it!

 

[snowbird]

this is what I don't understand about some of these standards. Shouldn't they go with what genetically works, as opposed to what some of the big wigs are getting in their breeding programs? Therein, lies many of the problems with this breed, or at least that is how I am seeing it!

Debbi, I am listening and have to say I agree 100% with you here.