Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[bwalden]

Happy New Years to all my BY friends. I am new to this thread but look forward to constructive criticism and comments...
What else does one do on NEw Years eve but take pictures of their flock and post for comments. My small flock consists primarily of Wyandottes but I do have one lovely Black Copper Maran hen who was the first of my chicken obsession!!! I'm posting a few pictures of her here and look forward to hearing your comments...

Nice looking hen. She looks very simular to some of mine.

 

[flgardengirl]

Quick up date on my "predator' lol. I got 52 game cam pics of a housecat getting in the trap and another one trying to get it out LOL!. These were young kitties way too small to do that kind of damage let alone kill a big ole rooster. I set it all up again tonight...so the adventure continues grr.

Mathace: About the bobcats...I did see one here once when we first moved here a few yrs ago, but not again. Then, all of a sudden this summer ( middle of August) I went out to lock up our guineas. I have a door that pulls up and out and I had it leaned up against the side of their coop outside the run. I went to get the door, the sun was just setting. All of a sudden this bobcat pops out from behind the door. He saw me and froze..I did the same. Then he just bolted towards the woods on the other side of their coop. I haven't seen him again. He wasn't real big but definitely could carry off any chicken, guinea, etc. he wanted. Around that time, I noticed our muscovy males that usually free range around the yard even at night (nothing bothers them -not even foxes or raccoons) were all staying up on the patio at night. They aren't now so I don't know if that means anything or not lol.

 

[flgardengirl]

So she would be considered a blue maran then? What does "birchen" mean?

Is your hen a sibling of the black copper hen that you have? If so she could be visually blue and still be carrying copper ...so basically a blue copper. Either way she is a pretty girl!

 

[jendodd79]

Is your hen a sibling of the black copper hen that you have? If so she could be visually blue and still be carrying copper ...so basically a blue copper. Either way she is a pretty girl!

Nope! They are from different farms, but the copper I could really notice this afternoon as she starts to get cleaned off! It will be interesting to see if it grows more on her neck!

 

[gilavina]

What size welded wire mesh? Around here we have weasels (or so I have heard) and I want to use something that will keep them out too....

my preferred size for welded wire is 1"x1", but will also use 1"x2". Not gonna lie, its not the cheapest material out there, but have been fortunate enough to pick up rolls and even old pens others have built on sales, auctions, or places like craigslist. To me its worth it. I build pens that share sides and use the welded wire on the outside where it is vulnerable to predators and then use chicken wire on the shared wall and at the bottom of the wall, will put a panel of wood about 24" up so the roosters won't fight with each other. Works well

 

[Hangtown Farms]

So she would be considered a blue maran then? What does "birchen" mean?

Birchen looks like a copper maran except instead of the Copper color it is replaced by a silvery white. Iam not sure the exact color they call it.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
They are both Birchen.... Copper Marans and Birchen Marans are the name except the color difference like you said.

 

[jendodd79]

Birchen looks like a copper maran except instead of the Copper color it is replaced by a silvery white. Iam not sure the exact color they call it.

Thank you! So since my girl definitely has red coming in around the hackle area, she might be considered a blue copper maran? Really interesting! She has a definitely blue sheen to her feathers, not the iridescent green of my BCM

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I posted this in the other thread on birchen Marans but was so excited wanted to share here since there is more traffic..

The first chicks from my birchen rooster hatched last night and this morning. I am wanting to work on blue birchen, but I have a lot to learn about the genetics behind it.

The hen that produced these eggs is a splash. The eggs weren't super dark, but I am hoping over time I can darken them up.

My boy Hyperion. He is almost 9 months old..



The splash hen that laid the eggs, Dragonia - sorry not a great picture. She is about a year old.



And on to the babies.. There are 7 total. I didn't get pictures of all of them.. seemed to have missed one. I'm assuming they are supposed to be blue, but what color they have elsewhere is where I am lost. LOL

#1



#2


#3 & #5


#3


#4


Hatched them out with a Brinsea Mini Advanced with Auto-turning. 7 out of 7. Love that little thing.

Also wanted to add that all of the chicks have shank feathering. The rooster has heavier shank feathering than the hen, but it appears that all of the babies have a considerable amount visible already.

here is a birchen roo

 

[Chickielady]

Hey everyone !
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sorry I do not get on very often ......and want to say Hi to all ! And have the best year ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chickielady~~~~~~~

A new funny:
Put 2 black/Blue copper marans in the pen to keep my Crele Chantecler happy...for fun I hatched some eggs~~~~~~~~~~yup.
Now I have Crele Marans....and NO WHERE to develope them, no room !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone interested ??????????
Free to a developer/breeder.