Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[flgardengirl]

Just got in from shutting up the animals for the night and collecting eggs. Plum filled up the whole egg basket tonight! The girls know its time to start hatching soon. Here's one of the eggs, this is under a spot light and with the flash on the camera. The egg is a deeper tone, but the flash washed it out a bit. Its not a shiny egg, it has a velvet quality to the tone, but was wondering what people thought of me trying to enter an egg show with some like these? Think they might do something?

That is a pretty egg! It looks kinda red. I love the reddish ones.
If I was gonna enter anything I would enter those big dark red eggs from my black pullet. They are nice and shiny. Some of my uber dark eggs aren't as shiny as I would like. Some are even pretty matte and the color rubs off easily, especially if I refrigerate them and they get condensation on them. My redder eggs' color doesn't seem to rub off as easily for some reason but some of the really dark red ones will a little if I put them in the fridge.

 

[Wynette]

That is a pretty egg! It looks kinda red. I love the reddish ones.
If I was gonna enter anything I would enter those big dark red eggs from my black pullet. They are nice and shiny. Some of my uber dark eggs aren't as shiny as I would like. Some are even pretty matte and the color rubs off easily, especially if I refrigerate them and they get condensation on them. My redder eggs' color doesn't seem to rub off as easily for some reason but some of the really dark red ones will a little if I put them in the fridge.

I've noticed the same thing. It seems the darker they are, the more easily the tones rub off. I get matte finish eggs like this from one hen that is pure W. Jeane (original lines). Drives me batty. If I could jjjjuuuusssstttt put a glossy finish on them....! Pretty egg!!

 

[RoyalLegend]

the one in the middle is not bad, getting a bit more spread on the tail on the two sides would make a big difference. Pinched tails most commonly refer to the tail being held closed, as in the left and right side of the hard feathers on the tail hold close together rather than like an open teepee shape. For me, I also consider how spread out the tail is up and down wise, I don't like it when the hard feathers stack on top of each other, I like being able to see them. I can find you an example of a good open tail.

see? I learn something every day. I didn't know the tails should be open like this. Please keep posting pictures of "yes" and "no" aspects of Marans bodies. It's very helpful! I think my hens are more on the tight side, than the open side. I'll have to watch for that.

 

[RoyalLegend]

Me personally, I like that color. I think it's really pretty.

I also have a very light blue hen. I had two that were so very light, they were more a lavender color and practically gave them away, thinking they were "wrong". Only to find out a pair just like them sold for $800!

I think it's all in who-wants-what in the end. I'm hanging on to my light blue hen for now, and trying to decide what to do with her.

 

[RoyalLegend]

So I am officially out of my league here. I was just wondering today how many birds a person keeps and what some of the bycers keep or hatch that I do... but the numbers quell me. I am certain that even if I manage to hatch any chicks this year I certainly won't get to so many as you all. I wonder if this is the litmus test that says I am not going to be a good chicken keeper. It does hearten me to see that 'serious' keepers keep more than one breed at a time. I have been feeling like I should find a way to limit what I have (Favorelles, BC Marans, Ameraucanas, Orloffs) and I feel as if I should make apologies for not being more... focused. Its difficult to be certain I am doing as much as I can for each with this many. I really like them, but then, I like birds and would probably have a few more types and colors if I could. When it comes to keeping separate pens for cocks and hens for each breed.... oh boy.

I did get my first solid and even big Marans egg. Small joys.

I think if you have two hens and one roo, you can be a good chicken breeder. I have almost 150 at any one time, but I have the room to do that. And, btw, I am still very much a beginner at this. The people that have the big incubators, and can hatch 200 out or more at a time scare me too! LOL. of course, I might just be jealous that I can't do that.

 

[RoyalLegend]

I am thinking about getting some Marans and was wondering about personality, cold hardiness, number of eggs, etc. Thanks for any help or advice!

YES! YES! YES! I love mine. Any variety, except I think the wheatons are the friendliest. As far as cold hardy, i can't tell you because i live in texas.
I get tons of eggs, and all of mine are really dark (except one hen i just got this weekend seems to be laying a very light egg so her eggs won't be hatched) and the fat round shape.
You won't be sorry with the Marans breed. oh, and you can eat all the culls.. . quite tasty little critters.

 

[Hens and Roos]

I have a hen in my layer flock that makes a 'piping' noise, but is totally healthy. From what I'd deduced, she only does it when she eats, so I assume she must have a misshapen pipe or something and will occasionally get food lodged or maybe restricts the breathing a bit.

we have several that do this when eating

healthy and fine

 

[Runawaylobster]

we have several that do this when eating

healthy and fine

Yup, some of mine do it when they eat too... I thought they had myco and they were sneezing at first but I think it was dust in the food... LOL!!

 

[ashandvine]

The eggs are red and I am green

Yup, some of mine do it when they eat too... I thought they had myco and they were sneezing at first but I think it was dust in the food... LOL!!

Ditto here. I just think of it as something tickling or getting stuck or whatever. Those pellets aren't exactly 'coated' like aspirin now a days.

Red vs brown/cotta vs chocolate... what's the division?

 

[Keara]

I am very curious what folks cull for and when. I just culled some 8wk old cockerels. I culled for body size and head size.... keeping the cockerels with the largest bodies and heads.

I am mostly interested in those early cull choices, if any? I am a small time keeper of chickens, willing to cull but, can't keep more than 8 cockerels to raise out to 20wks at a time.