Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

We just picked up day old babies today. We got 2 Black Marans and 2 Blue Marans, although the man told me one of the Blue babies is a 'throwback'. As I understand it, this mean it's not really a Blue and will be more of a cream/tan color?!?! They are very sweet and cute, and have feathered legs. The cool part is when we picked them up, he had others that were hatching and he let my 9yo daughter see them, and help me move some babies and eggs around. She was thrilled! I drove 2 hours each way, but I feel it was well worth it!

Congratulations on your Marans!
I would bet that somewhere there is a blue in the mix of parent stock and that is why you have a blue. Blue doesn't just happen. Blue has been around in the Marans since....well.....the beginning of Marans, just as it has been around in all blue varieties of chickens. I would be very interested in seeing your throwback baby, chances are that if one of us sees it, we can tell you if it is a blue or actually something else.

Anyway, you will love the Marans, I am sure!

 

[pinkchick]

Okay Marans experts can you tell me if these are all cockerels? They are 4 1/2 weeks old. They are black copper Marans. Thanks!

Hi! Welcome to the Marans thread! Cute chicks.......and in answer in to your question about them being boys......I think you have 2 boys. I hope I am wrong and that one is a pullet but I just don't think so.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Hi! Welcome to the Marans thread!

Cute chicks.......and in answer in to your question about them being boys......I think you have 2 boys. I hope I am wrong and that one is a pullet but I just don't think so.

Thank you. These pics are of the 4 out of 10 that I hatched that I think are Roos but wanted opinions from those who know

 

[tammyfarms]

Doesnt my rooster look black to yall? He was labeled as blue copper on his egg, but so far at 8 weeks I havent seen blue or copper on him! His feathers look black to me!

Not sure if you have gotten a reply yet, check out the Copper Hackle Coop's website. They show 8 and 12 week photos of pullets and cockerels. They develop a lot of color during 4 weeks.
http://copperhacklecoop.com/
Don't give up on him

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I think you are right and they are all roos... sorry.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I think you are right and they are all roos... sorry.

I have to agree, they look like boys to me as well....

 

[StizzyL17]

Congratulations on your Marans!
I would bet that somewhere there is a blue in the mix of parent stock and that is why you have a blue. Blue doesn't just happen. Blue has been around in the Marans since....well.....the beginning of Marans, just as it has been around in all blue varieties of chickens. I would be very interested in seeing your throwback baby, chances are that if one of us sees it, we can tell you if it is a blue or actually something else.

Anyway, you will love the Marans, I am sure!

Here is a pick of her with the blue maran. I'm sure you can tell, but she is the one of the left. We have named her Snow, and the blue is Stormy. She had severe pasty butt today...just got done fixing her. Hopefully she gets and stays well (she is the only one that has/had it!)

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: The blue one on the right looks like it has a spot on its head.... are they cuckoos? The other looks like a splash or a really light blue. I can't tell for sure the color on that chick on the left. The red light is throwing the color off.

 

[Chicken Keith]

Greetings all,

Not new to BYC, but new to this thread, and fairly new to raising Marans. I have some of ChickieLady's Cuckoo Marans from eggs hatched a year ago. I started 2 yrs ago with eggs from Nancy Garry (bargain), and these birds laid the darkest eggs I've ever seen. All good looking birds too, but one rooster was a mean as a snake. (When stray dogs killed my "bargain" flock a year ago, the mean rooster was the sole survivor -- go figure! LOL. I understand Marans have some game in them way back in their history. This boy, which my wife made me get rid of, was one tough bird. Having said all that, i just bought another dozen from "bargain."

Here's my rant, and I'll try to be nice. I ordered some eggs off ebay (I know, I know, you don't have to lecture me, it was dumb, I know), and after they hatched...chicks 2 weeks old, I began to see carnation comb! It looks like some enterprising folks might have crossbred Marans with Penedescencas to get darker eggs. I'm not sure the eggs got darker. But that unique Penny-Carnie sprig comb is popping up in 75% of my newly hatched birds, ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Is a sprig comb a DQ or a fault?

Now I see more marans eggs being sold on e-bay and in the photos I see WHITE EAR LOBES, again isn't this another Mediterranean "Pene" trait???? I wish people would stop doing this and respect the breed standard. Seek dark eggs from internal to the Marans genes, not outcrossing, I say. Does a no-kidding, non-outcrossed Maran exist, anywhere in the US? I'm new at Marans, so can anyone please enlighten me on the recent history of these birds in America and the desire to exploit genetic diversity, while simultaneously keeping the Marans standard pure??

 

[pinkchick]

Greetings all,

Not new to BYC, but new to this thread, and fairly new to raising Marans.  I have some of ChickieLady's Cuckoo Marans from eggs hatched a year ago.  I started 2 yrs ago with eggs from Nancy Garry (bargain), and these birds laid the darkest eggs I've ever seen.  All good looking birds too, but one rooster was a mean as a snake. (When stray dogs killed my "bargain" flock a year ago, the mean rooster was the sole survivor -- go figure!  LOL.  I understand Marans have some game in them way back in their history.  This boy, which my wife made me get rid of, was one tough bird.  Having said all that, i just bought another dozen from "bargain."

Here's my rant, and I'll try to be nice.  I ordered some eggs off ebay (I know, I know, you don't have to lecture me, it was dumb, I know), and after they hatched...chicks 2 weeks old, I began to see carnation comb!  It looks like some enterprising folks might have crossbred Marans with Penedescencas to get darker eggs.  I'm not sure the eggs got darker.  But that unique Penny-Carnie sprig comb is popping up in 75% of my newly hatched birds, ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Is a sprig comb a DQ or a fault?

Now I see more marans eggs being sold on e-bay and in the photos I see WHITE EAR LOBES, again isn't this another Mediterranean "Pene" trait????  I wish people would stop doing this and respect the breed standard.  Seek dark eggs from internal to the Marans genes, not outcrossing, I say.  Does a no-kidding, non-outcrossed Maran exist, anywhere in the US?  I'm new at Marans, so can anyone please enlighten me on the recent history of these birds in America and the desire to exploit genetic diversity, while simultaneously keeping the Marans standard pure?? 

Hi Keith! Welcome to the Marans thread and I hope you have a great hatch with your eggs from Bargain!

Let me get straight to the point about the carnation comb........the carnation comb and sprigs are both DQ's. All of the birds from that hatch of eggs should not be used to breed back into your pure Marans from Chickielady or Bargain. This comb breeds foward like wild fire and is EXTREMELY hard to breed out of your flock. I have first hand knowledge of this comb problem. 2 years ago I purchased "BCM" chicks from a "trusted" and "reputable" breeder on the recommendation of another trusted and respected breeder. It was a nightmare.

Yes their are pure Marans here and many many fine dedicated folks working with them for the betterment of the breed and to preserve their unique characteristics and traits that make them Marans.
As for the exploitation of the Marans and the brainiac idea to out-cross to the Penedesenca...I digress and will let others answer this...........I have nothing nice to say about so I can't say anything at all.