Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Brada Puhi]

wish I had the guts to make up a name for my off color birds and try to sell them as designer colors lol.if you read that it was just a fluke and see started breeding for them.



Hilarious!!!

 

[PsycoPeep]

{{{whistles & looks the other way}}}

 

[maryhysong]

Would love to have some feedback on my FBCMs. Would this rooster be of show quality? They are all this years hatch and at least one of the girls has started laying but the eggs are not very brown at all. They free range all day with access to a layers, scratch and a litle treat of calf manna feed.



The one thing I have learned I am not a chicken photographer. I know that a picture of him from the backside will help, gonna work on that.

I am still learning the standard so I am not sure, hopefully one of the old timers will chime in here, but I'm thinking his tail is too big. I'm thinking it shouldn't have those couple of big tall feathers sticking out there. I know I have a boy that is worse and this one might be acceptable, I'm not sure, like I said. The other thing I notice is it looks like he might have a side sprig at the back end of his comb; some more close ups of his comb would probably be good.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
The comb for sure has a side Sprig and should be culled if you are breeding to the APA SOP. If you are only breeding for dark eggs then do not worry about it.

 

[TarMac]

So I'm kinda new to this breed, and is it just me or are these birds big eaters??? On top of that my rooster is only 3 months old and is the size of some of my 6 month old hens! Does that seem right or is he just a freak haha

 

[math ace]

So I'm kinda new to this breed, and is it just me or are these birds big eaters??? On top of that my rooster is only 3 months old and is the size of some of my 6 month old hens! Does that seem right or is he just a freak haha

This is a LARGE fowl breed!
They eat a lot because they should be BIG birds when they are finished growing.

SOP weights for this breed are...
Cock... 8 lbs Hen 6 1/2 lbs
Cockerel. 7 lbs Pullet.. 5 1/2 lbs

 

[maryhysong]

So I'm kinda new to this breed, and is it just me or are these birds big eaters??? On top of that my rooster is only 3 months old and is the size of some of my 6 month old hens! Does that seem right or is he just a freak haha

what breed are the hens? Especially if they are hatchery stock they are probably on the small side, I have a lot of easter eggers and they look like midgets next to my BCM boys. unfortunately my BCM girls are pretty darn small....

 

[ArkieGirl72638]

Thank you Wynette for beginning a new thread with that note. Folks there is no quicker way to sour someone on a breed (or any interest) than to be snooty with them about it. And it sure fills up our report box fast if you are. I totally agree that there is always a nice way to say what your thinking so please find it and review what you have typed with an objective eye before clicking post.

Many, in fact most, chicken owners here are interested in birds for reasons that have nothing to do with showing or breed standards. They are no less chicken owners than those that do. To each to enjoy their birds as they see fit. If you can't post nicely rather than have a fight on here about it go out and enjoy your birds in your own way.

You make a GREAT point here. I do not show my birds, but I still love my Marans. They are a gentle breed, their eggs are always the first to sell out at the Farmers Market due to their chocolate brown color. Are they perfect?...probably not, however, they are perfect for me. Even the rooster is gentle except when protecting the girls. Though he is half their size, he always manages to chase off the Jersey Giant roos who may feel the need to bother his ladies. There is a breed for everyone to enjoy...why can't we just let someone enjoy what they want to and not try to push them to our own point of view. I like to keep an open mind. I always thought I hated Turkens...until I received 2 in a Cackle Hatchery surprise shipment. They are great birds...not the "cutest" or most "handsome", but lively, inquisitive and calm. I will probably get more in the spring. Mine are still to young to be laying eggs, but they keep me entertained, and anything that makes us look forward to going to the coop can't be all bad!!!

 

[ashandvine]

Because this breed is new and so many times breeds are spoiled by negligence or fads those people who worked hard to get it admitted and those people who work hard to get their birds to the standard that made them fad worthy in the first place are bound to want to make the point of the merit in the work. Its not a surprise that there would be heated discussions or resentment, but its disappointing that the internet world also has so many tattletailers. This is a discussion thread and the discussions are going to get into what is a 'good marans' or not fast, especially if someone asks... and even those thin skinned folks who don't want pooky to be maligned open that can of worms. Before they know they are in a mess they didn't predict. We all have soap boxes... see me put mine away now.

Out of curiousity, where is the hypermenalistic quality coming from? Does anyone know? I ask because I have a few in my flock that are dark faced. The interesting genetic observation is that in the same genetic pool there are a lot of over colored birds. Its as if there is a gene in there that is recessive and each time it matches up we get one or the other and when there is only one copy we get the opposite. I don't do squares and all that gene math so I hope you are following me here. These ones are going to the egg house or out to friends as pets. I would just like to understand it more. Thanks.

 

[TarMac]

what breed are the hens? Especially if they are hatchery stock they are probably on the small side, I have a lot of easter eggers and they look like midgets next to my BCM boys. unfortunately my BCM girls are pretty darn small...

He's the size of my sexlink hens but weighs more. Absoulutely love this rooster though, he's so pretty and docile...can't wait to see him when he's all done growing haha