Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Zanna]

Zanna, those are some beautiful birds. Would hope that KansasKingBee and I can have some that awesome someday. Trying to be patient while our first batch is growing. A little confused on why we have the different colors showing up. Here is a pic of the rooster we bought earlier this year.

You are too kind! There is a lot to pick apart about them but I am happy to finally feel like I am making some progress after 5 years!

All I can tell you about the different colours on your boy is that almost anything can show up in this breed, even big variances in single mated pairs as I found out last season! I don't think his colour looks too bad but I am a relative newbie in the big scheme of things. In the last pic. he looks like he has a sprig off the side of the back of his comb, that would keep him out of my BCM breeding pens if it is really there.

 

[downtheriver]

Vicki, here are some pics. of this years work in progress. Can't get good shots for the life of me, everyone is on free-range right now except for the two cockerals (full brothers) and I couldn't even get good shots of them, they were trying to peck me the whole time (not in a mean way, they are really sweet!). Colour never looks accurate on my computer unless I can take pics out in the sun. The colour of the tarps on my coops alter the colour of the pics. Have not picked breeders yet, may not even be any of these, they are just a random sample of a few i have growing out.

I'm not really in the know but these four look great to me (i'd say WOW).

I know how a camera can be a pain sometimes but you nailed these four !! I can never get them right .

What line/lines are Yours ?

You have some nice NHR also .

 

[Zanna]

I'm not really in the know but these four look great to me (i'd say WOW).

I know how a camera can be a pain sometimes but you nailed these four !! I can never get them right .

What line/lines are Yours ?

You have some nice NHR also .

At this point I would have to say they are my own line. My breeders this year were a hen who was originally Davis line bought as a chick from Marquisella on here, and 3 of her daughters from my 2012 breedings. Their Dad was supposedly Davis but was a Craigslist special. He came in with white wing/tailfeathers at 2 1/2 years old and was culled. Last Fall I purchased a Cock and Cockeral at a show from a gal who originally had WadeJean line birds and had been working with them for 5 years. They are the Dads of the pullets and cockerals in my post. I don't pay much attention to lines and you can probably tell why from this post. They are so far removed from the original lines............

Love my NH!! Cpartist on here and Craigslist get the credit for them This will be my first season breeding them.

 

[downtheriver]

At this point I would have to say they are my own line. My breeders this year were a hen who was originally Davis line bought as a chick from Marquisella on here, and 3 of her daughters from my 2012 breedings. Their Dad was supposedly Davis but was a Craigslist special. He came in with white wing/tailfeathers at 2 1/2 years old and was culled. Last Fall I purchased a Cock and Cockeral at a show from a gal who originally had WadeJean line birds and had been working with them for 5 years. They are the Dads of the pullets and cockerals in my post. I don't pay much attention to lines and you can probably tell why from this post. They are so far removed from the original lines............

Love my NH!! Cpartist on here and Craigslist get the credit for them This will be my first season breeding them.

Yes You are correct they are Yours ....... but remember their original line is never as far away as we sometimes think . I think there are two ways to see original lines : No 1- for the peddlers to use at their discretion for a sale . : No 2- the way breeders keep complete records on what's in their birds and what's coming out... hence knowing the reasons for something can go a long long way in repairing it ............. usually what's behind birds will come out , knowing why is the best knowledge available .

Marquisella has very good bloodlines .

You never know what will happen on crossing .... one can strike gold and/or one can go broke (lol) . Also one never knows what and where gold is hidden (craigslist-you never know for sure) i've seen show dogs found in backyards and rescues go on to championships .

Your birds look very good (and well taken care of)

 

[AK FLOCK SWAP]

In my opinion these birds do not have the proper body type I would use. They are very narrow all the way around it makes them look gamey. If you look the legs are set to far back which maks them front heavy. This is my opinion, your decision.

Sure..Wish i could get more opinions on this guy,,,, Front heavey..Too gamey...? Anyone else see this..?This bird is 7 month old..Would you wait a little longer . or start over.? new Roo. Hows does the hen look. ? As you can see ..starting to get a few eggs from her. How old do they need to be before you start setting any eggs. Older hen have better hatch rates..is this correct?


Hows the hen look. ?

 

[DMRippy]

In my opinion these birds do not have the proper body type I would use. They are very narrow all the way around it makes them look gamey. If you look the legs are set to far back which maks them front heavy. This is my opinion, your decision.

Sure..Wish i could get more opinions on this guy,,,, Front heavey..Too gamey...? Anyone else see this..?This bird is 7 month old..Would you wait a little longer . or start over.? new Roo. Hows does the hen look. ? As you can see ..starting to get a few eggs from her. How old do they need to be before you start setting any eggs. Older hen have better hatch rates..is this correct? Hows the hen look. ?

he is really really really way to young.... I don't know which one is a roo....I see the Marans eggs on the left but know idea which egg you are talking about. hehe

 

[AK FLOCK SWAP]

Sure..Wish i could get more opinions on this guy,,,, Front heavey..Too gamey...? Anyone else see this..?This bird is 7 month old..Would you wait a little longer . or start over.? new Roo. Hows does the hen look. ? As you can see ..starting to get a few eggs from her. How old do they need to be before you start setting any eggs. Older hen have better hatch rates..is this correct?


Hows the hen look. ?

 

[KsKingBee]

How old do they need to be before you start setting any eggs. Older hen have better hatch rates..is this correct?

That is something DW and I have been wondering. Pullet eggs are smaller, how long do you wait on a pullet before using her eggs to hatch? Not sure if you wait a certain age or for the eggs to become a certain size.

 

[AK FLOCK SWAP]

That is something DW and I have been wondering. Pullet eggs are smaller, how long do you wait on a pullet before using her eggs to hatch? Not sure if you wait a certain age or for the eggs to become a certain size.

i HAVE READ FROM OTHER ABOUT THEM BEING CLOSER TO A YR BEFORE SETTING EGGS..MOSTLY ABOUT THE HATCH RATE,MORE THAT DEFORMITIES... WAS WONDERING..WE HAVE SUCH WELL INFORMED FOLKS ON THIS THREAD.. I WAS EXPECTING MORE INFO..MAYBE SOMEONE KNOW MORE THAN ME...dang capps..opps....

 

[DMRippy]

How old do they need to be before you start setting any eggs. Older hen have better hatch rates..is this correct?

That is something DW and I have been wondering. Pullet eggs are smaller, how long do you wait on a pullet before using her eggs to hatch? Not sure if you wait a certain age or for the eggs to become a certain size.

you will get all kinds of opinions on that. I do think you need to wait till the eggs are big enough for a chick to be good size. I hatch pullet eggs all the time. I have never seen any health issues with them. I do wait till the eggs are big enough to hatch.