Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[carnivore]

Well yes, that makes all the difference, doesn't it? But mail order can be from anybody who ships and you didn't say hatchery in your post.
I never buy birds from commercial hatcheries anymore, they are just not true to the breed. Most people start out with hatchery birds because they don't know the difference. Once you graduate to the real deal, you never look back.

Sorry I wasn't more clear in my post. Whenever I think mail order, I think mega hatchery. In point of fact, since you are so close to where I live, I was going to ask you about some BCM pullets (layers, not show birds). I am still negotiating for a new place, so may be moving soon. Need to hold off getting more chickens 'til I get more space. It's that chicken math thing.

 

[mokihanakennels]

Can black copper marans get Wheaton offspring ???

 

[bigshawn]

Can black copper marans get Wheaton offspring ???

Yes.

 

[niter]

Im in SW VA.

 

[carnivore]

Im in SW VA.

Go to the Breeder and Hatchery forum and look for breeders near you. You can also go to the Where Am I forum and look up the thread for Virginia, and ask on that forum for local breeders. As desertmarcy mentioned, some breeders will ship to you. If you go the "sight unseen" route, RESEARCH before you buy.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
You can also visit the Marans site and find a breeders list BUT STILL ASK for pics.... LOTS of PICS and ask questions! Show winners do not equate to great birds!

http://www.maranschickenclubusa.com/

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

I disagree with this. Knowing the breeder and that person's birds: what they have been breeding for, what they cull for, how long they have been breeding are some of the things to ask; photos of their stock can help. Seeing in person or at shows is better. Good birds of a certain breed you are looking for will only be found locally if you are lucky. A few hours to 1/2 a day drive to get good stock is worthwhile. Otherwise shipping from a good breeder is not a throw of the dice if you know the breeder and his or her birds.

What is important to know is, not all chicks, even from the best of lines, are going to be worthy of keeping. Most breeders will tell you 10% of a hatch, rule of thumb, are worth keeping. That number will go up or down depending on the line. With Marans, I would say that number is down. Way down.

I tell people maybe 5% will be worth breeding forward, and maybe 1-2% will stay as breeders once their chicks start showing me what they will do.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Can black copper marans get Wheaton offspring ???

Also recessive white and sometimes those chicks have wheaten looking down.

 

[snowbird]

Quote: When I was breeding large numbers of BC Marans I never hatched a wheaten from BC Marans. MY BC were predominately Wade Jeanne Marans . I single mate and toe punch all chicks hatched on my place.

It depends on the line of BC anyone is working with. The way the Marans have been crossed up you might get any combination of colors.

Shawn, Where did your Black Marans come from, I am more interested in Type than egg color. Do you have any pictures of your adult Black Marans mainly Males. I have tried for years to get some Black that were Black. Don

 

[Dianne88]

Hi I have a chick that came from a BCM hen but the roo could have been a BCM, EE or OE. Let me know what you think...