Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[French Hen]

There is a possibility that the eggs will lighten up even if mixing BC Marans. Sometimes the color will come back and other times it will not for several generations.

Interesting! If that happens is it important to cull the potential contributer or is it possibly due to environmental causes?

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

I had one Marans hatch outbout of a dizen eggs bought on line in a bid. She was so sweet and I felt I had to protect her from those Orpingtons that have a habit of pecking at the smaller ones. Now I have another snall batch hatched out and I put her with them as she was really not haply with the older Irpingtons and she has pecked at the smaller babes. So since I have not had rhis particular problem before I was hoping for some magical advice because I dont have a special place to put her and I have to wait for the others to go to bed to slip her in and I have to get up bf the chickens to remove her to protect her. My husband thinks I have flipped my lid. My thinkins to put her in a little earlier every night and remove her a little later every mornjng and eventually the gal of the long day will be taken. What say you? Is it the temperment for a Marans to be picked on and then in turn pick on others? I have seen pecking order bf but this is something beyond that.

 

[French Hen]

@ApiaryandAviary
I'm a total newbie but I will tell you what has worked for me when I had a single chick hatch out then have to be put with small babies about a week later:
Make sure the brooding box is big enough. The smaller the space the more likely you are to get chicks pecking each other. Bigger is better.

Put other things in there for the bigger chicKS to peck at. Sounds silly but I put in all kinds of weird things to amuse the little peeps. I washed out a red coke can and that amused them for a couple hours. I put in a mirror. Toys... anything interesting, shiny or reflective or bright.
Just make sure nothing is small or can detach and be swallowed and make sure all are clean with no sharp edges.

Put in a clod of dirt with roots and grass attached to it for them to peck at. Make sure no pesticides have been used on the greens.

In a bigger space with bigger chicks a quarter of a head of red cabbage gave them a lot of fun!

Make sure they have chick grit or plenty of Sandy soil in a dirt clod for any non crumbles treats you offer.

They make baby cakes chick food that gives them something to peck at.

I provided ample space for the chick/s to escape and to reduce irritability from over crowding, I added yummy foods and dirt clods for pecking, I added random, clean and safe objects for interest and finally I just tried to relax and let them work it out.

That worked for me. I hope it helps you!

 

[Jazzygirl63]

...

I like to show birds.  And my Marans are not too far off what the French standards wants.  I guess I expect more from them in the way of consistancy throughout the flock which has inhibited me from showing them yet.  But, I found that taking my 6 BCM boys to our Indiana Chickenstock today for others to see who are respected Exhibition breeders has made me feel more comfortable now in taking a few of my boys to the upcoming shows.  We need to get our babies out there to change the minds of those into APA shows.   I think, alot of my past thinking of the breed has been tainted by those folks who just don't have the patience needed to take on a breed like this.  It isn't going to happen overnite without folks gettin them out there to be seen.  I was shocked on how few knew what a Marans was when I went to Chickenstock today.  And most were surprised how big my boys are.  They too think Marans are a bunch of scrawny birds.

We just need to get them out where we all can compare our birds to each other.  Then we know what we need to do to make this breed thrive in the USA.  To me my boys don't look big.  I guess I have been looking at them thru Orpington eyes and not Marans breeder's eye.  So, starting with our Lebanon IN APA Show in October I will take a boy or two.  Get em out there is the key.  Good luck to those who do!


My boys I am keeping have plenty to be adressed.  I hate their tails.  BUT, I have girls who have great tails.  SO, I gave away for free to SEABRIGHTMOM (Heather Perkins) my best tailed BCM boy today.  His tail is perfecto.  She is a very smart, sweet lady and has a good eye.   The boy she got is from the same breeding as these two.  Except 4 months younger, & he has one point too many on the comb.  So we all have something to breed towards.  And we all have to share to make our breed better.  Sharing to me, means for "FREE".  Good luck Heather with little Rondo.

November of last year hatch, R00p

His 1/2 bro R00fus who is 3 months younger

[/quote

What is he ? I have a roo like him. Was told he Wa a copper maran. Very pretty!

 

[Jazzygirl63]

Im new to the chicken thing, but loving it! Trying to learn more about each breed, as I went a little crazy. I am wonder I g if anyo e has BLUE SPLASH Marans? I got some from a local breeder. She has show birds. They are really pretty. Cant tell if I have boys or not. They are all near 4 months. One I think has a blind eye. Kids named her Cyclops cuz she has a crazy side stare. Shes super sweet. Anyway hoping to find d someone who know more about them

 

[justoldbobo2]

My shipped eggs are hatching. 8 so far

 

[bamadude]

 

[elorraine52]

I have BBS Marans, one splash hen, a few blue Marans, and a couple Black copper Marans.

 

[forgetful]

I had to replace the zip ties on my chicks today, and decided to take individual photos. They are 3 weeks and 2 days old. I've found that their leg color has changed a lot over the past few days. It has started to darken dramatically. I had tagged them according to gender and too much/ too little color according to down color. I'm finding my assumptions to be incorrect in regards to color. I'm not sure as too how much color should be seen at this age.

Cockerel #1: Good amount of body and leg feathering, no color yet to be seen. Very large/heavy in weight. Assumed earlier to be male and of good coloring.


Cockerel #2: Late to feather, heavy leg feathering, no color to be seen. Assumed earlier to be male and of good coloring.


Pullet #1: Adequate leg and body feathering. Light color seen, though not as much as expected. Assumed earlier to be female and very heavy in coloring.


Cockerel #3: Good body feathering with heavy leg feathering. One of the lighter males, has a lot of color. Assumed earlier to be male and heavy coloring


Pullet #2: Good body and leg feathering, no color to be seen. Assumed earlier to be female and light coloring.


Pullet #3: Good body feathering, heavy leg feathering. Heavy coloring shown- much more than expected. Assumed earlier to be pullet and lightly colored.


Cpckerel #4: Very little body and leg feathering. No color seen from what has feathered in. Assumed earlier to be male with good coloring.


Pullet #4: Good body feathering and heavy leg feathering. No color shown in feathering, but there is a copper spot on head- less than expected. Assumed earlier to be female with too much coloring.


Cockerel #5: Good body and leg feathering. Extremely heavy coloring, with white markings- much more than expected. Assumed earlier to be male with good coloring.


Gender unknown: Good body feathering with very little leg feathering. Heavy color so far. Assumed earlier to be male and heavy colored

 

[bamadude]

I know this is a bad pic but is this considered recessive white?