Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

Don~

I meant no offense either about the mites and no arguing was intended. I just posted some info on them that I read in a book that I thought was pertinent to the conversation at hand. Truest and sincerest apologies if I offended you.
Kim

 

[lildinkem]

Mites + BORIC ACID = NO MORE MITES! lolololol

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Is the boric acid a powder that you mix with water? Can you get it OTC?

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
Is the boric acid a powder that you mix with water? Can you get it OTC?

Yes you use it as a powder. Mom used to show White Persian cats in the ACFA back in the 80's. It was the only Association that allowed declawed cats. Dad would not allow a clawed cat in the house. So, she showed her Becky Eckert 16 lbs Black Persian at the Lady Baresford Show (like the superbowl of shows in the ACFA) and won with him. She used Boric acid as a powder around the eyes to clean the tear ducts on her Whites. IF not done 3 times a day they will stain and look hideous. She says they use it in ears to clear out ear mites. I am sure the Fowl mites or tail mites wouldn't like it any better. You can buy it at the Drug store, no big deal to get.

 

[ruth]

I would like to wish Ms. Bev Davis a warm BYC welcome. We've all heard so much about you and I hope you find your visits to BYC to be enjoyable. I know everyone will appreciate your many years of experience and your expertise and your willingness to help us all with our questions.

I have a question that I think others share as well:

If the existing French standard for the French Black Copper Marans, that has been in existence for "a long, long time" calls for specific "standards", then why are the current "proposed" APA standards different from the existing French standards?

For example:

Leg color - existing French standards is pinkish to light grey - new APA proposed is "dark slate"

Tail angle - existing French standard is MAX 45 degree (not exceeding) and DISQUALIFICATION at 60 degrees. Proposed APA is 60 degrees (without losing any points) and exceeding 60 degrees.

Please help me and others understand how/why certain groups are trying to change the long-standing French standards that describe what a French Black Copper Marans should look like. And, if the APA accepts the new proposed standard, will it still be called a French Black Copper Marans or are we going to call it the American Black Copper Marans? Because, if it's accepted and we all start breeding toward the new standard, aren't we breeding away from the old one, and wouldn't the birds then not qualify as a French Black Copper Marans if being judged by a French judge based on French standards?

As a breeder, these are the most important questions I have because it really boils down to - should we all be breeding toward the new proposed but not yet accepted standards or should we continue to breed toward the French standards that are currently in existence and have been "for a long, long time"?

Thank you for any light you can shed on this area.

Monique "Ruth"

 

[snowbird]

Wynette, The Malathion, water and dish soap is the method your MSU recommended several year ago to rid the tail feathers of mites. That is not something I came up with, I am not that intelligent. I have used the method by spraying the tail feathers a couple of times a year. Use the small spray bottle the horse people use.

 

[geebs]

About the creepy crawly feather mites

It sounds like a regional thing maybe... Here in the PNW I have never heard of them... Or maybe I live in a "happy bubble"... They simply sound icky... But I did run out and do a quick check on my birds... ha ha ha...

You have effected my day snowbird

... thanks... I needed a healthy distraction. Pinkchick doesn't live to far from me so we may share the same "happy bubble". Ignorance about crawlies is bliss!!!

 

[Lotsapaints]

Well I have Malathion for hay mites yes oat hay here gets those nasty things and they bite the horses too besides making me look like I have the measles..never thought about the chickens I've been using DE mixed in their dust bins and egg boxes etc....I hope to never see feather mites either

 

[Germaine_11.20]

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Hello Bev Thank you for joining this thread, you are greatly admired. Also, thank you for my BCM's I love them. Now...

If I should by chance hatch out a wheaten chick (and I have from another breeder) is it considered a Wheaten, a BCM or just a cull?

Hi

No one has hatched a wheaten chick from my line so far or any other color apart from solid black females. This is because the birds carry a melanotic gene, even though the bird is black, it is still a black copper and will throw black copper chicks when bred to the correct male.

I have never seen a wheaten chick from a black copper as far as I know but am told they look alright. They may carry some genes that you don't want and you will have to breed them out.

Bev

Just to clarify-- it did not come from Bev Davis Line! I wonder actually if the breeder didn't raise both Wheatens and BCM and accidently put it a Wheaten by mistake.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Something that is really weird is that wheat straw does not have the mite like Oat straw.