Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Wynette]

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I agree with this as well. I have been told from a few extremely experienced breeders that the mossy gene is a tough one to get out. It's just so tempting to use them when it seems so often they have such a nice egg! I've had white tail feathers develop in a 2-year old cock...got rid of him. I also hatched some very nice looking eggs in early spring from a reputable breeder...I got everything from fused toes to bare shanks, to very mossy and then completely black. All are now gone from my farm. They recently began to lay, and egg color is not good at all. Sigh. It's a very frustrating breed to work with, to be sure, but IMO, worth the work! I've now got many years into my small flock and I'm very pleased with what I now have. Now, to just keep them consistent!

 

[snowbird]

Just wondering if anyone would like to say what variety of Marans you have or have worked with in the past. I have large numbers of Black Copper, fairly large numbers of Wheaten and a few Cuckoo and very few white. I really like the white but have trouble finding any that are fairly good. I do not have any of the other colors as I think that blood outside of the breed has been used to develop the color. Of the four colors I have I believe the Wheaten would be the easiest to breed to the proposed standard for them.

 

[Wynette]

I only have black coppers. To me, the Wheatens are the most beautiful, but I love so many breeds, I had to choose just one...and the black coppers, at the time, I thought laid the darkest eggs, which is why I chose them. I've seen a few beautiful whites, and I do think other colors are nice, too, but the wheatens are my personal favorite. Intresting that I don't have any!

 

[snowbird]

I only wish that there was another Gene pool of the Wheatens so we could improve the overall strength of the Wheaten. I find they are not as hardy as the other varietys.

 

[pinkchick]

Don~
I have only worked with the Blue Copper, Splash Copper and Black Copper....mostly the blue and splash and just now starting to focus on a small flock of Black Coppers. I DO love the Wheatens and they are beautiful, just never been my cup of tea, but love seeing everyone else's and drooling.

 

[6littlechickies]

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we have BCM but I am absolutely drooling over the blues (not blue copper's).

Have been begging DH to let me get just a trio of blues to add in...i'm a sucker for a blue bird and one that lays dark eggs would just rock! Right now I do also have a small flock of BBS Amer and i just love the coloring of the birds but am a sucker for those dark eggs, thinking blue marans may just be the best of both worlds for me.


anyone out there breeding blues?

 

[VioletBlueIvy]

Hello Marans People!!!
I am pretty new to all of this, and find the genetics and logistics of showing and breeding fascinating, but I am just a fan of the breed, they are my favorite

, and I have always wanted some. I found a local breeder

, and just hatched my first batch of eggs. I posted a picture of the eggs on the old thread.
Here are my new babies!!!!I'm just thrilled!!!!!

When they get bigger I will get some better pics, the lighting in my spare bathroom ( Bathtub brooder!) isn't very good, but I dont want to chill them.

Also I had one die in the shell, and when I opened it it had a black stripe on it's head and no feathers on it's feet. Anybody know what that would that be? They are French Wheaten Marans.
Thanks!
Mandy

Edited for smilies not functioning.

 

[pinkchick]

Hi Mandy!


Congratulations on your hatch....looks like babies are happy and healthy. They are too cute.

 

[sequoiacyclist]

Awww....shuch beautiful chicks! I can't wait until my wheaties hatch! Oh and I thought I'd ask. Does anyone know anything about female wheaten marans showing a dark wash on their feathers? Is this some of the black copper genes bleeding out?

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

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Ooo.... now I'm feeling like I need more chicks. I said I was done for a while, but my "babies" are all feathered out and living outside. Must...have...cute...chicks...