Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Germaine_11.20]

Whew! It took over an hour to catch up on posts and I don't know where to start asking questions or commenting.

Everything was so interesting... I am still absorbing it all. Gorgeous birds and eggs everyone.

Question-- I thought the Roo was responsible for passing along the dark egg gene.? Now I am reading that both the hen and roo are. Which is correct?

I will have to see if I get an answer in the morning, I am going to fall asleep sitting in this chair if I stay any longer. Nite everyone.

 

[geebs]

Rustywoman It is my understanding that both are needed to have a good dark egg.

 

[cpartist]

I think I've read that the roo and hen both contribute equally, but because the roo (if you have only one) contributes 50%
to each hen, his contribution is more important to the whole flock.

 

[berkeleysprings]

thanks for your help ,so i understand it is """"it takes only one bird carring the feather shank inhibitor gene """" to throw a clean leg every 10 or so chicks (but it could be more)
and its not the cause of rooster and hen getting together to create the clean leg .
and it only takes one bird of any sex to create the trouble ...
thank you for takeing time to do all the typeing and post that you do ,,,,,,, many many people on here look forwand to your input no matter the topic you cover .
its so nice to relax after a long 8 hour day of being a carpenter (finishing a screen porch lol ) in the hot sun to read your post when i get home
sin, randy
, ps just a random pic young roo i picked as number 2 in breeder pen ,he is one out to 20 roo i hatched the past 7 months , his comb looked better than other sons from main roo that runs the place

Quote:
Hi

I have test mated my line of wheatens and breed only from birds carrying the correct genes for leg feathering, I haven't had any clean legged birds for a few years. Maybe this will help you in selecting the birds responsible for the clean legs. The male might have one set of genes for the feathering and one set for the clean legs.

Bev

 

[BevDavis]

Quote:
Hi

If you had a black copper male that had very light hackle and saddle feathers then he could be the father. This would mean he was carrying one set of genes for silver and one set for gold. To get a male from the hen would take a lot of breeding and could take years. It has just taken me three years to develop a male carrying two sets of silver genes.

Bev

 

[BevDavis]

Quote:
Hi

I have test mated my line of wheatens and breed only from birds carrying the correct genes for leg feathering, I haven't had any clean legged birds for a few years. Maybe this will help you in selecting the birds responsible for the clean legs. The male might have one set of genes for the feathering and one set for the clean legs.

Bev


Hi Randy

As you know, there are three sets of genes involved in the leg feathering, one set is recessive and the others dominant. If you breed two birds together that are both carrying recessive genes then that is what you get. So the male is carrying a recessive gene for sure and at least one female is. I have told you that the wheatens that I have are not carrying the recessive gene so you can now trace back where you picked it up from and which females are carrying the recessive gene.

Bev

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
Thanks geebs and thank you also cpartist

geebs that Birchen is gorgeous. Greenfire has Bev's Birchen line, mayber you could purchase a roo?

 

[Koolduck]

Hey Berkleysprings...if you have a hen you would like to sell me, please!

I only have one wheaton pullet and she is a petite little thing. How long a ride from Lexington KY do you think? No recessive genes though...remember, I'm just starting out, and need all the help and luck I can get!

 

[geebs]

Bev: I don't have any males with light hackles. I had one that was correct and one that was waaay to dark and the one I posted is the lightest hackles I had/have.... what has to happen in the Extended black for the birchen to show up? I really don't and haven't had anything with light hackles... The lightest I have/had are shown in the last rooster picture... My rooster before that was more correct. (he is dead) I got a camera for Christmas so I didnt' take photographs of him... but those are some of his offspring... I have one other in reserve but he is also colored very close in the copper saddle/hackle.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Shelley~ THAT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Congratulations! You should send me photo so that I can put it up on Gnarles Family Photo Wall.

LoL...it will go straight to Gnarles' head....

I think just getting the birds out there for recognition and promotion is a great place to introduce people to the breed. Good for you sharing that info with the judge. If I were to show, I would be tempted to carry around a couple of copies of the proposed standard and find a way to get it handed in to the judge prior to the show, so that he/she can familiarize themselves with the this breed before they come cruising through the aisle. You would be surprised at the amount of people I meet that have raised chickens for years and years and had no idea this bird even existed, the best part is when they see an egg.

Waaaayyy back when, I showed horses the breed was relatively new (Peruvians) to judges in our area. Peruvians do not "gallop" or "cantor" their natural gate is different speeds of very fast walking and the judges would mark us down because they did not know that. Once our 4-H leader who was the breeder of these fine animals went over the breed specifications and traits with the judge or judges things changed greatly and they then knew how to appropriately judge the animal. All it takes is a little knowledge and someone willing to share it.

Congratulations again! Let me know if you ever decide to put them in a show that is a little closer (Chehalis) and I will try my hardest to make it up that day to see you guys. It would be a blast and a pleasure.