Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

Quote:
Ruth, wondering if this could be a Birchen with some influence from a cross with Black Copper. Very nice looking Marans.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Ruth, wondering if this could be a Birchen with some influence from a cross with Black Copper. Very nice looking Marans.

Thanks Don - that compliment means a lot to me. Are you referring to the BCM that's in the picture with the Birchen or did you see the BCMs in the auction I just listed?

In any event, I'm trying to understand what a Birchen is? I don't have Birchens, if it's a breed, unless he's one and came in the assorted pack. But, I think I hatched him from my BCM/Olive Egger group or my "pure" BCM group - just not sure how he got on this farm really and am trying to figure it out.

By the way, the BCM in the picture with him is also one of my favorites but he doesn't have the bright orange eyes, his are very dark copper (not black but looks like it till you get up close) and he has a solid black chest with very dark mahogany color - so depending on what someone is looking for in a BCM (APA, French or just personal preference) he may or may not be your guy. He, and a few others, hatched along with the Birchen a few months ago.

 

[BevDavis]

Quote:
Hi Don

Yes, the birds will be judged on the standard that has been approved by the standards committee and the APA committee. Had the other club started their club earlier than they did, showed the number of birds required so that they could apply for the qualifying meet then it would be their standard that would have been accepted. At the time I started all this there was no one trying to get the birds accepted.

Bev

Bev, I myself applaud all the work , Money and time you and your group have put into this effort. I will be glad when it is over and we know what is down in writing, don't be suprised if there are changes made with the final draft as there usually are.

Hi

Thank you Don, it's been encouraging how many people have helped in so many ways and how well they have all worked as a team. Little groups have started here and there, some have get togethers and BBQ's others have swaps and then they compete against each other in egg and chicken shows.

Bev

 

[geebs]

Bev, that sounds like a hoot... What does it take to put together a local little marans judging thing... Pinkchick and some of my buddies here in the PNW can get together and brag... What a hoot... Can I have some suggestions??? I think I have a private country club we could use etc... (enough parking and an empty greenhouse or two). Any suggestions? It could be a BBQ get to gether kinda thing where we all can get tips and such from each other.... I know of about 15 ppl in the area with marans.... At least.

 

[Debbi]

Bev,

I agree that sending in the SOP with an entry may be of some help. As of right now, I don't have anything to show, and really have apprehensions about showing, due to diseases. There is no way, at present, to quarantine show birds from the rest of the little flock. Maybe something in the future, but shows of any merit close to me are not really within reach. I am unable to drive more than an hour's worth, so unless the shows literally come to me, it is out of the question. Maybe someday, they will have "virtual shows" on the internet???

Thanks for all you are doing for the breed and the eventual approval!!

 

[BevDavis]

Quote:
Hi

It's the Marans Chicken Club USA that is attemting to get the black coppers accepted at the Newnan show in February 2011 and the wheaten at the Crossroad show in November 2011. After that we will be working on getting the cuckoo and white Marans accepted. Other colors will follow.

Bev

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
geebs, One suggestion if you have the get together. Try and find someone that has been in chickens and shows to do a siminar. Doesn't have to be a Marans person either as most chickens faults are not just on the Marans.

 

[ruth]

Now that I've stopped to think about it - my "Birchen" had to have come from my BCMs (or Olive Egger/BCM cross). I haven't ordered the variety pack from SCBirdfarm for over a year and this roo, and the others his age, his hatchmates, are only about 5 months old. They don't even have the beginnings of spurs yet. Until I started reading all the posts on the Marans thread (and I've been gone since Feb.) I thought he had what everyone was referring to as "straw" colored hackles. I've since learned what "straw" color is referring to but I really all this time thought he was some sort of BCM Reject. I was very surprised when Bev wrote to tell me it was a Birchen with both silver and gold genes.

My olive egg laying hens are in a pen with pure BCM roos. I raise all chicks and put any blue hens back into the pen. The roos are left to run around the farm. So, he and a few of his hatchmates had to come from either the pure BCM pen or the Olive Egger pen - is that possible genetically???? Again, any use for him (outside of the kitchen)?

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Hi

It's the Marans Chicken Club USA that is attemting to get the black coppers accepted at the Newnan show in February 2011 and the wheaten at the Crossroad show in November 2011. After that we will be working on getting the cuckoo and white Marans accepted. Other colors will follow.

Bev

Thank you Bev!

 

[BevDavis]

Quote:
Hi

I had a little gathering once and invited a poultry judge to join us, he was also interested in Marans at the time. We walked from pen to pen and he pointed out aspects of the birds that he liked. He would pick up a bird and spread it's wing and taught us so many things. I think I made tomato soup and home made bread for lunch followed by something else. We then just sat and talked about chickens. It was a nice afternoon. A few weeks later another friend had a similar meeting and he bred Whyandottes so we learnt all about lacing and feather shafts. There always seems something to learn about with chickens.

The best of luck with your gathering, it sounds like fun, you will have to tell us all about it.

Bev