Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[geebs]

it is the monitor for the last series... they are different.. the hen has a much darker eye...between red and brown... The rooster.. pumpkin color...

Eye color is sooo important as it relates to the feather color and also the shank... It speaks of the melanisers... I wish I could get this right... sorry guys.. I gave it a try...

 

[Debbi]

Thanks for posting those Geebs, I can see the difference! Looks like what you said is right on. Notice how the eye colors correspond to the hackle color? Interesting. So how does the eye color correspond to the shank feathering? Darker eye = more??

 

[geebs]

It is noticeable in the males... The orange and the lighter shanks go together... The darker the eye the darker the shank... It is the melaniser... it covers the copper in the body and they color in the eye and the lightness in the shank... therefore making those aspects darker and as they get super dark they get a beetle greeness to the whole bird...

Please anyone, correct this if you have found a source of credible argument.. thanks.

 

[Debbi]

Does the leg feathering get any heavier with the melaniser? Seems all of mine that have any or heavier feathering on the shanks, have the lighter colored legs. What you say about the eye color and melaniser (lack of copper) or really dark copper, and the beetle green is sure true. All three of my older girls (14 weeks) have very dark coppering, dark orange eyes, and are covered with the beetle green sheen. They all have dark slate legs, but the darkest of the 3 is the only one with leg feathering, and it is sparse. What gene/genes control, (or tie into) the shank feathering?

I'm soooo glad there are smarter people than me out there!!!

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
The color of the eyes in this pic meet the reddish bay requirements.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
this meets the reddish bay description

Walt

 

[geebs]

Thanks... Fowlman So pumpkin is one end of the spectrum of red/bay? Toward the lighter end perhaps??

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
This color meets the description. There will be shade differences.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
I hadn't heard the "pumpkin" reference before but yes, that does. So does orangery red..which I have heard. If the bird has a different color like black or whatever it is a one point cut per eye.

Walt

 

[geebs]

Wow... it pays to make sure the eye color is correct then... 2 point deduction well that is quite a lot when you haven't gotten into the finery.