Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Lotsapaints]

Quote:
They shouldn't be small my roosters are close to my Delawares and they shouldn't be flighty either. I have some that were mean to other birds they were growing out with because they got bigger than them but mostly they are almost as friendly as my Dellies. I do have a couple of those small narrow mossy black hens and of course they lay big ole dark eggs one of them lays an egg almost everyday what a nice trait some of my others should take lessons.....

 

[geebs]

So ROPO... what line?? Do ya know.. Some lines grow soooo slow.. Got any pix?

 

[Debbi]

rodriguezpoultry ,

Marans are not for every body, so they may not be your breed. I think flighty birds depend on how much you handle them, and even then individuals don't like to be handled. Mine are still young yet, )14 1/2 weeks). but they all come when I call them for goodies, and often swarm me when coming into the run. The cockerel will drop when I tell him "stop", lol, so far. One younger cockerel is a pure mama's boy, and loves to be held and carried. So , I guess it depends on the birds, breeding, and environment. So far, I am really loving this breed, and don't see that changing. They are charectars for sure, each with their own personality!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Well, the farm I got them from claimed they were from the Bev Davis line. As far as I know this person has been truthful with me. It could just be that these two failed to flourish?


It could just be I'm comparing them to my Langshans and that's what's screwing up my perception of growth. Yeah, the Marans pullets and cockerels are spastic. Worse than some of the Leghorns I've had. I raised them the exact same way as my Langshans and the Langshans all run to me.

Let me see if I can find some photos...

Crud. They are on my cell phone...let me see if I can find them on there. If not, I can get some photos this weekend.

 

[geebs]

No worries... I will see the pix later then.. I find that unusual for Bevs birds as they are quite large and fast growing... But who knows... Lots of factors at play.

I didn't find her stock to be anything less than friendly... In your face friendly. I would have expected them to be the Wade line as they are a little less friendly and also a smaller bird... Holding my breath now.. and boy is it heavy....

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Please know that I'm not bashing lines...just stating what I know and what is going on.


Maybe this breed isn't for me...Everyone has their own breed. I was just wanting to get some dark colored eggs. I KNOW Welsummers aren't for me. Tried that one, epic fail. Should be good for the laying flock though. A pullet is a pullet.

 

[Debbi]

Hang on a few more months, these birds take longer to mature than others I've had. Even with the young chicks I have, they are much more acceptive of me now than they were two weeks ago, when all I did was freak them out! This last hatch was spooky from the start, whereas my first bunch was very friendly. With more intense handling, this recent batch is now coming out of their shells and even recognize their names, go figure... the one roo of the middle hatch (an only child), is a mama's boy!! I can pick him up any time, anywhere!

 

[BevDavis]

Quote:
Hi

The only time mine have been flighty was after a bobcat ran at their fence, usually they get under my feet. They are slow growing compared with other birds I am told, they certainly seem to lay later than some breeds.

Bev

 

[onthespot]

I have a splash hen reputedly of Bev's line. I never handled her much, but when I go in their pen and sit a spell to watch them, she will walk right up to me, and I pick her up, set her on my knee, and I will pat her back like you would pat a big dog, Pat Pat Pat, like it sorta knocks the wind out of her a tiny bit. She just sets there and looks at me, and gets comfortable. Then I toss her off a couple feet away, gently, near the ground, and she just turns around and walks back over to me and looks up. If she had little arms she would raise them up and say "Up!" to me. LOL

 

[flgardengirl]

Some birds are naturally more friendly no matter what thier breed. I have a white Leghorn who gets really upset if she can't get up on your shoulder to be snuggled. She will go to sleep in your arms-loves her neck scratched. Our Ameraucanas are huge love sponges. The roos and especially the hens- I have one hen who is practically an appendage of me whenever I'm in her pen. If she could, she would just be carried around 24/7 lol. My buff and black split lavender Orpingtons are not as friendly as my Marans. My wheaten Marans males seem especially friendly. They are never snippy and want to be held all the time. All our breeds get lots of attention but I think individual personalities just come out no matter what the stereotype.