Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

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Let me know when and where you find that really really nice rooster

Dang it - - there I go again being a smart a $ $ !

 

[Wynette]

Don, I was just trying to find out about the "#4 or better THROUGH THE ENTIRE cycle" - as in, I've been told they must never lay less than a #4 at any point in their cycle, and wondered if I'd been misled. Of course, there would have to be exceptions, as geebs noted, if it was due to some sort of stress or illness, and a hen laid lighter than a #4 for a short spell, that wouldn't count, I think...correct? That's why my question concerned, not where it came from that they have to lay a #4 in order to be considered a Marans; I think all of us on this thread would agree that this is true. Maybe I'm wrong? If so - I stand corrected!

 

[geebs]

The heart of marans France where the bird originated and ppl wanted to preserve the breed... Those ppl decided what it meant to be marans... They were derived from many different birds and the Hallmark was the Russet egg.. Anything else is an imposter posing in a marans suit... Unless it lays what is required then it is a phenotype... It was a valid question and the information is readily available... Thanks to whoever brought it up... There is so much to read... Since it derived in France then the most experience we can get is from the insemination of the breed from the native land... The best advices from the most experienced poultiers of that region are pertinent as the ppl that are writing the standard for the US have done thier research in that realm... that does not mean we all can't read and gleen for ourselves where they based the decisions for us on our behalves... Enjoy the read guys...

There is sooo much breeding advice on these sites and they tell you why... There are years of experience from breeders who days are gone... but the information is there for us... a rich treasure to learn and move forward with our backyard flocks... Woe to those that misrepresent based on a ribbon one should print themselves.... It lacks real merit... I hope no one here is of that mind.

I am out for a while... I have lost a good friend today....

 

[Lilacfeather]

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I am so glad you posted pictures of your girls.

I was hoping we could talk about HENS TAIL POSITIONS today.
I hope you won't be offended if I use your picture as a jumping off spot !

1.) I have never seen any hen have that stray feather that this girl has . . . On the roos we call that feather something special - - SOMEBODY JUMP IN here and remind me of what that one crazy feather is called ? ?

2.) When we are trying to decide our birds tail's angle . . . do we include or exclude the stray feather ? ? If it was LEGAL to pluck this splash marans stray feather out - - - the remaining feathers would be at a much lower angle.

3.) ALSO, What should a HENS tail look like - - what angle or shape should we be looking for ? ? Does anyone have a good example of a good hen's tail angle ? ? I know from the back the tail should be open, not pinched.

Thanks everyone. If everything goes well in 14 more days, I will be hatching a couple of dozen of marans and I want to be able to evaluate some of them on my own as they mature. I have a pretty good feel for what faults to look for in the roos. Not so confident on the hens . .. .

I'm not offended at all. She's a pet, and will never be bred, so it's all good. I find all this stuff quite interesting. I thought it sort of looked like maybe she was just missing a few tail feathers, and that they may grow in, and fill the gap?


Now that I really look at the photo, they are just kinda crazy, sticking up all on their own out there, aren't they?

 

[Wynette]

geebs....I'm so sorry.....

 

[math ace]

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I posted a picture of my blue copper's LARGE egg the other day. That color is her typical color. She lays it 5 out of 7 days. Every once in a long while, she will throw be a lighter egg that has huge dark spots on it . . . . I set one of those eggs to experiment with what you are asking now - - - If 1 out of 60 eggs is messed up or disappointing - - - then that should not be held against her. Her egg color gene is pretty consistent . . . I would think anything - - -non-genetic could explain the fluke egg every once in a while.

I won't be able to confirm my suspicions for about 6 months . . . .BUT my hypothesis is that this light egg will produce a maran that lays eggs that are at least as dark as her momma's normal eggs

 

[math ace]

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Snowbird, I too am a "says who" type person. However, some folks just accept and follow the rules. If the world was full of people like you and me - - - nothing would ever get done because we would always be asking - - "says who" . . .

If the world was full of the sweet people who never rock the boat - - nothing would ever get changed.

Thank God, we have both types of people on this forum . . . .

Together we bring some really good traits the table !

 

[Wynette]

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I posted a picture of my blue copper's LARGE egg the other day. That color is her typical color. She lays it 5 out of 7 days. Every once in a long while, she will throw be a lighter egg that has huge dark spots on it . . . . I set one of those eggs to experiment with what you are asking now - - - If 1 out of 60 eggs is messed up or disappointed - - - then that should not be held against her. Her egg color gene is pretty consistent . . . I would think anything - - -non-genetic could explain the fluke egg every once in a while.

I won't be able to confirm my suspicions for about 6 months . . . .BUT my hypothesis is that this light egg will produce a maran that lays eggs that are at least as dark as her momma's normal eggs

That seems like it would be true.

My question after this would be.....if you have a hen that lays a nice, dark egg 5 out of 7 eggs...is that "enough"? I guess I'd opt to breed a hen that lays a nice, dark egg the majority of the time...5 out of 7 is only 71% of the time. I guess I've never thought about it, most of my girls "usually" lay a nice, dark egg, and it's only very seldom that I get a lighter one. This makes me wonder if my girls are the exception, or the rule?

 

[math ace]

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Thanks geebs for looking this up. . . I know I saw it on Bev's site, but I thought it was mentioned on the french site too.

 

[math ace]

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It would definetly be cheating if the roo laid an egg - - - That was a SILLY judge who refused to judge the roo and pullet because they wouldn't lay an egg for him