Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Lotsapaints]

Many of us post on both threads but on this thread we are trying to breed our Marans to the proposed standard and try to use the SOP to help improve our stock. I can say for myself I'm trying not to breed any DQs in any of my stock but still trying to work with what I have and learning what good stock looks like. I don't know yet if I will show first I need birds that will score over 90 to take I'm not there yet have quite a ways to go. I have learned way more thanks to people on here that will help you if you want help. If you don't care what your birds look like that's okay too you're buying the food

 

[n.smithurmond]

I'd love to hear if those of you breeding to the French standard see any obvious faults!

I'd also really like to know more about the wheaten issue. What's wrong with a Black Copper carrying the recessive wheaten gene? Because we don't want wheatens cropping up the the breeding pen or because a Black Copper with a wheaten gene itself does not meet the standard somehow? Are they not actually "Black Coppers" in that case? Is egg color affected?

Forgive my complete and total "unedumacatedness" in regard to chicken genetics, please.

 

[Debbi]

Lotsapaints ~ Well said!

There are just as many here intereseted in showing as there are in just eggs. Don't know if I'll ever get to a show in my lifetime, but would sure like to know if I had the birds to take if I wanted to. People that put birds up here and ask for a critique, should get an honest critique. If you put a bird on here that you just want to share because it's pretty, lays pretty eggs, and you don't want a critique, well that's fine too! We like pics either way...at least I do.

 

[Debbi]

n.smithurmond :

I'd love to hear if those of you breeding to the French standard see any obvious faults!

I'd also really like to know more about the wheaten issue. What's wrong with a Black Copper carrying the recessive wheaten gene? Because we don't want wheatens cropping up the the breeding pen or because a Black Copper with a wheaten gene itself does not meet the standard somehow? Are they not actually "Black Coppers" in that case? Is egg color affected?

Forgive my complete and total "unedumacatedness" in regard to chicken genetics, please.

As long as this breed has been in this country, which by other breed standards isn't long at all, we are ALL still learning! Don't feel foolish to ask even the silliest of questions, that's how we all learn.

As for the Wheaton gene, well if you are breeding for Black Coppers, you expect Black Coppers. Then one day, a nice little white/yellow chick comes out. Whaaattt??? It's in there, it will be there in some birds/flocks for some time, unless it is bred out by noticing the differences in the BCM and Wheaton roos, and the crosses that they have produced. Same thing goes true for that Wheaton sport out of a BCM; it won't breed true to the Wheaton color. I'm sure if my thinking is wrong, someone will correct me, that's the way I see it...​

 

[pinkchick]

I am here to learn all that I can about these birds in every aspect that I can, whether it be color patterns and effects, dark eggs, body type, preserving them for all that makes them special and hopefully help someone with what I have learned and pay it forward. I am also here for the GREAT COMPANY!

Very well said Lotsa!!!!!

 

[n.smithurmond]

Quote:
You mean in noticing the difference between a BC carrying the recessive gene and a BC that doesn't, or noticing the difference between a BC rooster and a wheaten rooster? Is it possible to have a perfectly beautiful example of a Black Copper occasionally throw a wheaten or does the wheaten gene make the Black Copper's color substandard?

Where's the smiley showing how convoluted that is... Hmmmm... hehehehe

 

[n.smithurmond]

Ok, I just looked at a picture of a wheaten rooster. This whole time I had just seen the hens and thought the darn roosters would look like the hens!! Now I see that it's not quite so obvious with the boys is it? So when Don mentions "wheaten influence" are we debating whether or not this cockerel is even a Black Copper?

 

[Debbi]

n.smithurmond :

Quote:
You mean in noticing the difference between a BC carrying the recessive gene and a BC that doesn't, or noticing the difference between a BC rooster and a wheaten rooster? Is it possible to have a perfectly beautiful example of a Black Copper occasionally throw a wheaten or does the wheaten gene make the Black Copper's color substandard?

Where's the smiley showing how convoluted that is... Hmmmm... hehehehe

Well both really. That's probably how the Wheaton gene got in the BCMs in the first place. The BCMs possibly carrying the recessive gene, will look like what's been described here before. White hackle/tail fluff, whiteish pinkish leg color, brown fluff on the belly/vent area instead of black, lighter hackle color, lighter beak color, etc. Up to the person with the birds in question if they want to breed them or not, but don't be surprised with a sport now and then.

 

[n.smithurmond]

Quote:
You mean in noticing the difference between a BC carrying the recessive gene and a BC that doesn't, or noticing the difference between a BC rooster and a wheaten rooster? Is it possible to have a perfectly beautiful example of a Black Copper occasionally throw a wheaten or does the wheaten gene make the Black Copper's color substandard?

Where's the smiley showing how convoluted that is... Hmmmm... hehehehe

Well both really. That's probably how the Wheaton gene got in the BCMs in the first place. The BCMs possibly carrying the recessive gene, will look like what's been described here before. White hackle/tail fluff, whiteish pinkish leg color, brown fluff on the belly/vent area instead of black, lighter hackle color, lighter beak color, etc. Up to the person with the birds in question if they want to breed them or not, but don't be surprised with a sport now and then.

 

[snowbird]

Thread slanted to critiquing toward the APA SOP . The final Marans Standard will be mostly created by the MCCUSA and rightly so. They are the people that have put up their money and done all the paper work toward getting a standard. Do I like everything in the proposed Standard ? No I do not and no proposed standard will ever please everyone with Marans. At least when the standard is approved we will know exactly what the bird will have to look like to compete in the USA. I could care less what the French Standard say as I do not intend to show in France.

Just from working with everyone on BYC I can say we owe the MCCUSA a round of applause for all their hard work. The few people that are really serious on here make it worth while doing all the posts.