Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

Hi Hurley! Good to see you! I'm thrilled to see them again! They are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful...I don't care what cross of variety of Marans they are. I think I've said that before.

What a difference from when they were younger! I loved them then and I love them even more now! That boy in photo G, is he the one I loved so much before in your older thread?

Are they laying? How is egg color?

I do see some Birchen in there....has blackdotte seen these updated photo's yet? I remember that he visited your previous thread and gave his opinion didn't he? Would love to hear what he thinks is going on with them genetically now that they have grown out. Hope he sees your other thread on their genetics. I will be watching and learning right along with you.

I know others will be by and chime in too, you posted in the right place. It's a sure thing we're going to get some very good feedback and discussions with them.

 

[syble]

looks like they may be blends, cuckoo, blues, and birchens would be my guess.
Sib

 

[syble]

ah pink posted faster haha.

 

[Hurley]

Thank you much. I can't remember if you really liked the contrasty cuckoo roo or the lighter one. G is the contrasty one. Right now I am planning to keep the lighter one and rehome G. I've got a gorgeous, BIG splash cuckoo cockerel that is 2 months old and very handsome that I hope to bring into the flock this summer (or set up a breeding pen with him and a couple ladies).

Yes, I'm delighted with how these guys have turned out. I haven't quite figured out the difference in Silver vs. Birchen phenotypically over blue. I know they are different genes and that silver is sex-linked, but I don't know how you just look at an already dilute/blue bird and decide which gene is in there.

Thanks for the warm welcome and all the opinions/advice!

Connie

 

[pinkchick]

I just remember that the one I liked was that one that was more Blue and barred, rather than the lighter splash cuckoo one, H. Of course, I would like the blue one!

All I can say is that I see blue cuckoo and birchen in them....as for the genetic lingo, we'll need to get VillageChicken or Blackdotte here.....I understand it, but I have a very hard time putting it in terms that I myself can understand, lest I try to put that thought to text, it would just make a whole mess of things.

edited to add:

I haven't quite figured out the difference in Silver vs. Birchen phenotypically over blue. I know they are different genes and that silver is sex-linked, but I don't know how you just look at an already dilute/blue bird and decide which gene is in there.

Look past the blue and look for effects of the plumage...ie....the white laced appearance in the hackles of E and F....this suggests the Birchen and would be silver, if I am not mistaken.
A and B look like they have the barring effect in their hackles with B maybe looking like she has what looks like barring near the top of her head and looks like she may have some slight lacing effects going on. I may be seeing this wrong as I can't always see every photo clearly.C appears to be just blue is that right? D reminds me of B but just a lighter version.

Don't know if that helped or if it was what you were looking for but it is what I see that tells me that they may be Blue Birchen and Blue Cuckoo.​

 

[Hurley]

So, wonder if my lighter blue guy is maybe a birchen blue cuckoo? Hmm, something is lightening his whole body, though.

Got a mix here, for sure, which is fun. Looking forward to teasing apart some of the combos.

 

[pinkchick]

Hurley~

Can't remembe what the parent birds were....I remember the discussion but can't remember the specifics. I need a refresher course please.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
I am having a hard time watching them rest.... just want to put them in the 'bator and start the count down. This is my first time hatching marans, I know to give them extra days to hatch, they like a dry hatch.... any thing else I should keep in mind? Got a new hydrometer/thermometer!

I think you have it all under control Keara and don't worry there are plenty Marans friends who have your back....we are here for you!

But really......I don't think that I am truly the best one to get incubating tips from.....I don't play by the rules, I am a "setter and forgetter" Ronco style as Geebs would put it.

I don't fuss over them at all, I will often let the water run completely dry and sometimes I don't hurry to refill it. I don't worry too much if the humidity drops down even into the 20's the first 18 days and if I can't get the humidity up past 40 or 45 during lockdown....I don't worry about that either, who ever is going to hatch is going to hatch. If I can manage to get the humidity up to around 50 in one of my little stryo 'bators that I like to use for hatching then I am happy, but if I can't, I can't.
I am also one that will open the 'bator when I am not suppose to.

I'm one of those fly by the seat of my pants type of peeps.

Sounds like you hatch like we do

 

[Hens and Roos]

Hi Hurley, nice to see you out on this thread and great talking with you this morning

Here is the 2 month old chick that I got from Hurley:

He was just settling in at our place.

 

[syble]

the way i understand it is that non of your birds are fully cuckoo, meaning they only have 1 copy of the gene which is why its most noticeable on backs and necks but on the hens in particular, not so noticeable other places. I'd imagine that would be the case with the roos too, and the lighter one may be birchen on top of that lightening him once again. The way the genes layer, they can create quite some critters.
sib