Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

Quote:
This is just my opinion and please take it at that. If you are breeding just for eggs and do not care what the off spring look like I would not worry about them. Now if you want to breed to the SOP even though there isn't one yet for these cuckoo I would not try and use these in a breeding program because they are definitely mixed. Don

 

[sewandgrow]

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Good luck G..............we are all pulling for you.

 

[snowbird]

Just like to say one more thing on mixing up all the colors looking for that super looking Marans, this group of fowl is what will be the end product. The part I have a problem with is someone makes all these crosses and sell eggs or chicks to someone with out telling the person they are experimental. If you are experimenting at least tell the buyer what to expect. There should be some ethics involved somewhere I believe. Don

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
This is just my opinion and please take it at that. If you are breeding just for eggs and do not care what the off spring look like I would not worry about them. Now if you want to breed to the SOP even though there isn't one yet for these cuckoo I would not try and use these in a breeding program because they are definitely mixed. Don

I had planned on only keeping a couple of girls as I just wanted darker eggs than I get from my orps. But like all my others, I am a freak for being breed "correct". That why this group is soo frustrating for me. There are only two that have yellow legs, all others are white. I hate that I ended up with a jumbled mess, I just wanted uncomplicated, but that is never my luck.

You take people for what they advertise and their word and this is what you get!!

 

[pinkchick]

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Hi HenThymes!

I am not sure what to say and don't want to say the wrong thing or mislead you so maybe we can get Geebs, VillageChicken, Wynette, Ms. Bev Davis, Snowbird, Walt and all the other greats that I know am I missing to come by and start up a discussion on them for us. It's always interesting to see how they mature, we can all learn a great deal I think from them. Thank you for sharing them and keeping us updated and giving all the opportunity to learn along with you.

I'm sure someone will come along soon.

Hi Kim, it is really hard for me to comment on these young mix breed fowl. Looks like some just threw a bunch of different Marans and other breeds in a pen and sold what came along. The yellow green legs say mix breeds. I see a wheaten colored male. No way these all came from cuckoo matings. Don

Thank you for commenting Don, no need to hide at all, Ms. HenThymes is looking for honest opinions and thoughts, I can assure you this.

I also lean toward a mix. The very yellow legs to me are a ringer, and others have mentioned a yellow legged chick or two popping up and as we know, yellow legs should not be in the Marans.

 

[pinkchick]

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Good luck G..............we are all pulling for you.

Ditto!

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
This is just my opinion and please take it at that. If you are breeding just for eggs and do not care what the off spring look like I would not worry about them. Now if you want to breed to the SOP even though there isn't one yet for these cuckoo I would not try and use these in a breeding program because they are definitely mixed. Don

I had planned on only keeping a couple of girls as I just wanted darker eggs than I get from my orps. But like all my others, I am a freak for being breed "correct". That why this group is soo frustrating for me. There are only two that have yellow legs, all others are white. I hate that I ended up with a jumbled mess, I just wanted uncomplicated, but that is never my luck.

You take people for what they advertise and their word and this is what you get!!

There should not be a problem keeping some of the white leg females if you just want them for eggs. If as you say these were supposed to be all Cuckoo I would consider all to be related and would not use for breeders unless you just want some darker eggs and there is nothing wrong with that. Don

 

[sewandgrow]

Quote:
This is just my opinion and please take it at that. If you are breeding just for eggs and do not care what the off spring look like I would not worry about them. Now if you want to breed to the SOP even though there isn't one yet for these cuckoo I would not try and use these in a breeding program because they are definitely mixed. Don

I had planned on only keeping a couple of girls as I just wanted darker eggs than I get from my orps. But like all my others, I am a freak for being breed "correct". That why this group is soo frustrating for me. There are only two that have yellow legs, all others are white. I hate that I ended up with a jumbled mess, I just wanted uncomplicated, but that is never my luck.

You take people for what they advertise and their word and this is what you get!!

How disappointing for you if you thought you were getting breed "correct" eggs to hatch. I started out just wanting a variety of colored eggs for eating & sharing & bought hatchery/store bought eggs. When the "correct' bug bit me I slowly got a few chickens from reputable breeders for each breed I wanted & as they grew culled the less "correct" one & put them in the layer pen & sold or gave away my "store bought birds". I told everyone I gave to they were hatchery/feed store birds......no tall tales here........LOL. I am now down to just one more breed to replace and have found much satisfaction in learning soooooooooooooooo much along the way. Be confident that this is the place to do it. There are so many knowledgable people on this forum that are so willing to share. Good luck with your journey. I personally cry no tears for the chickens I gave up & am excited everyday about what I am trying to do.
Karen in California

 

[HenThymes]

Thank you for the advise, well noted and taken.

The sad part is that you will probably start to see more flaws and see others soon asking these same questions and showing the same types of pictures again as I have seen auctions for eggs from this same group "Cuckoo/Gold Cuckoo" eggs.

I will probably keep a pullet or two from this group (eggs only) and when I am ready buy better/smarter the next time around.

 

[Mountain Mel]

Quote:
I had planned on only keeping a couple of girls as I just wanted darker eggs than I get from my orps. But like all my others, I am a freak for being breed "correct". That why this group is soo frustrating for me. There are only two that have yellow legs, all others are white. I hate that I ended up with a jumbled mess, I just wanted uncomplicated, but that is never my luck.

You take people for what they advertise and their word and this is what you get!!

How disappointing for you if you thought you were getting breed "correct" eggs to hatch. I started out just wanting a variety of colored eggs for eating & sharing & bought hatchery/store bought eggs. When the "correct' bug bit me I slowly got a few chickens from reputable breeders for each breed I wanted & as they grew culled the less "correct" one & put them in the layer pen & sold or gave away my "store bought birds". I told everyone I gave to they were hatchery/feed store birds......no tall tales here........LOL. I am now down to just one more breed to replace and have found much satisfaction in learning soooooooooooooooo much along the way. Be confident that this is the place to do it. There are so many knowledgable people on this forum that are so willing to share. Good luck with your journey. I personally cry no tears for the chickens I gave up & am excited everyday about what I am trying to do.
Karen in California

Not only is there a lot of knowledge willingly shared here, but there are just some real good people on here who have a great sense of humor, I say!