Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[robnms]

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What part of La? I'm from lafayette, Ya wanna send some eggs or chicks back with'em? I could use some good black coppers.

haha....I wish I had something for ya...but I seem to have some temperamental BCM pullets that just don't want to give up their lovely dark eggs. They are hating this cold wet weather we've been having up here. Its driving me nuts. My brother's family is from Houma by the way.

Cold Weather? You mean you don't have tomatoes on your plants yet?

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
haha....I wish I had something for ya...but I seem to have some temperamental BCM pullets that just don't want to give up their lovely dark eggs. They are hating this cold wet weather we've been having up here. Its driving me nuts. My brother's family is from Houma by the way.

Cold Weather? You mean you don't have tomatoes on your plants yet?

On the plants yet?? I don't even have my plants in the ground yet! Got flowers on one of my cherry tomato plants though

 

[math ace]

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YES, you have time . . . Don't make a decision on white feathers until 15 - 18 weeks of age ( after the big juvie molt)

My guys are 13 weeks old and look like they are just starting a juvie molt. I just saw Gray feathers on the ground today

 

[birdygirl123]

Okay so my next question is.. do all BCM have some white at this age... or is this a flaw in the line.. meaning.. when they are young.. does everyone just cross their fingers and hope they shed the white.. ??..

Quote:
YES, you have time . . . Don't make a decision on white feathers until 15 - 18 weeks of age ( after the big juvie molt)

My guys are 13 weeks old and look like they are just starting a juvie molt. I just saw Gray feathers on the ground today

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
haha....I wish I had something for ya...but I seem to have some temperamental BCM pullets that just don't want to give up their lovely dark eggs. They are hating this cold wet weather we've been having up here. Its driving me nuts. My brother's family is from Houma by the way.

Cold Weather? You mean you don't have tomatoes on your plants yet?

haha....tomatoes in the ground up here? not without some kind of cover over them for protection. The average last frost here is May 15th....

 

[math ace]

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The correlation between the white and its relationship to the coloring in the adult birds is one of the things we are looking at on the black copper marans thread. There are some of us that are hatching chicks and taking pictures of them for six months and seeing what we can observe. . . . If some traits are unique to a line or shared across the board.

I think most juvies have white as babies - - the tuxedo look is what the marans are know for.

I know in other breeds, it is not uncommon for newly born chicks to look NOTHING like the adults. The plumage changes constantly until the adult feathers are received. Speckled sussex is one of these breeds.

It is only considered a flaw if it does not molt out. EVEN stranger . . . If a bird damages a feather, it can grow back white even if it was black first. . . .

 

[Cadeau]

okay - these are my notes (are they right??)

No White feathers or base of feathers? (no white fluff either?)
No sparse feathers OR too many feathers
Think I read somewhere "No red bleeding through the black"

Fix:
1st body type/depth/breadth
2nd coloring
3rd leg/foot feathering and comb

Where does egg color fit in?

I know a hen must produce a 4 or better and the roo should be from the darkest egg possible

BUT - where does egg color fit in the hierarchy??

Or
Does everyone ONLY hatch their very darkest eggs?

 

[Cadeau]

When do roos stop filling out?

Don said my cockerel looks to be narrow through the shoulders - so when will I know for sure?


At what age do you guys make decisions as to who goes in the breeding shed?



Also - still need to know what/where is a "thumbprint" on a comb?

 

[Debbi]

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Where egg color comes in as to priority usually depends on what you are breeding for. If you are breeding for egg color only, then it would be number one on the list. If breeding towards the SOP and trying to correct faults, egg color may take a back seat for a bit. My pullets have consistently laid a 5 or 6 colored egg. The older pullets have been laying since November, and the eggs are still pretty much the same color. I want the best of both worlds, and do realize it will take some time to acheive both; nice egg color AND a decently colored and put together bird as well. If you only want dark eggs, I think you'll find some of the mossiest and ugliest hens lay the nicest colored eggs!

As for only hatching the darkest eggs, I'm not sure I understand that theory. The dark egg gene is still there in a hen that lays a number 6 one day and a number 4 (just an example) the next week. Certain factors can control the difference in egg color. Stress, cold, different feed, molt, etc. If the hen consistently lays, say a number 6 and then lays a 4 on a bad day, someone please tell me the difference. I'd still go ahead and try to hatch the egg knowing what's behind it. That's just me!

 

[snowbird]

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Comb thumbprint is the pushed in looking area on the middle or back part of Comb. If it is all the way to end of comb it will cause the comb to turn sideways. At 8 months old you male should already have a wider and longer back.

Take my comments for what they are worth, regardless of who is giving info. get more than one opinion.