Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

Ohhhhhh Don,

I have a question for YOU ..... ( anyone else can jump in too, but this is something Don has talked about before so I am directing it at him

)

So, I am cruising my other breeding threads trying to see what little gold nuggets of information I can pick up AND I found this

"Splits happen with the crossing of some varieties. Like the Blacks and Self Blue (Lavender) genes. You get a 50% black and 50% Split (black but carrying the lav gene) in the F1. Then when you breed the splits together you get the lavender colr in the F2. Hope this helps."

FIRST QUESTION:
IT INSTANTLY reminded me of our previous discussions... About using the F1 black coppers produced from a BLACK copper x Blue copper P1 pairing.
Is this what you are concerned with ..... That if you pair two blacks they might be carrying a blue gene and later on....in an F2 pairing you will get BLUES from two BLACKS ?? ?


SECOND QUESTION:
I know there have been some incidents already of where the blue has been so DARK that it was mistaken a Black. . ..
I know there was some advice given at that time, BUT TELL ME AGAIN PLEASE . . . How do you test a really dark hen to make sure it is either blue or black ? ?


THIRD QUESTION:
Can someone define SPILT? I am getting a good feel for what it is based on the above quote, but still would like it defined.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I am trying . . . . but I just stay keyed up and stressed out right now!

For mild stresses I like Rescue Remedy or a combination of (bach flowers) hornbeam, elm and mustard. For really heavy duty stress, a cup of Kava Kava tea will set you back to rights. It does impair though, so only use if someone else can take over.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search.php?refine=y&keywords=Kava+Kava+Root

*note, the pills can be bad for the liver if taken long term so I have only linked to the root. I use the coarse and make a tea with lots of honey*

The other thing I find useful - just remember to breathe! The simple act of simply slowing down your breathing and paying attention to it works wonders for stress. (Square breathing: inhale to the count of 4, hold to the count of 4, exhale to the count of 4, hold to the count of 4.) The bonus: it's completely free and you always have it with you!!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
For mild stresses I like Rescue Remedy or a combination of (bach flowers) hornbeam, elm and mustard. For really heavy duty stress, a cup of Kava Kava tea will set you back to rights. It does impair though, so only use if someone else can take over.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search.php?refine=y&keywords=Kava+Kava+Root

*note, the pills can be bad for the liver if taken long term so I have only linked to the root. I use the coarse and make a tea with lots of honey*

The other thing I find useful - just remember to breathe! The simple act of simply slowing down your breathing and paying attention to it works wonders for stress. (Square breathing: inhale to the count of 4, hold to the count of 4, exhale to the count of 4, hold to the count of 4.) The bonus: it's completely free and you always have it with you!!

THANK YOU for all the suggestions. I will take a look at them.
I have actually gotten so stress that I have pulled a muscle in my neck and had to do muscle relaxers just to get out of bed.
I've got movement back in the neck, but I spend a lot of time with a heat sock ( like a heating pad, but you microwave it) around my neck!
NOT A VERY SEXY look for sure! However, it is a step UP in the fashion world from the NECK BRACE the doctor put me in

I think I am ready for KAVA KAVA tea. I NEED a little impairment! Hey Mel . . .. you might want to check into this Kava Kava stuff too.

 

[flgardengirl]

I have split blk/lav and lavender orpingtons that I am using for another project as well as orpingtons. When they are talking about split in lavender and black they are usually referring to the blacks carrying a non-visual lavender gene. It takes 2 lavender genes to get a visually lavender bird, one from each parent.
From the master of lavender lol (scroll down to the last post). I believe Andalusian blue genes work differently (incompletely dominant) but both dilute black. Lavender (self blue) dilutes red and buff not sure if blue does though.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=186133

Another great thread on Lavender (aka Self Blue) but some explanation of BBS Andalusian blue as well
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=344795&p=1

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Lisa,

From what I understand of the Andalusian color genetics, if the chick expresses black, it is black. If it expresses blue, it only carries the blue. In other words, if you ain't blue, you are not carrying the blue gene (dilute). Ok, VC and Pink, jump on me now!

As far as testing for a dark blue bird, you can test breed them with either a Splash or a black bird. If you mate one with a splash, if the parent bird is indeed a dark blue, you will get blues & splashes. If you breed the dark blue to a black, you will get blacks & blues. 50% of each color in both types of matings, so you should test with at least a dozen eggs. Again, awaiting my mistake spanking

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Lisa,

From what I understand of the Andalusian color genetics, if the chick expresses black, it is black. If it expresses blue, it only carries the blue. In other words, if you ain't blue, you are not carrying the blue gene (dilute). Ok, VC and Pink, jump on me now!

As far as testing for a dark blue bird, you can test breed them with either a Splash or a black bird. If you mate one with a splash, if the parent bird is indeed a dark blue, you will get blues & splashes. If you breed the dark blue to a black, you will get blacks & blues. 50% of each color in both types of matings, so you should test with at least a dozen eggs. Again, awaiting my mistake spanking

This is probably right as we do have Andalusian chickens and we see this in our hatches

 

[flgardengirl]

Yes they are incompletely dominant (Andulusian blue) so if you have a black bird that is truly black it has not received a copy of the blue gene. That is why a black roo can't father a splash bird which needs two copies of the blue gene. A blue bird has one copy and obviously a black bird has none. This is my understanding anyhow lol. I asked this on the old Marans thread when I had a black marans bird pop up in my BBS. I hope someone will come along and can explain it better

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
The Blue gene will not dilute red or buff, but Lavender will....lavender will dilute everything, Lav won't even allow lacing. Blue and the Andalusian blue genes work very differently.

 

[flgardengirl]

Thanks pink. It makes sense that blue doesn't dilute red or buff (or probably copper..is that considered red or brown? lol) or we wouldn't have the gorgeous blue coppers!

 

[Debbi]

Pink, Is the red a question of being diluted or covered? As in the dark BCMs, the red (copper) is covered, not diluted. So if we are talking about an already dilute color (blue), it would not be able to cover the red? Am I anywhere near the right track here?