Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Quote:
Thanks, everyone! (Roger, hard to lurk here with a new baby, huh?!? Yes, the names seemed to fit the two pullets!) I am pleased about the Splash girls, and the egg color looks nice... My BCM hen is hysterical! Here legs are so, so dark, though. Is that the norm? Hackles not copper enough-- seemed like it to me, too. But it sounds like that is a typical issue?

Here is Eva sitting on the nest yesterday before she made her first egg. Comb OK?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/65263_6-19-2011_6.jpg

Both girls with Lil' Joe, whom you have seen before, I think:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/65263_6-5-2011_10.jpg

What I saw as a sprig in the last pic doesn't show on this one. She's a nice girl!

 

[Wendy'sChicksRock]

hello. i have only one FBCM ( bev davis lines ) got her at nationals back in nov. When she first started to lay a few months back the eggs were really really dark. lately they are pretty light in color and the shell seems thinner. they have oyster shell free choice, and eat layena crumbles.. is it normal from the eggs to lighten up like this?

Ill try to post a pic as I have some of her first eggs blown out to keep..

wendy

 

[Debbi]

Wendy'sChicksRock :

hello. i have only one FBCM ( bev davis lines ) got her at nationals back in nov. When she first started to lay a few months back the eggs were really really dark. lately they are pretty light in color and the shell seems thinner. they have oyster shell free choice, and eat layena crumbles.. is it normal from the eggs to lighten up like this?

Ill try to post a pic as I have some of her first eggs blown out to keep..

wendy

Wendy ~ Lots of things can affect the egg color. If the Michigan weather has been anything like it is here in Missouri, the heat will be a big factor. Other stressors such as molting, worms, mites/lice, change of diet and things can lessen the egg color too. These eggs do tend to lighten a bit over the course of the laying season as well, but if they were really, really dark and are now very light, I would look for other reasons. Two of my 4 pullets have been laying since Nov. Their eggs have always been a 5+ - 6+ in color, and even now in molt, they are still producing almost the same color, maybe a half shade less.

 

[flgardengirl]

Alot of mine have totally quit laying this past week. It has been crazy hot here. Mine mostly laid all through the winter and so probably need a break anyways by now.
Marans egg color can lighten up towards the end of thier laying cycle. It sounds like you are feeding her okay. You could give her a little extra protein sometimes that will help. Do you let them freerange any to get any greens in thier diets?

 

[Wendy'sChicksRock]

I'm new to Marans..we just love her and her dark eggs.maybe she is nearing the end of her cycle and yes,its been very very hot here for the past few weeks.ill up her protien,add some extra greens in the run.they do get to free range for a few hrs everyday.BUT the neighbors have a new dog who is quite the escape artist so they don't get out as much as they use too..
Thanxs for the tips ...I love this thread..
Oh on a diff note we will be showing her at fair in a few weeks

Wendy

 

[loprettaerin]

Quote:
I agree with Raven, bet one of your hens is a dark blue. Check the underfluff on her neck and base of the tail that may appear more grey than black. Breed her to a black roo, if she's black, you'll get 100% black; if she's dark blue, you'll get 50% black & 50% blue.

Anyone one understand how you get golden salmon? I very confused guess I really should have waited for them to dry fully before taking pictures they look so much like what the http://frenchmaransclubaustralia.yolasite.com/resources/e+ chicks.jpg?timestamp=1266799969604 call duckwing/ golden salmon know. I Have read and read but just cant wrap my head around how they came out like this. don't look like any splash I have seen as chicks before.

Here is updated pictures with flash and without.

this one not as dark and disticted pattern and colors as the other one that really looks golden salmon from the pictures of other chicks Im seeing around.

I will definatly be growing these out to see what they are truely going to look like.

yes understand should have not taken them out for pictures before they were completly dry was just trying to get pictures because this is through me for a loop.

 

[jeremy]

I got my first dark egg today!

I believe it was from my Wheaten Marans, who's name is Frenchie.

 

[geebs]

loprettaerin: Partridge yay!!! also known as Golden Salmon in marans country. Congrats on the new Fuzzies..they are to die for!!! There are several different genetic codes that can make that presentation... but both parents are involved.. They can be called wild type, duckwing, or partridge and in the case of leghorns...brown... That color can also have columbian hiding in it also.... (super cooleo)

Brookside

Frenchie Rocks

 

[Raven1]

Brookside WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!

 

[flgardengirl]

Congrats Brookside! That is a nice color for wheaten!! She is a real purty girl too.

I had a hen succumb to the heat yesterday it got up around 100. We have been real smoky with wildfire smoke coming this way too. I think the combo did her in. Geez some days I'm having trouble breathing with all this smoke and I don't even have breathing issues.
She was a young pullet. She had shade and water and was able to get where she wanted to go-freeranging. If any act exceptionally hot today I am gonna bring them into the house!! Time to get the misters set back up in the runs!