Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Quote:
thank you thank you! Can't stop grinning like a fool!

 

[Debbi]

Ok Marans folks, time for some chick pics!

These two are from a dark x dark breeding. This is the most color I have in my BCM flock! These two, along with two others from their hatch, are 12 1/2 weeks old. One is feathered shanked, one is clean.

This is Solo, 9 1/2 weeks old. Just now starting to get glints of copper in, and she is feathered shanked. Hope she colors in more, she is a nice and sweet, and comical girl.

This is a 6 week old roo, same breeding, different hatch. This little terd came out of the hen with another penne comb! He has the most color of anything here. He will be culled from the flock due to the comb, but I want to see how he colors in first. Too bad his comb is messed up, he is one stout little guy! End of daylight fading his color somewhat.

Here is the previous roo and his brother. Better comb on the other one, but only a hint of color so far. Pretty much the same body type, but he is camera shy.

Just one more shot of the pullet from the first pic. Those are her two, so far, uncolored hatchmates with her. Moral of this story; if you have anything with a carnation comb or side sprig, get rid of it now! It does pass on to the next generation with mucho gusto!!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Yay! I'm loving all the pics people are posting! On those first two girls you said they were a dark x dark mating...did they show copper at all or were they completely over melanized? Just curious because they do have some fantastic coloring. I haven't run across the pene combs in my marans yet, but yikes...the genetics sure do a doozy on the comb! Too bad you have to cull that little boy...he sure is quite the chunk. I don't think I've ever asked you what color varieties of Marans you raise?

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Yay! I'm loving all the pics people are posting! On those first two girls you said they were a dark x dark mating...did they show copper at all or were they completely over melanized? Just curious because they do have some fantastic coloring. I haven't run across the pene combs in my marans yet, but yikes...the genetics sure do a doozy on the comb! Too bad you have to cull that little boy...he sure is quite the chunk. I don't think I've ever asked you what color varieties of Marans you raise?

Vicki,

I should've referred to it as "mahogany x mahogany" breeding. The daddy is very dark mahogany colored hackles, and darker yet wing bow and saddle feathers. His brother Roy is very much like him, but has better saddle color. The hens are very dark and sparse with their hackle coloring. Funny, that all of my hens parents had lovely hackle coloring, so I guess the genes were there. That's just it with this breed. Because so many added "funny stuff" to the mix, and the gene pool is so small in this country, you never know what you're going to get...Forrest!

ETA: Forgot to say, I have Black Coppers and trying to get breedable Blue Coppers

That's why I want a Splash boy!

 

[Debbi]

Here is a pic of both possible baby daddies.

Roy on the left, Clyde on the right. I'm thinking Clyde had more influence on these kids.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Yay! I'm loving all the pics people are posting! On those first two girls you said they were a dark x dark mating...did they show copper at all or were they completely over melanized? Just curious because they do have some fantastic coloring. I haven't run across the pene combs in my marans yet, but yikes...the genetics sure do a doozy on the comb! Too bad you have to cull that little boy...he sure is quite the chunk. I don't think I've ever asked you what color varieties of Marans you raise?

Vicki,

I should've referred to it as "mahogany x mahogany" breeding. The daddy is very dark mahogany colored hackles, and darker yet wing bow and saddle feathers. His brother Roy is very much like him, but has better saddle color. The hens are very dark and sparse with their hackle coloring. Funny, that all of my hens parents had lovely hackle coloring, so I guess the genes were there. That's just it with this breed. Because so many added "funny stuff" to the mix, and the gene pool is so small in this country, you never know what you're going to get...Forrest!

ETA: Forgot to say, I have Black Coppers and trying to get breedable Blue Coppers

That's why I want a Splash boy!

Ahhh...ok...that makes so much more sense. I was trying to work out in my mind what dark meant. I love the mahogany coloring on BCMs. I so agree with you about never knowing what you will get. There are a couple of hens I have that no matter who I cross them with they throw oddballs. I'm thinking they are going to be relegated to the layer pen soon. I gave them all the shots I could, but just don't pass the test really.

Oh...I was thinking today I'm going to have to get you this picture of a young splash boy I'm growing out right now. He is from one of the last hatches I did this year and for the longest time he stayed the most brilliant white, but just a couple of days ago when i picked him up for his weekly color check I found three random black feathers. His body type is striking for sure. I love that he is a lighter splash. I'll have a need for him when it comes to keeping my blues from getting too dark. I love dark blue, but when it verges on black and end up not being able to tell whether they are indeed blue or black I don't enjoy that so much. haha

I'm hoping we can figure out one of my splash boys that will make your goal of blue coppers doable. I love them all...of course I do...I'm a sucker and a softie when it comes to my birds, but anyways....I'm watching that coppering for you like a hawk!...we'll get you a good one!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Loving the tanky butterballs! how old are those fellas? and whose line are they from?
Have Kim's chicks started showing any copper for you yet?

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Loving the tanky butterballs! how old are those fellas? and whose line are they from?
Have Kim's chicks started showing any copper for you yet?

Let's see. These guys were hatched on 9/9/10, so 10+ months old? Wade Jeane/Ron Presley lines. Yes, they are chunkers, this pic was taken about 3 months ago. Both probably weigh in at about 11 or 12 pounds.

The only one that has really colored in is JR, the blue copper roo, nice blue, nice copper, bad comb

. Myron is a very dark blue copper, with more mahogany hackle/saddle coloring. Charlotte, light blue copper, only has slight copper leakage so far. Olivia is black, black, black! Billy roo is also very black.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Loving the tanky butterballs! how old are those fellas? and whose line are they from?
Have Kim's chicks started showing any copper for you yet?

Let's see. These guys were hatched on 9/9/10, so 10+ months old? Wade Jeane/Ron Presley lines. Yes, they are chunkers, this pic was taken about 3 months ago. Both probably weigh in at about 11 or 12 pounds.

The only one that has really colored in is JR, the blue copper roo, nice blue, nice copper, bad comb

. Myron is a very dark blue copper, with more mahogany hackle/saddle coloring. Charlotte, light blue copper, only has slight copper leakage so far. Olivia is black, black, black! Billy roo is also very black.

Yay...that gives me hope that gigantor will get chunky like that too (he's out of Jeane lines...can't remember off the top of my head if he's crossed with presley or not)! Sounds like your boys are about 5 or 6 months ahead of him.

That stinks about JR...what's wrong with the comb? Sounds like you do have some of the makings for a blue copper starter flock! Even if it might take ya a bit to get the crosses just right to give you the colors you want. I could see how adding a splash roo in there will give you some good versatility for sure!

 

[Debbi]

JR

Wouldn't be so bad if he were a mean boy, but it makes it really hard because he is not only gorgeous, he is sweet!

ETA: I plan on putting the Splash roo over my BCM hens for a few hatches. That's the quickest way to get all blue that I know of. Then I can go from there.