Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

I am calling it quits for tonight....

I know Debbi and the out west crowd will be on soon - - so a BIG Hello

and goodnight

to everyone.

Feel free to offer suggestions or comments on Mr. Dark..... I will make sure I have my wheaties before longing in tomorrow

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Night! I must say that Tsunami is a taaaaannnnnnkk!! As far as the dark boy...I'm not a huge fan of his body carriage, but then again...I try not to make too many culling decisions if I feel like they are in a huge growth spurt or if they're still getting coloring in. I guess I would pick Tsunami and that pic of the nicely colored boy...I think you said it was his son?

 

[The Point]

Hi Debbi!!!!! I have been MIA lately. To much going on, kids sports, horses, blah blah blah. What the heck is that in your avatar? Where is my Clyde???? I still am sick I didn't get a male from his daddy before I lost him. I did keep 4 pullets though

 

[gilavina]

I got a few shots of some birds hatched out this spring.

one of my splash boys...he's getting bigger by the day. he's caught up to Gigantor and they are as thick as thieves these days. The main reason i posted his pic tho is because of the comb and how he has that dark coloring faintly like we were talking about earlier today.

all these next birds are in the next grow out pen down from Gigantor and his flock....i merged them in with his pen at the beginning of the week.

some black copper girls. This first one is my favorite! She is just now starting to get the coloring in her neck. She comes from a completely black mother.

close up on the coloring of the girl above

another BCM girl with one of my F1 black birchen girls. Loving the coloring on the birchen...it is really evenly marked. Still have a long road ahead of me working out some other issues with the line, but I love birchen...so I don't mind the work. She was just preening her wing feathers, so that's why she's standing funny with her wing out like that. Also...that BCM pictured is a perfect example of light play when taking photos...particularly if using a flash, her breast is as jet black as they come, but appears differently in the photo...

one of the girls from my solid blues...they are coming along nicely...I don't know their fate however as I lost my solid boy this spring to a predator...so I'm waiting to see if any of the few boys I've held back I hatched from that pen will be solid or not. I've already culled those exhibiting markings that would not have done me any good anywhere else. (another example of light play...the shafting in her breast appears white, however it is not)

and my blue girl taking a bow for you and saying goodnight

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
Gotta get me some blues ...

(go put them on the blue thread!!!)

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Gotta get me some blues ...

(go put them on the blue thread!!!)

oh don't you worry...I'm collecting photos of all the different blues around the place. i have lots....its my favorite color on poultry...and pretty much most animals...

I'll load some up on the blue thread when I get a few more. And yes! you do need you some blues! I think everyone does! hahahaha

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Night! I must say that Tsunami is a taaaaannnnnnkk!! As far as the dark boy...I'm not a huge fan of his body carriage, but then again...I try not to make too many culling decisions if I feel like they are in a huge growth spurt or if they're still getting coloring in. I guess I would pick Tsunami and that pic of the nicely colored boy...I think you said it was his son?

I am not sure that we are a fan of Mr. Dark's body carriage either. . . . . I sure would like to see him fill in. This is going to sound funny / odd, but he sorta reminds me of a horse instead of chicken because he is so long.

You were correct about the nicely colored one being Tsunami's son. So far, most all of his sons were showing signs of becoming "TANKS" by 3 months

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Night! I must say that Tsunami is a taaaaannnnnnkk!! As far as the dark boy...I'm not a huge fan of his body carriage, but then again...I try not to make too many culling decisions if I feel like they are in a huge growth spurt or if they're still getting coloring in. I guess I would pick Tsunami and that pic of the nicely colored boy...I think you said it was his son?

I am not sure that we are a fan of Mr. Dark's body carriage either. . . . . I sure would like to see him fill in. This is going to sound funny / odd, but he sorta reminds me of a horse instead of chicken because he is so long.

You were correct about the nicely colored one being Tsunami's son. So far, most all of his sons were showing signs of becoming "TANKS" by 3 months

ya know....I think you are right about the that dark boy and giving the feel of a horse because of the length....I don't know too if its because of the lower tail set that really does it or not...

is this the first year you've used Tsunami for breeding? does he throw pretty consistent coppering on his offspring? I'm getting curious about what Gigantor will throw me this next season

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I was hoping Don would give me serious critique on MR. Dark. Don has a way of putting in words what I am feeling in my gut.... I just know that something is off, but don't know what. I am concerned about the amount of leg feathering on this boy too after our previous discussions on vulture hocks. The lower tail set is not bad for my breeding program because the mommas have high tail sets. . . . I don't believe in breeding runts.... so, I am waiting to see if he packs on the pounds and fills in.

Body type and color have been pretty consistent. Some have the longer backs that I am looking for and some are shorter like the daddy. Some had mega leg feathering and some only minor leg feathering. Most have the lighter copper. Normally, the coloring fades to lighter copper at the ends of the hackle feathers. I've only had two that had the rich copper that the current son has. That is why this one is making the cut. I adore Tsunami, but I don't need a hundred of him. So, I am looking for a son that will bring something to the table that his daddy did not have. MOST of Tsunami's boys were big. I only had one that I was disappointed in the size and he was still bigger than a lot of other marans I see. . .. .

This Tsnuami's first year out of the gate. He is about a year and half old. I started hatching from him last November. I am now hatching some f2's with him. I thinking breeding him back to the f1's will be bad for the back . .. I think I will be producing some birds with too short of back - - like him. That is why the son with the longer back or Mr. Dark are important. Mr. Dark is not from Tsnuami.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I was hoping Don would give me serious critique on MR. Dark. Don has a way of putting in words what I am feeling in my gut.... I just know that something is off, but don't know what. I am concerned about the amount of leg feathering on this boy too after our previous discussions on vulture hocks. The lower tail set is not bad for my breeding program because the mommas have high tail sets. . . . I don't believe in breeding runts.... so, I am waiting to see if he packs on the pounds and fills in.

Body type and color have been pretty consistent. Some have the longer backs that I am looking for and some are shorter like the daddy. Some had mega leg feathering and some only minor leg feathering. Most have the lighter copper. Normally, the coloring fades to lighter copper at the ends of the hackle feathers. I've only had two that had the rich copper that the current son has. That is why this one is making the cut. I adore Tsunami, but I don't need a hundred of him. So, I am looking for a son that will bring something to the table that his daddy did not have. MOST of Tsunami's boys were big. I only had one that I was disappointed in the size and he was still bigger than a lot of other marans I see. . .. .

I just have to say that I totally agree with the not believing in breeding runts. One of the major parts of the whole "building the barn first" roll I'm on is focusing on that very thing.

I think that you have a good mindset on it...just letting him grow a bit and see how he fills in. The way that I do things might sound kind of hippy dippy for lack of better words, but I really find that as a bird fills in...and you start seeing what you already have to work with...they speak to you whether they fit or not. It is a gut feeling thing...and if what they have or don't have back that feeling up...then it kind of seals the deal for me what needs to happen. I didn't think to look for the vulture hock thing as the recent discussion really was the first time I've thought about it. I might have to go back and look and see what you are talking about on the feathering.

I wonder if someone will come along and maybe be able to offer suggestions on how to deepen and even out that color of coppering in the sons of Tsunami? I've been wondering how it is that is controlled particularly since so many BCM girls don't seem to show as much coppering. I think Tsunami's son is definitely improvement on him...and imagine if you can pair him with a girl that will give the offspring a richer copper. I think you would definitely having something!