Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

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Small cans of spray paint, along with some glitter.....is cheap! ( besides, how do you think these people get these darkest brown eggs?)
(Boy, that one is gonna get me in trouble!)

....and gilavina takes a step back to avoid the fallout

 

[ReiMiraa]

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eh... there is no real 'recipe' i just figured my roosters are oddly recessive. i can cross them with any hen and get the hens color but with some of his influence (leg feathering, size). I have fun playing with hybrids and had a good solid red brahma line going till i got bored. brahma x silver wyndotte has interesting results... and turken crossed with anything is cool. the blues are my fav color.

I am now curious what that second marans rooster would be called....

there is a blue gene chart that helps to navigate the blues and how to get them. What are you wanting to do with the Marans you have?

Honestly? (sheepsh) I was planning to just breed to a certain quality level (not show but try to keep it true with egg color being the priority and looks second) and sell them in my area. I am the only one with rare breeds... I also have Icelandics... at least with that 'breed' i do not have to worry about standards... Mine free range and i live in the mountains so... i allow mine to be subjected to the local environment in hopes to shape an overall stronger bird. I feel its a shame when pretty birds cannot and will not move far from the coop or know how to catch mice. I guess Eggs, Utility then Looks? if showing isn't my goal does this seem reasonable?

 

[chevgrl]

--- vicki

 

[gilavina]

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I just had a thought where I can find some samplings of my different project birds already online here that shouldn't be too much work for me in my present state....give me a moment

 

[gilavina]

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I just had a thought where I can find some samplings of my different project birds already online here that shouldn't be too much work for me in my present state....give me a moment

ok....these are just in the project phase so still need work, but I'm getting there

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=549997&p=14 post 133

 

[gilavina]

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there is a blue gene chart that helps to navigate the blues and how to get them. What are you wanting to do with the Marans you have?

Honestly? (sheepsh) I was planning to just breed to a certain quality level (not show but try to keep it true with egg color being the priority and looks second) and sell them in my area. I am the only one with rare breeds... I also have Icelandics... at least with that 'breed' i do not have to worry about standards... Mine free range and i live in the mountains so... i allow mine to be subjected to the local environment in hopes to shape an overall stronger bird. I feel its a shame when pretty birds cannot and will not move far from the coop or know how to catch mice. I guess Eggs, Utility then Looks? if showing isn't my goal does this seem reasonable?

I think as long as you are totally upfront about what you've crossed into the Marans that's one thing, but there is no telling if someone around you will start selling stock they bought from you as pure. When I have birds that don't meet the SOP I will sell them as mixed layers to avoid the whole problem. One other side note...if you plan on crossing the Marans with other breeds, more than likely it will affect your egg color.

 

[ReiMiraa]

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Honestly? (sheepsh) I was planning to just breed to a certain quality level (not show but try to keep it true with egg color being the priority and looks second) and sell them in my area. I am the only one with rare breeds... I also have Icelandics... at least with that 'breed' i do not have to worry about standards... Mine free range and i live in the mountains so... i allow mine to be subjected to the local environment in hopes to shape an overall stronger bird. I feel its a shame when pretty birds cannot and will not move far from the coop or know how to catch mice. I guess Eggs, Utility then Looks? if showing isn't my goal does this seem reasonable?

I think as long as you are totally upfront about what you've crossed into the Marans that's one thing, but there is no telling if someone around you will start selling stock they bought from you as pure. When I have birds that don't meet the SOP I will sell them as mixed layers to avoid the whole problem. One other side note...if you plan on crossing the Marans with other breeds, more than likely it will affect your egg color.

hmm.... then how about if i just had all my marans in a pen together (BCM with my Birchens) and focused on hatching the darkest eggs? It DOES say online that "Marans" are defined by the egg color and not how the bird looks.......if that is the true french standard then i can't go too wrong since that is what makes them special....right?
A note about the Rooster that is Birchen looking.... for the longest time i was confused what was wrong with him because as a chick and until a few weeks ago the skin color of his face was black... Even his nice comb was black... and i was totally lost as to what could of been in his background to of caused that.... I have never had a rooster change color on me. I will look for his pic as a young juvenile)

 

[flower]

''Honestly? (sheepsh) I was planning to just breed to a certain quality level (not show but try to keep it true with egg color being the priority and looks second) and sell them in my area. I am the only one with rare breeds... I also have Icelandics... at least with that 'breed' i do not have to worry about standards... Mine free range and i live in the mountains so... i allow mine to be subjected to the local environment in hopes to shape an overall stronger bird. I feel its a shame when pretty birds cannot and will not move far from the coop or know how to catch mice. I guess Eggs, Utility then Looks? if showing isn't my goal does this seem reasonable?"

ReiMiraa Honestly, If I were to sell any birds or eggs from your flock I would call them "barnYard special" and not even mention what breeds you have. Just nice pretty brown eggs layers. There is already too much duplicity out there.

As Jimmy said When the power of love replaces the love of power, there will be peace. (And more honesty)

 

[gilavina]

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I think as long as you are totally upfront about what you've crossed into the Marans that's one thing, but there is no telling if someone around you will start selling stock they bought from you as pure. When I have birds that don't meet the SOP I will sell them as mixed layers to avoid the whole problem. One other side note...if you plan on crossing the Marans with other breeds, more than likely it will affect your egg color.

hmm.... then how about if i just had all my marans in a pen together (BCM with my Birchens) and focused on hatching the darkest eggs? It DOES say online that "Marans" are defined by the egg color and not how the bird looks.......if that is the true french standard then i can't go too wrong since that is what makes them special....right?
A note about the Rooster that is Birchen looking.... for the longest time i was confused what was wrong with him because as a chick and until a few weeks ago the skin color of his face was black... Even his nice comb was black... and i was totally lost as to what could of been in his background to of caused that.... I have never had a rooster change color on me. I will look for his pic as a young juvenile)

The egg color makes the birds a Marans, but that is just one part of it. The color is not separated from the standard of how a Marans looks and what characteristics make up the breed. You can choose to breed any way you like, but it will not remove the standard of acceptability or the heritage of those that produced the breed itself. This is where defining your goal with them and advertising them appropriately so someone doesn't accidentally mix them into a program where they are working towards standard is essential. Does that make sense?

 

[ReiMiraa]

Quote:
hmm.... then how about if i just had all my marans in a pen together (BCM with my Birchens) and focused on hatching the darkest eggs? It DOES say online that "Marans" are defined by the egg color and not how the bird looks.......if that is the true french standard then i can't go too wrong since that is what makes them special....right?
A note about the Rooster that is Birchen looking.... for the longest time i was confused what was wrong with him because as a chick and until a few weeks ago the skin color of his face was black... Even his nice comb was black... and i was totally lost as to what could of been in his background to of caused that.... I have never had a rooster change color on me. I will look for his pic as a young juvenile)

The egg color makes the birds a Marans, but that is just one part of it. The color is not separated from the standard of how a Marans looks and what characteristics make up the breed. You can choose to breed any way you like, but it will not remove the standard of acceptability or the heritage of those that produced the breed itself. This is where defining your goal with them and advertising them appropriately so someone doesn't accidentally mix them into a program where they are working towards standard is essential. Does that make sense?

yeah that makes sense. the BCM are from show quality lines.
I found the only pic of the Birchen rooster when he was younger. This was taken a few weeks ago. No that is not blood on him, and sorry the picture is dark. He really did have black pigment all over his face. He just finally looked normal. Has anyone seen this??
So should i just advertise as chocolate egg layers? i always show ppl my setup and that they are just true farm chickens... just really fancy ones...