Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Quote:
That is if they are the correct type of combs and they have shank feathering. Otherwise, there are two DQs right out of the box, the typiness won't matter a tinkers darn!

Egg color has nothing to do with the conformation, but it does have a lot to do with the breed, and with my personal preferences. It's why I got into this breed in the first place, as I suspect others did as well.

2 (yes, 2) feathers counted as shank feathering (one on the toe, one on the leg), and yes, they all had combs.

Sprigs were DQ'd - heavily. Yellow legs were an issue, believe it or not. Marans still have a way to go.

I don't disagree with you for a minute about egg colour. For me, egg colour is where we start. But, as you well know, that won't enter into results at shows. (Although it makes me feel better to see a nice, dark egg laying in the cage in the morning ... )

Which is something I don't understand, as it states in the French standard (at least) that if the hen can't produce at least a #4 colored egg, it is no longer considered a Marans. I believe Bev states that fact on her web site?? ETA: that I do understand, in the case of conformational showing, that there is no way to guarantee a pullet or hen will lay an egg! So, how do you prove it?? As an all around bird, that breeds true to the original idea of an SOP, I want both!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
That is if they are the correct type of combs and they have shank feathering. Otherwise, there are two DQs right out of the box, the typiness won't matter a tinkers darn!

Egg color has nothing to do with the conformation, but it does have a lot to do with the breed, and with my personal preferences. It's why I got into this breed in the first place, as I suspect others did as well.

2 (yes, 2) feathers counted as shank feathering (one on the toe, one on the leg), and yes, they all had combs.

Sprigs were DQ'd - heavily. Yellow legs were an issue, believe it or not. Marans still have a way to go.
I don't disagree with you for a minute about egg colour. For me, egg colour is where we start. But, as you well know, that won't enter into results at shows. (Although it makes me feel better to see a nice, dark egg laying in the cage in the morning ... )

Are you speaking of wheatens here, or all Marans?? Yellow legs...I don't have that one yet!

Lordy, I probably shouldn't have said that!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
2 (yes, 2) feathers counted as shank feathering (one on the toe, one on the leg), and yes, they all had combs.

Sprigs were DQ'd - heavily. Yellow legs were an issue, believe it or not. Marans still have a way to go.

I don't disagree with you for a minute about egg colour. For me, egg colour is where we start. But, as you well know, that won't enter into results at shows. (Although it makes me feel better to see a nice, dark egg laying in the cage in the morning ... )

Which is something I don't understand, as it states in the French standard (at least) that if the hen can't produce at least a #4 colored egg, it is no longer considered a Marans. I believe Bev states that fact on her web site??

Bev brought the darkest eggs to the show, darkest and best for so many other reasons. Clearly, dark eggs with spectacular shape and size, are her priority but that is not necessarily the case with everyone. Even the egg show results at Crossroads were not without controversy. It is probably the nature of the business. You write a standard, someone will find a way to work around your intentions and yet still win.

At the end of the day, all we can do is work to our own conscience and don't let the "bad folks" get you down.

There was nothing even close to a 4 on that table - in any variety ... in the egg colour department, we ARE winning. (Except maybe Edgar's bantam eggs ....

)

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
2 (yes, 2) feathers counted as shank feathering (one on the toe, one on the leg), and yes, they all had combs.

Sprigs were DQ'd - heavily. Yellow legs were an issue, believe it or not. Marans still have a way to go.
I don't disagree with you for a minute about egg colour. For me, egg colour is where we start. But, as you well know, that won't enter into results at shows. (Although it makes me feel better to see a nice, dark egg laying in the cage in the morning ... )

Are you speaking of wheatens here, or all Marans?? Yellow legs...I don't have that one yet!

Lordy, I probably shouldn't have said that!

Oy. I so do NOT want to stir up trouble but apparently a black copper female was well placed that had "yellow" legs. The club objected. There was much arguement - about the legs and the decision. Results were changed.

(and I will never be invited back ....

)

 

[Debbi]

I sure would love to see those dark brown, globular eggies here! Maybe some day?? For now, the rubies will have to do...

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Are you speaking of wheatens here, or all Marans?? Yellow legs...I don't have that one yet!

Lordy, I probably shouldn't have said that!

Oy. I so do NOT want to stir up trouble but apparently a black copper female was well placed that had "yellow" legs. The club objected. There was much arguement - about the legs and the decision. Results were changed.

(and I will never be invited back ....

)

Well, it should've been objected to! That's not what the SOP calls for. As for you never being invited back....what???? I can't understand that! To call out the bad points of the breed should be a forefront type of thing. The faults admitted, are where the improvements begin! Without perpetual improvements, how will anyone get toward the SOP?? There needs to be much more honesty and less politics/pride, if the breed is to progress. JMO

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Are you speaking of wheatens here, or all Marans?? Yellow legs...I don't have that one yet!

Lordy, I probably shouldn't have said that!

Oy. I so do NOT want to stir up trouble but apparently a black copper female was well placed that had "yellow" legs. The club objected. There was much arguement - about the legs and the decision. Results were changed.

(and I will never be invited back ....

)

Seriously? is that the impression you got?

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Oy. I so do NOT want to stir up trouble but apparently a black copper female was well placed that had "yellow" legs. The club objected. There was much arguement - about the legs and the decision. Results were changed.

(and I will never be invited back ....

)

Well, it should've been objected to! That's not what the SOP calls for. As for you never being invited back....what???? I can't understand that! To call out the bad points of the breed should be a forefront type of thing. The faults admitted, are where the improvements begin! Without perpetual improvements, how will anyone get toward the SOP?? There needs to be much more honesty and less politics/pride, if the breed is to progress. JMO

I didn't point out the problem at the show - I'm just carrying it on here ...

There was some arguement about whether or not the legs were really yellow.

It WAS an interesting arguement with merit on both sides .... (political crap aside - which also comes into it)

I can assure you, none of those directly involved were happy.

And the judge that made the decision is a friend of mine and someone I respect. Not fun.

In my opinion, it also points out short comings in the SOP.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Oy. I so do NOT want to stir up trouble but apparently a black copper female was well placed that had "yellow" legs. The club objected. There was much arguement - about the legs and the decision. Results were changed.

(and I will never be invited back ....

)

Well, it should've been objected to! That's not what the SOP calls for. As for you never being invited back....what???? I can't understand that! To call out the bad points of the breed should be a forefront type of thing. The faults admitted, are where the improvements begin! Without perpetual improvements, how will anyone get toward the SOP?? There needs to be much more honesty and less politics/pride, if the breed is to progress. JMO

Amen! x about 100 from me. Growing up going to shows since before I could talk, I've seen the politics and the shady business and it bothers me to no end. I had an experience at the spring show I went to that I won't go into, but I was outraged at something a woman was encouraging her son to do that was dishonest and downright shady that affected my birds, and the club. Needless to say, there were words....I usually don't get too riled up...at least not enough to go out of my way for a confrontation, but I didn't have an option. I was angry about it for weeks after....and felt embarassed at the same time that it even happened. UGHHH! Just thinking about it now is making my blood boil!

 

[kari_dawn]

hey guys, I posted this question somewhere else, but never really got a response. I didn't read through all 1000+ posts on this thread (though I did give it a go!), so if this question was asked and answered, Im sorry for asking again.

I have read about some marans being too "mossy". What does this term mean? Can anyone post pictures of a "mossy" bird and a good bird to show me the difference? I know there are a lot of passionate people working with this breed, and I am super intrigued by this bird, and have three of my own, though I am sure they are nowhere near the quality here on this thread.

I would appreciate any guidance.