Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Kari ~ I don't have any pics right now, but "mossy" refers to too much red/copper coloring in places it should not be. Like on roos, too much (more than 10%) red on the breast, or elsewhere. On hens, the mossy can come as a type of fuzzy brownish color bleeding through the black on the back or breast. Hens should only have coppering on their hackles and a small colloar around the front of the neck, not extending to the breast. The mossy could probably show up anywhere on the body, but these are the most common forms I've seen. Others may have another opinion.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
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!

I agree. Too much politics in everything these days! Chickens should be for function, beauty, and camaraderie; NOT politics! The SOP is what it is; if you disagree, take it up with the APA, not the other contestants whose birds conform. Yellow legs, are yellow legs. Not in the SOP; so what's the arguement?? Are yellow legs not a DQ within the breed??

 

[kari_dawn]

Wow, thanks for the great information! I guess it is kindof hard to determine what is desireable vs. undesierable in a breed that does not yet have a standard in the US!

Mine are mere hatchery birds, and are young yet (only about 5 weeks old), so I have no idea how their coloring is going to turn out. I really hope mine are even half as pretty as the pictures of the birds I have seen here. For people breeding these birds for show, or to improve the quality of this breed, how many birds do you have, and what are you looking for when you are choosing which birds to keep, and which birds to cull? What do you do with your culled birds? Do they show a drop in lay rate after two years like alot of other breeds? Do you keep them once laying slows down?

 

[Debbi]

Kari ~ What color are your birds supposed to be? There are many varieties of colors of Marans. Maybe you could post some pics of your birds? Hatchery birds tend to not be good examples of the breeds they are supposed to be, but there are always exceptions. Pics would help us to help answer your questions.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I plead the 5th about how many birds I have

Haha...nah, but seriously...I hatched a TON this year to give me a leg up on being able to find a few great breeders that will go into my breeding pens to replace older stock. I'm still growing out the best youngsters that show the most promise so I will not count my birds til I reduce my numbers some more. I raise other breeds as well, so I think I might have a brain aneurism if I count how many I actually have

As far as what happens to the culled birds. Some will go to freezer camp, pullets not good enough for breeding will either go to my own layer pen or someone elses, and occasionally I will sell starter birds or chicks to people looking to get started.

It is hard to explain in a broad sense of the word what I look for in birds when I choose to keep them, because it will be different for every breed and ever color variety. It might possibly be that I had a really long day at work as well, so words are not coming to me in a clear manner. So, hopefully someone will come along and give you some insight.

 

[kari_dawn]

I plead the 5th about how many birds I have Haha...

ha ha that bad, huh?

Well, they are SUPPOSED to be BCM...here are pics from last week (four weeks old in these pics).

There are three of them. One has more feathering than the other two, and one has very long legs...and very sparse feathering on it's legs. Obviously, I hold out no hope that these are of any quality whatsoever, and simply hope for darker eggs...but eventually I want to get some good quality ones...they are beautiful!​

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
ha ha that bad, huh?

Well, they are SUPPOSED to be BCM...here are pics from last week (four weeks old in these pics).

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000125.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000118.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000121.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000115.jpg

There are three of them. One has more feathering than the other two, and one has very long legs...and very sparse feathering on it's legs. Obviously, I hold out no hope that these are of any quality whatsoever, and simply hope for darker eggs...but eventually I want to get some good quality ones...they are beautiful!

Well, hang on to them, they look promising for their age. But don't count on any eggs, I see 3 roos.

Sorry, and JMO...

 

[Rodeoclown1189]

this roo is the product of a Clean Legged Splash Copper Marans Rooster and a Lemon Blue Cochin hen!

if i cross him to a copper would i get a nice lemon blue color! people think hes just sun bleached but he has always had this Lemon Buff Color since he was just a baby!
what would you suggest i breed him to?

 

[kari_dawn]

ha ha I waiver back and forth on them too! I posted these exact pics in the breed/gender area, and the consensus was pullets....someone posted pics of roos of the same age, mixed with pullets of the same age, and the pullets looked just like my birds, while the roos looked WAY different...it gave me some hope, but they all seem quite rooish to me...

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
ha ha that bad, huh?

Well, they are SUPPOSED to be BCM...here are pics from last week (four weeks old in these pics).

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000125.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000118.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000121.jpg

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/kari_dawn/P1000115.jpg

There are three of them. One has more feathering than the other two, and one has very long legs...and very sparse feathering on it's legs. Obviously, I hold out no hope that these are of any quality whatsoever, and simply hope for darker eggs...but eventually I want to get some good quality ones...they are beautiful!

haha....I have a few....

Really tho, my numbers balloon up over the spring and summer and I cull down to just the best birds. I will be selling a few at the show this weekend by my place, and also the following weekend as well there is an auction not too far from me. Whoever doesn't end up making the cut will go to freezer camp. I'm at the point where i am not worried...I estimate I hatched out including all my different breeds around 450 to 500 chicks. It was well worth it for what I've got running around. Gigantor was worth all that hatching eh debbi? haha not that you're biased at all

oh...I was gonna say, just as something to watch for. I'm seeing some crow head goin on with those chicks. This doesnt surprise me bein hatchery birds, but just thought I'd mention it since you wanted feedback on them. I don't keep any birds if they show the crow head shape. I find it breeds like wildfire and is hard to get nice round heads once it is bred into a line and it changes the overall look of a bird as well. If you are just lookin at having them as pets or layers, I think you'll be fine....if you are looking to breed to the standard, I'd seriously consider getting either chicks or hatching eggs. Here is a great place to start hunting for stock if you choose to.