Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

PINK,

I am PRAYING that Debbi is wrong about the two parent thing!

I am hoping this is all from that FLORIDA group!

I've got two hens from your stock and I am pretty sure I got them BEFORE the FLORIDA group was sexually mature!
That would mean that my two girls would be clean.... OTHERWISE, I am in a mess and don't know how I would go about testing mine.

 

[Wynette]

I personally don't view these past few pages as tempers flaring at all.

I absolutely & totally appreciate VC's posts, as I do Don's. I think the biggest problem is that genetics are not a 100% certainty....for any critter. There always seems to be exceptions to the rules.

Mel, no, you shouldn't hang onto ANY bird with a sprig. At least not for breeding. You SHOULD, however, make notes on the lineage. The more notes you have to go back on, the more things make sense as you look back over what you are seeing in your flock as the years go by.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Good, because that is the way it should be viewed - - NOT as tempers flaring BUT as a really good discussion on the WHAT IF'S involved with the genetic mysteries surrounding marans.

In the past, newbies stumbling on some of our discussions have been intimadated by them and it was thought that our conversations should be "TONED DOWN". However, this is when the real meat and potatoes of serious breeding occurs. It takes some serious chewing to digest this material, BUT I don't think there is another site on the WEB that provides such mind stimulating poultry conversation.

I've missed it, REALLY REALLY missed it!

 

[Raven1]

Pink~ congrats on your Birchen hatch! I may have one that has a blueish cast to the fluff, but mine were suppose to be all black. I did not know he even had blue, but then again I did not ask about blue only black. You know I don't feel too bad about my hatch I got 6 out of a foam crapabator and you got 7 out of your Sportsman.

 

[snowbird]

Hey All, No temper here just trying to help with this problem that all Marans folks will have to face eventually.

When I think I know what I am talking about , sometimes I can get very emotionally about what I think is correct.

On the way to pick Grandson up from school an idea crossed through my mind. What about taking one of these worst Carnation Comb males and do a complete out of breed mating. Hatch at least 25-30 chicks and record the results, If there are no faulty combs put the old male back over a few pullets and hatch several and record the results. One of these matings should produce some faultry Combs.

By doing the study this way there will be no interference from the other side being Marans.

 

[Wynette]

Don - it's a good suggestion, and one worth trying, IMO.

 

[joymac]

Quote:
Joymac,

I will try to help you out.
Fused toes indicates that there might of been issues with your incubator. There may be other problems effecting her gorwth rate too.
The one chick we had that ate like a pig and didn't put much weight on had scissor beak. You might want to examine her beak closely and make sure all that food she is trying to eat is actually getting in her belly.

Your marans should be bigger than the ameraucana. Are these the only two chicks from the hatch?

Do you have a current picture? I am wondering if the ameraucana might be a cockerel and is growing a little faster...

Just a little correction here. The fused toes is a genetic defect and should be culled .

But I won't be breeding at all, can't have roos in town.

I looked at her beak more closely this am and it seemed ok but will try to get a pic. Thanks so much for your input.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
that sounds like it would give you good information or at least a little better understanding of what happens.

 

[aalbury]

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Buddy Henry's farm was in Tennessee last I know, but the site is gone. He is a member here - goes by "Wheaties" - I don't know him, but I thought he was a pretty well - known breeder.

It is my understanding that he was a pretty well known breeder and had some nice birds. Berkeleysprings has birds from his stock. Maybe Randy (Berk) might stop by and grace us with a few photos of his lovely wheatie ladies.

BTW: Hi Alecia!!!!! Good to see you here!

Wavin' !!!

(tryin' to see if I can catch up here...!)

 

[Mountain Mel 22]

Quote:
Not at all. It's great discussion that helps EVERYONE, (me especially). If there is a better single source of personal, hands-on information about Marans chickens. I would like to know what it is. The information shared on this thread is from people right here in the U.S. that have been working with this breed for years and in my opinion is the best, most current, up-to-date info out there. I might not have a lot to contribute, but boy, I've sure learned a lot!
(Now, if we could just keep those dang "Florida Birds" out of the Pacific Nortwest!)