Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[the1honeycomb]

Thought this was the Marans thread! Well

I got my first flock of Marans, and I am very excited!!! 3 hens and a huge scardy cat rooster!! beautiful dark eggs!!! let the breeding begin!!

 

[pinkchick]

Thanks Debbi! Every bird looked at had feathered shanks, I believe they were all out in sight, if they weren't, not many were missied. She has about 50 female to about 5 males. 2 of those boys resemble Bill, 2 have much more copper and 1 is....ummmmm, orange. Okay, overly red, WAAAAYYYYY overly red, but no shafting. He basically looks copper all over except his gray black underbody. Offspring from him will be interesting. Being that the lineage is unknown here and she could care less about all of that and after looking over the birds...did not see any Wheaten or influence of in any of them and have not had it express in Bill's offspring, so hoping this is a very good thing that continues. Her egg color earlier this year was like Marquisella and Flgardens avatars, like the eggs that Bill and his brothers hatched from.

 

[Debbi]

Desertmarcy~ Here is the link to page 17 on the Marans SOP thread. This is the page where my F1 bird is from that breeder. This is where the discussions of the faults and DQs are being pictured and reviewed. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=517113&p=17

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Hmm, wonder if that red roo is throwing any BTBs? Did you happen to get a pic of him? I think now the comb issues are my top priority, so the clean shanks, although a DQ, can be brought back, or I can just opt not to use Myron if everyone pops up naked legged!

I'll have to get a pic of him, he looks very similar to your 'Lil Bill.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Hi Debbi, would you mind sending me the link to that SOP thread, I can't seem to find it. I am new to this and haven't a clue

what side springs and carnations are! And when you say the flopped over combs can hide all kinds of little nasties, what do you mean exactly, that there are other genetic faults at play possibly? And while you are at it, could you send the link to the new Marans DQ thread: there are so many posts here, I've already lost it

Side SPRIGS are points or nubs that come off the side of the comb, or the blade (back end of comb). Carnations look like a little (or in some cases here) HUGE crowns located on the blade of the comb. I really believe that most of these problems are being passed on by the hens with the flopper over combs, people can't see them. Everyone can plainly see their roo's combs, but seems quite a few don't bother to check the hens. When I first started with these, I am guilty of this as well. The hen I have with a Carnation, also had a flopped comb, so it was not evident to me. All but one of the chicks from this first breeding had carnations!

You really need to lift the comb and visually inspect it, and even run your fingers over the sides to feel for any tiny nubs. Most of the time, the sprigs and carnations are quite evident!

 

[desertmarcy]

Quote:
I meant also to ask, how easy is it to breed out the carnation comb? I was planning on breeding to sell eggs to potential breeders, so I am worried I will have to start all over. I believe of the 3 hens, I can identify which eggs are hers. She is the darker gray one, with the red-orange band. I will post her pic again:

But others on this thread have commented on too much copper color on the breasts of the other two hens. So now I'm in a pickle, don't have time or resources right now to start over. Would it be reasonable to raise some of the chicks from the other two hens and see what they look like after a few months? Or, I do have the one splash hen in with my black coppers. I should get blues from her. She is from the same bloodline as the copper-breasted hens, but also 'supposedly' from a Bev Davis hen, so I would think good genes there. And the black coppers look good. I raised 10 roos from the eggs I hatched and had a hard time choosing, most of them were nice. A rare white feather here and there on the feet. Opinions on starting my blue copper line from these? Sounds like you are advising to not use that KY breeder's hen for breeding at all, no exception? Thank you, I have so much to learn!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
I meant also to ask, how easy is it to breed out the carnation comb? I was planning on breeding to sell eggs to potential breeders, so I am worried I will have to start all over. I believe of the 3 hens, I can identify which eggs are hers. She is the darker gray one, with the red-orange band. I will post her pic again:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/93512_blue_copper_hen_red_band_2.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/93512_blue_copper_hen_red_band.jpg

But others on this thread have commented on too much copper color on the breasts of the other two hens. So now I'm in a pickle, don't have time or resources right now to start over. Would it be reasonable to raise some of the chicks from the other two hens and see what they look like after a few months? Or, I do have the one splash hen in with my black coppers. I should get blues from her. She is from the same bloodline as the copper-breasted hens, but also 'supposedly' from a Bev Davis hen, so I would think good genes there. And the black coppers look good. I raised 10 roos from the eggs I hatched and had a hard time choosing, most of them were nice. A rare white feather here and there on the feet. Opinions on starting my blue copper line from these? Sounds like you are advising to not use that KY breeder's hen for breeding at all, no exception? Thank you, I have so much to learn!

The problem with the Carnation comb, is that it does not show up unless the two genes are there, one from each parent, OR if you use a bird with the Carnation comb showing. This is how it has worked here, there are many other opinions, all I can attest to is what I see here, and I sure do have my share! Put that KY bird in the eating egg pen, or the freezer! This hen pictured above looks very suspect too. Check her comb. Do you have any pics of the BCM roo's comb?? Try to get an up close shot. Those copper breasted hens are not properly colored, so if you are breeding towards the SOP, I would not use them either. I know how hard it is to start over, I am culling off about 90% of my flock! The problem with selling eggs from birds with these DQs, is that they are in ALL lines now! DP in KY has been a great contributor to that! Stay away from Ebay!!!

 

[Mountain Mel 22]

Quote:

Sure hope it isn't a 100% hen hatch!

 

[pinkchick]

Why? Mel! Why?

 

[pinkchick]

Debbi~

No photos, but he did not resemble a BTB.

Would love to see Myron.