Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:

Don, you KNOW I value your opinion and I'm not disputing what you are saying but we as Marans folks perhaps should not be so publicly complaining about our birds that are placing. I truly believe we have to pick our battles. I also think the more we debate this stuff, the more folks are going to get educated!!!!!

You may be right. The breed may get worse than no where because we are being so lax with our culls.

I guess we'll find out eventually.

 

[shesaredroan]

 

[culler]

Don, you KNOW I value your opinion and I'm not disputing what you are saying but we as Marans folks perhaps should not be so publicly complaining about our birds that are placing. I truly believe we have to pick our battles. I also think the more we debate this stuff, the more folks are going to get educated!!!!!

You may be right. The breed may get worse than no where because we are being so lax with our culls.

I guess we'll find out eventually.

Barb, I agree that the more discussion the more people will be helped in the long run.

 

[gilavina]

I err on the side of going by the book and judging by the standard to its fullest. No matter how hard I try it still bothers me to see a bird with a DQ placing in a show, no matter the breed, new or old. I blame my dad and his friends for instilling that in me. Its the old school viewpoint in me I guess.

I do agree 100% it is our responsibility as breeders to work hard to improve them. One of the best resources is going to shows and talking with judges when possible and other long time breeders when possible. I have taken a bird to a show that in a breeding program that I'm working on to see how a judge sees them, but am fully prepared to have the bird DQ'd if it is viewed as necessary against the standard. Its just part of working on a breed and feel like it is best for me to grow in my breeding program for a judge to not hold back and really just lay it out. I don't know if I feel that way cause I grew up showing and have had a chance to develop a thick skin or what, but just my two cents.

 

[culler]

I am just trying to give back to the Poultry Fancy. I had some of the very best Mentors over the years that I could call with questions, They are all gone so just trying to help.

 

[gilavina]

Barb, the SOP is there for a reason and the Judge has no right to interpret anyway he would like. The Judge is required to have a copy of the SOP on hand when judging. With the Marans he or she should have a copy of the Standard. When people she a Marans in a show winning or placing with a DQ it gives the wrong impression. We have a standard so should be to it.

great post Don. Exactly how I feel

 

[culler]

I err on the side of going by the book and judging by the standard to its fullest. No matter how hard I try it still bothers me to see a bird with a DQ placing in a show, no matter the breed, new or old. I blame my dad and his friends for instilling that in me. Its the old school viewpoint in me I guess.

I do agree 100% it is our responsibility as breeders to work hard to improve them. One of the best resources is going to shows and talking with judges when possible and other long time breeders when possible. I have taken a bird to a show that in a breeding program that I'm working on to see how a judge sees them, but am fully prepared to have the bird DQ'd if it is viewed as necessary against the standard. Its just part of working on a breed and feel like it is best for me to grow in my breeding program for a judge to not hold back and really just lay it out. I don't know if I feel that way cause I grew up showing and have had a chance to develop a thick skin or what, but just my two cents.

I believe it is probably from the way your dad taught you also. The oldtimers did not believe in feeding fowl with DQ's. There was no bird to good to be culled by my dad. I found myself asking a lot of questions at the time.

 

[slick4591]

Gotta go with Don on this one. As someone new to breeding poultry I don't want anyone letting me slide because it might hurt my feelings if they slap my nose. I gotta wonder if doing something just 'good enough' doesn't become habit forming for some people. Just 'good enough' isn't good enough for me.

 

[gilavina]

I believe it is probably from the way your dad taught you also. The oldtimers did not believe in feeding fowl with DQ's. There was no bird to good to be culled by my dad. I found myself asking a lot of questions at the time.

haha...I can identify with that. I really appreciate my dad and his friend's knowledge. Most of them are gone now, but they taught me so much about poultry and still am realizing what a gift all the time they spent teaching me things from their years of raising poultry really is.

 

[gilavina]

Gotta go with Don on this one. As someone new to breeding poultry I don't want anyone letting me slide because it might hurt my feelings if they slap my nose. I gotta wonder if doing something just 'good enough' doesn't become habit forming for some people. Just 'good enough' isn't good enough for me.

great attitude slick! Just think where you'll be a couple of years from now with that mindset!
Have you narrowed down yet what you are wanting to focus on for varieties?