Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[BarnGoddess01]

Went today to get some black copper marans and some hatching eggs. When I got there the lady showed me her chicks and out of the six 2 of them were greyish to white. She told me they were pure bred from the bev davis line and that she gets these "self mutant" chicks about every 50 she hatches. I had driven well over 100 miles to get these chicks and eggs and looked at her flock they were very pretty birds. I didn't want to go home empty handed. My question is about the self mutants. I really am new to a lot of this and want to start off with pure stock. Anyone here know much about these types of mutations in BCM's?

Oy! Even if I'd driven 100 miles, I wouldn't expect to see "mutants". (I'd expect all of that would have been disclosed before I made the drive!) She can name names all she wants. I'd have gone home empty handed ....

 

[Oakieridge]

Here are picks of my favorite blue splash chick. He is going to be a pretty roo.



Also wanted opinions on this chick, the one in front he is so gray, he came from two very pretty Cukoo Marans. I have been hatching chicks from this pair for almost 2 months and this is the first time we got these. I got two like this. I know the males are lighter but these guys are VERY light almost blue.

 

[DMRippy]

I only have one comment on the Splash. In my opinion a Splash pen is not a great idea. When you breed splash to splash over and over the color will fade. You are better off adding some blues and blacks. You need to add the other colors to KEEP the color of your splashes bright and not diluted to white. JMHO I love splashes, but I use them with blacks to make pretty blues.

 

[Oakieridge]

Thanks for the input, we plan on breeding some of the roos to some FBCM hens once we have some old enough. My oldest FBCM pullet is only 19 weeks old. Getting close to breeding age but probably won't use them until July since we run a fireworks stand June 15-July 5 and I don't want chicks in brooders to have to care for during that 3 week period, lol. I would love to have some pretty blues. That little roo is my darkest one yet, most are more white with splash color in them. I do have one that is more white that will probably just being a laying hen not breeding.

 

[Cadeau]

Perhaps the whitish greyish ones are what is called a "Sport"

 

[DMRippy]

Perhaps the whitish greyish ones are what is called a "Sport"

Better yet they are Splashes..... Pictures would help.

 

[Bantam Chase]

I had two BCMs hatch out last year and they grew to be delightful birds - very calm and mellow without a ton of handling involved. They were by far my favorites in the flock. My son was kind enough to 'give one a bath' while daddy was 'watching' him and the birds were free ranging, sadly I was left with one.

Well, two were barely enough and being left with one was not do-able, so say 'hi' to the new babies! There's 3 FBCMs along with some others - I"m hoping that the hen odds are in my favor. While I like the looks of a mixed flock, I love the Marans nature and will ALWAYS have a few running around from now on.

 

[laughingclown]

The Black and Blue Copper Marans that I got crack me up. I have never seen chicks run around as much as these do. The Black Coppers will have nothing to do with me even with treats. The blues on the other hand are sweet. Very inquisitive. A few dont mind me picking them up. But for the most part all scurry to get away from the big bad hand!

 

[gilavina]

I'm having one of those days and just want to make sure I'm thinking right....its the black coppers and wheatens that have been accepted to the APA so far?

 

[DMRippy]

I'm having one of those days and just want to make sure I'm thinking right....its the black coppers and wheatens that have been accepted to the APA so far?

Yes.