Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Sorry to hear that; get a good night's sleep!

I spoke to Don today, via e-mail. He said in about 2,000 chicks, he never had a Wheaten sport appear, so he had never tried to breed a sport to a Wheaten. He did say that Pip does sound like a Wheaten or maybe a cross. He says usually, the crossed (BCM x Wheaten) have that brownish looking fluff and feathering on the breast. Pip has neither, he is a very deep matte black. He hatched out looking like a BCM, albeit very dark, very little white on him, so I would have to think he is a cross? Wonder why those feathers decided to color in now?? Shoot, he'll be 2 years old in August.

He also has the whiteish/pink legs of a Wheatie too. Ah Pip...the enigma continues!

well...I do remember reading somewhere that it was recommended to hold the birds to 2 years of age to see how they fully develop since they can grow that long, but who can do that with how much it costs to care for them?!

 

[Debbi]

Oh yeh, not happening here with the roos! I just wonder if he was a slow grower, but that still would not explain his chick coloring. He really didn't even start to bulk up and look mature until just a few months ago. Had never breed anything either, well, except his coffee can which I took away! Since he's been having little romances with the ladies, he has cooled his jets with me considerably. I was telling poor Don this today, and I can just envision the expression on his face, and what he was thinking when I told him all of that..."fool woman, WHY would you keep such a bird???"

Believe me, I've asked myself that same question many times, yet Pip remains.

 

[gilavina]

Oh yeh, not happening here with the roos! I just wonder if he was a slow grower, but that still would not explain his chick coloring. He really didn't even start to bulk up and look mature until just a few months ago. Had never breed anything either, well, except his coffee can which I took away! Since he's been having little romances with the ladies, he has cooled his jets with me considerably. I was telling poor Don this today, and I can just envision the expression on his face, and what he was thinking when I told him all of that..."fool woman, WHY would you keep such a bird???"

Believe me, I've asked myself that same question many times, yet Pip remains.

we all have favorites, no matter how misfit they might be. I know I do, there's no explaining it...

 

[laura877]

Here are some pics of my blue maran chick that is actually light gray or light purple to me.








So what color might this bird turn out to be?

 

[Illia]

Looks like a splash to me

 

[kailmarie]

I'm new here but have hatched BCM last spring. My luck being what it is, out of 12 eggs, 9 hatched but only 2 were pullets... The rest Roos! Is this a normal hatching ratio?

 

[hipeatall]

The whole 50/50 thing is based on much larger numbers... so yes, that is a pretty normal hatch ratio... not very fair... but normal. Maybe your next hatch will even out your odds... one can always hope

I'm new here but have hatched BCM last spring. My luck being what it is, out of 12 eggs, 9 hatched but only 2 were pullets... The rest Roos! Is this a normal hatching ratio?

 

[Debbi]

we all have favorites, no matter how misfit they might be. I know I do, there's no explaining it...

I guess it's kind of like dating that bad boy in High School. You know he's no good, and the whole thing isn't going anywhere, but you just can't help liking the little turd!

 

[gilavina]

I guess it's kind of like dating that bad boy in High School. You know he's no good, and the whole thing isn't going anywhere, but you just can't help liking the little turd!

haha.... I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[Debbi]

The whole 50/50 thing is based on much larger numbers... so yes, that is a pretty normal hatch ratio... not very fair... but normal. Maybe your next hatch will even out your odds... one can always hope

Very true. Funny, how when I was realllllly wanting one good Splash roo, he never appeared, but a pullet did! Next time you try hatching, set about 100 eggs and let us know if the odds get better.

Oh, that makes my brain hurt just typing that!