Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[PaintedCavalry]

Okay so I returned my cockerel this weekend to the breeder. He apologized and told me that it's the first sexed bird he's ever messed up on. When I purchased the bird, there was no color on the wings or back, it was just blue.

So I went to go exchange and ended up with another in addition.

The new Priscilla

The other bird I picked up, Gywnn.

 

[PaintedCavalry]

Thanks for everyone who helped!

 

[Cadeau]

Some of my young girls!
Most started laying about a month ago!





Young girl - almost 5mths

 

[Cadeau]

Can't resist!
Fuzzy faces!! Just love them!



My single EE baby from Donna - no fuzzy cheeks, but really cool color!

 

[DMRippy]

Can't resist!
Fuzzy faces!! Just love them!



My single EE baby from Donna - no fuzzy cheeks, but really cool color!

I think that mine is a roo

 

[flgardengirl]

I realize prices vary across the country, but I'd like some input. Since I am raising up new pullets to improve me stock, and not hatching chicks anymore this summer, I can't see a good reason to hang on to my existing hens, which are my starter Black Copper Marans group. They are way overmelanized, and I've got a good dozen or more pullets, 2-3 months old, some younger, that are showing some copper in their hackles that I can raise and watch for good ones. My hens are just shy of 15 months old and we are now into our heat here and all the birds have slacked off laying, plus 2 are broody. OK, so question is, what is a reasonable price to sell these for? I listed them on CraigsList for $40 each--no takers so far. Bear in mind I feed all organic, so very expensive to feed my birds, and no grass/forage here--this is desert. Someone has offered $25. Not sure if I should take that or not. Or maybe only if she buys all 5? Opinions please. If they aren't sold within the next month, I will probably end up butchering them for the meat, but we don't really need the meat, plenty of extra cockerels have been filling the freezer.

Are these pullets laying yet? If not, you can't be sure of the egg color they will lay. I would wait till they lay before making culling decisions with pullets.
ETA: I would of course cull for gross deformities or DQ early on though.

 

[Cadeau]

Young girl - just started laying.
I have some of these HUGE framed birds - she's nearly as large as the 1+yr roo


Deb - here's my Bryant roo
He's molting and it seems the feathers die off slowly and THEN fall out...rather than shedding like most of the other chickens....
He did NOT have all that white before he started molting!



Tucker - my DSD's 4-H project goat!
One of our own babies!

 

[Cadeau]

Darn - really??
I'll bet you're right b/c he will NOT stay in the baby tub (big rubbermaid horse tub with the light) - he wants to be out with the bigger kids on the floor...
As many times as I put him back in, he hops out!

 

[DMRippy]

Young girl - just started laying.
I have some of these HUGE framed birds - she's nearly as large as the 1+yr roo


Deb - here's my Bryant roo
He's molting and it seems the feathers die off slowly and THEN fall out...rather than shedding like most of the other chickens....
He did NOT have all that white before he started molting!



Tucker - my DSD's 4-H project goat!
One of our own babies!

WOW that roo has some great saddle feathers! Never seen then that long in a Marans.... Who is Bryant?

 

[Cadeau]

One of the other bloodlines.

I love the copper and mahogany on him!
He keeps himself immaculate!

Too bad he's a grouchy thing...