Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Hens and Roos]

If you think I'm letting any of you off easy, think again. I want some dialog about this bird, please. There's only me and as some of you already know I'm pretty green at this, so dialog will help me learn. And please, you don't have to sugar coat a thing.

From the picture of the comb- he looks to have a bump coming off of a point about mid blade- probably not a good thing. How old is he again- there are some white feathers and wondering if he will molt those out. Hopefully more will chime in and give you some more insight.

 

[DMRippy]

If you think I'm letting any of you off easy, think again. I want some dialog about this bird, please. There's only me and as some of you already know I'm pretty green at this, so dialog will help me learn. And please, you don't have to sugar coat a thing.
Quote: Over all I like him BUT I would not use him. The white in the tail and legs would breed forward. I don't like his comb, but that really would not stop me UNLESS I had one better. JMHO and I am new to this too.

 

[Arielle]

Evening, all!

Hope everyone is staying as cool as possible

So - Don's comment about combs lead me to thinking about furthering my education:

Does anyone have a pic of a split blade?

Also - a pic of a split tail?

I think I have the idea, but I've never seen either in person
I did try to search BYC....

X2

ANd if Slick doesn't mind, how is the second point described?

 

[slick4591]

From the picture of the comb- he looks to have a bump coming off of a point about mid blade- probably not a good thing. How old is he again- there are some white feathers and wondering if he will molt those out. Hopefully more will chime in and give you some more insight.

He's a Sept 2011 bird and the molt is what I'm wondering about, too. I don't know what makes feathers change from black to half white. The comb was another issue which I don't know about. There's no sprigs, so I haven't heard this talked about.

Over all I like him BUT I would not use him. The white in the tail and legs would breed forward. I don't like his comb, but that really would not stop me UNLESS I had one better. JMHO and I am new to this too.

The white is my biggest question. Is it genetics or injury? Probably genetics, but I wanted feedback about them. The comb I just don't know about. The little point off the main one is concerning. Anything else about the comb that bothers you?

I really appreciate the opinions.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I would think if he didn't lose them with is juvenile molt he is not going to lose them. Has he always had them? Did they just show up? Debbi has noted that sometime hers will molt a white feather after it changes colors. She marks it and will soon see it on the ground.

I don't know exactly what I don't like... the points are odd, I think it is rough looking and it might have a thumb print..... BUT none of that would really stop me.... just the white feathers.

 

[slick4591]

I would think if he didn't lose them with is juvenile molt he is not going to lose them.  Has he always had them?  Did they just show up?  Debbi has noted that sometime hers will molt a white feather after it changes colors.  She marks it and will soon see it on the ground.

I don't know exactly what I don't like... the points are odd, I think it is rough looking and it might have a thumb print..... BUT none of that would really stop me.... just the white feathers.

That's the thing. He didn't have them until after the juvie molt. They were black, then just started turning white and appears as though it's climbing towards the end of the feather. The toe feather he's had since the molt too.

 

[pinkchick]

10 Birchen Babies hatched......but I culled one, it was just not doing good at all and I believe that it would not have survived the night anyway. It hatched but did not absorb everything it should have absorbed.

The other 9 are doing fantastic and causing chaos in the 'bator.

The last Birchen egg in there didn't pip or do anything. I will leave it in until the last 2 Barnies finish hatching and the rest of the Copper Marans finish, but am not holding my breath.

All in all, I am very happy with the hatch rate from the eggs. I am going to get more from him in a couple months.

I also has one test baby from my Silver Birchen boy and his hatch mate the suppose to be Silver girl that was copper, hatch. It is marked and don't know what I will do with it. Just tossed it in to see if it was fertile. Yep, guess so. Will be interesting to watch it grow and see what color Silver comes in but I doubt that I will keep it as it is from a sibling mating. Was fun to try.


Photo's to come later as they are still in. When I take them out and band them I will get pics. As I can see it looks like all of them have feathered legs and outer toes.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
That is an uneven serration. I have that in one of the Splash cockerels that I posted yesterday. It too will breed forward.

 

[gilavina]

10 Birchen Babies hatched......but I culled one, it was just not doing good at all and I believe that it would not have survived the night anyway. It hatched but did not absorb everything it should have absorbed.

The other 9 are doing fantastic and causing chaos in the 'bator.

The last Birchen egg in there didn't pip or do anything. I will leave it in until the last 2 Barnies finish hatching and the rest of the Copper Marans finish, but am not holding my breath.

All in all, I am very happy with the hatch rate from the eggs. I am going to get more from him in a couple months.

I also has one test baby from my Silver Birchen boy and his hatch mate the suppose to be Silver girl that was copper, hatch. It is marked and don't know what I will do with it. Just tossed it in to see if it was fertile. Yep, guess so. Will be interesting to watch it grow and see what color Silver comes in but I doubt that I will keep it as it is from a sibling mating. Was fun to try.


Photo's to come later as they are still in. When I take them out and band them I will get pics. As I can see it looks like all of them have feathered legs and outer toes.

HOLY FREAKING CRAP!!! THAT'S AMAZING!!! Now I'm crossing my fingers even more I'll have as good of luck with mine!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THanks Pink and you already answered my next question: it will breed forward.