Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[DMRippy]

Thank you Donna. I guess they do not have any fear anymore. Just got off the phone with my hubby and he told me that he saw them this morning on his way out. Said he wished he had called and told me, so I would watch for them. How sweet.


Sorry to read of your humidity issues. What's the latest word?


Got some photos of the Birchen chicks out and about today. Trying to upload them.

It was about 50% when I left and left the dehumidifier on too.... oddly the dehumidifier was keeping the temp about right without the heat coming on in the incubator. I will candle them in a few days and see what is going on. With the turner not running for several days they may all be lost

Maybe I will take some silica packet and see if that would help.... I think I have some big ones somewhere......

 

[RyeRanch]

That is a great mix of egg colors! Jealousy rages...

I didn't get many eggs yesterday, but..........my blue/splash marans started laying!!!!

 

[pinkchick]

Darryl and some of the Birchen babies.



Hard to see them, but they are catching some fun in the sun with Mom.


Pecking some treats with Mom and Aunties. Lil' Bill wattling over to get his treats too.

 

[gilavina]

Darryl and some of the Birchen babies.



Hard to see them, but they are catching some fun in the sun with Mom.


Pecking some treats with Mom and Aunties. Lil' Bill wattling over to get his treats too.

super cute!

 

[DMRippy]

Pink, I was looking at your pullet today and I just love how dark she is. She almost looks black, but not..... nice lacing coming in. I need to get you pics. I am super busy right now though, maybe next week.

Those babies with the big birds are super cute!

 

[3riverschick]

Marcy,
You need to read the book I just posted about. I think you will find answers there. It's only 46 pages.
Best,
Karen

Karen, Please explain how the book is going to help if she doesn't have the genetic diversity to breed the Marans properly. What helps is if a person has the experience to be able to decide if a mating will work or not.

There is no way the Marans can be bred the old fashion way unless you know the linage of your Marans.
==================
Ok, it's just easier to let the author explain it. I think perhaps the wrong sex is being used to try and solve the problem. A poor cock and top flight hens will produce nice chicks. However, a good cock and poor hens will produce only average chicks. (The author explains this better). So, bring in some new top quality females of the same strain. Breed your boy to them and take the best boys and breed them back to their mothers. Proceed from there according to the traits which stilll need improving. The male is best used for plumage. The female is considered for all other traits. Is a comb plumage? What size and shape comb does the Standard describe? How to the combs with sprigs and lops deviate from the Standard?
Best,
karen

 

[3riverschick]

First lessons in poultry keeping: Second year course... - Page 119
books.google.com
John Henry Robinson - 1906 - 160 pages - Free Google eBook - Read
http://tinyurl.com/7rzxmmy
EXPRESSION IN HEAD CHARACTERS.
Head Characters.
Fowls differ as much in size, shape, and expression of the bead as in size and shape of body and color of plumage. Marked differences in head types may be found in the same variety, and even in birds of the same strain or stock. We are so accustomed to consider the head as a mere base for its appurtenances, beak, comb, earlobes, wattles, crest, beard, that it is only in a very few breeds that size and shape of the head proper are given particular consideration. The head least adorned with superfluities in flesh and feathers is the most expressive of quality, for in it the correlation with the other parts of the fowl is discernible, while a head profusely ornamented does not show for what it is. Undoubtedly the character is there, but the appendages are so much more prominent that it is not readily observed.
This lack of discernment of the character of the head proper is not, however, a serious matter. For as the head expresses with reasonable accuracy the diameter of some points of structure of body and of constitution, its appendages generally partake of the character of head and body, and by their greater conspicuousness show them even more unmistakably to those versed in their meanings. The comb, the wattles, the earlobes, the face, the beak, the eyes, all tell the shrewd observer something worth while for him to know. I would not be too positive in making a statement of this kind, but I think that though they may not always realize it, most critical judges of a fowl by external appearances are more influenced by the character of the head of the fowl than by the shape of the body, that the expression and impression on their eye of the head of the bird has an influence on their judgment of it as a whole which is not often changed as they pass the other sections in detail. To the average poultryman of tolerably keen perceptions, crests and beards have less meaning as expressing the general character of the fowl, but to the breeder of crested and bearded fowls who has studied them closely they mean much. Indeed it is in perception and appreciation of the correlation of the parts and qualities of fowls with details which ordinarily escape notice that the skillful bleeder has his greatest advantage over others.
I do not think it can be shown that the size of combs, wattles, earlobes, crests, and beards has any special relation to any practical quality. Large combs are sometimes said to indicate laying capacity, but I have not found it so in individuals, nor will a comparison of breeds differing in size of comb substantiate this idea.
The shape of the comb we must consider in two ways: First, as to the kind— single, rose, pea, leaf. It is often said that rose and pea combed fowls stand cold better than those with single combs. This is but a half truth, it depends as much on the size as on the shape of the comb, and we have to consider also the development of the wattles, with relation to susceptibility to cold and frost. A very large fleshy rose comb that has no spike, is lumpy and only a "rose comb" because it is not anything else, is often associated with very long, pendulous wattles which freeze as quickly as the wattles of a large single combed fowl. A rose comb of the type generally preferred in Wyandottes is usually associated with a medium sized wattle not readily affected by cold. A single combed fowl having wattles of the same size generally has a comb low enough not to be affected by frost at any temperature that would not affect the wattles. We must count size of comb then us a point indicating in a general way the capacity of a breed of fowls to resist cold.
When it comes to the matter of individual resistance to cold, the comb, unless quite inconspicuous, becomes a very accurate indicator. Observe your fowls on any raw cold day, and see how some combs are bright as usual, others slightly discolored, and others quite blue or purple. The discoloration of some combs may indicate only constitutional susceptibility to cold, or it may mean that the fowl is at the time out of condition and therefore unusually susceptible to climatic influences.
The texture of the comb is also a point of importance. The fancier prizes fine texture in the comb for itself; the poultry grower because he considers it an indication of fineness of fiber in the meat of the fowl. The carriage of the comb in single combed fowls conveys Impressions which probably are misleading, though I would not care to dogmatize on this point. A comb that is erect and smooth looks strong and gives the fowl an appearance of strength. A comb that bulges, bends, lops or wrinkles suggests weakness, just as any lack of symmetry does, but 1 doubt whether any ratio dependent upon such variations could be established.
Considering the shape of the comb and wattles as compared with others of the same kind: It is found that there is a type of unsymmetrlcal comb quite common in all fowls, and especially conspicuous in single combed fowls, which gives an expression in the fowl corresponding to that made by a human profile with retreating forehead and chin. With such a comb is usually associated a rather long narrow head and a bill that without being abnormally long, and giving the fowl a "peaked " look, yet conveys an impression of lack of force and stamina. It is commonly held that such fowls are lacking in sexual vigor. I think this opinion requires modification. My observation of such fowls suggests that the reproductive faculties are as active in them as in others, but that their operation tends to exhaust the vitality of the fowl more rapidly, that it is a lack of general stamina rather than of sexual capacity. The precise understanding of it, however, is not a matter worth quarreling over. It is a quite well assumed fact that such birds are not desirable breeders, and the hens not likely to be as persistent layers as those more symmetrical in these points.
To the shape of the bill fanciers attach considerable importance, in nearly all breeds a strong, sometimes stout, well curved or moderately curved bill is required. Such a bill looks better than one that falls short of the specifications. Market poultrymen find the strong, stout, well curved bill the mark of a good feeder. Experimenters in special fattening methods say birds with such bills are much better subjects for fattening.
The color of the bill is a point of importance to the fancier. He requires a bill of a certain color in each breed. To the market poultryman the color of the bill is of importance only as it indicates the color of the skin. The bill is almost invariably of the color of the legs, and generally the skin of the fowl corresponds both as to kind and quality of color. Thus in bill and legs one may judge the color of the skin of a fowl without examining under the feathers.
To the color and expression of the eye breeders attach great importance—far more than a careful comparison of results has ever showed me. It is held that a red eye indicates vigor and vitality, especially sexual vitality. It certainly gives an impression of boldness and strength to a bird, but I question whether this impression has any better basis than general opinion. We in this country also think white or flesh colored bills and legs make a fowl iook weak as compared with one in which bill and legs are a good yellow, but the facts about the breeds do not substantiate this view.
===========================================
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[SarniaTricia]

R.I.P. Bill.


I will miss my boy immensely, he was my buddy, my pal. My hubby always said "here comes your buddy" he followed me everywhere. He was very co-dependent.

It's already so weird.

Bill was taken by a Bald Eagle today, along with another young cockerel. The family of Eagles that lives near by was out and about today and visited here twice in a row, both times successful with their missions. After I realized what was going on and after they grabbed the first young cockerel, I tried to put everyone away, but of course, my Bill Boy was more interested in following me then he was the treats in his coop and I could not get him to go in, they nabbed him while he was running over to check out what I had put in the goat dish to lure them in with.
What a commotion and nothing I could do. What gets me the most, is that they (the Eagles) where determined to swoop in, even with me so close by, they just didn't seem to care.

Pink,
Sorry for your loss. It is the season of predators... owl got a friend's pet hen right in front of the 8 year old who cuddled her every day ...
Patricia

 

[heath_elisha]

R.I.P. Bill.


I will miss my boy immensly, he was my buddy, my pal. My hubby always said "here comes your buddy" he followed me everywhere. He was very co-dependent.

It's already so weird.

Bill was taken by a Bald Eagle today, along with another young cockerel. The family of Eagles that lives near by was out and about today and visited here twice in a row, both times succesful with their missions. After I realized what was going on and after they grabbed the first young cockerel, I tried to put everyone away, but of course, my Bill Boy was more interested in following me then he was the treats in his coop and I could not get him to go in, they nabbed him while he was running over to check out what I had put in the goat dish to lure them in with.
What a commotion and nothing I could do. What gets me the most, is that they (the Eagles) where determined to swoop in, even with me so close by, they just didn't seem to care.

I am so sorry for your loss!!!!!!!! I have a rooster that acts that way too and recently injured his leg- who knows how. I refuse to put him down, as long as he is not suffering. I really do feel your pain.... you have me tearing up here! I hope that you have some of his babies that could take his place?

 

[calamityfarm]

Christie Rhae, How big are these pens? Do they open in the front or back? Any other info? They look very practical. Thanks for the photos.