Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

"This comb is just slightly leaning. I have won champ SCCL in a strong class with a bird like that. It is not a good presentation and some judges wouldn't put it up for class champ, but I don't think most would ding it more than a point total. I would count that last point, since it is really not part of the blade of the comb [5-point comb]. DQ if it is lopped below the horizontal plane of where the bend occurs."


Wynette~ I am glad you asked Walt about this and thanks for posting what he said. I have a question....no where in the SOP book can I find where is it discusses the degree of lopping before it is considered a DQ. Is the severity of the leaning or lopping of a comb something that each individual judge gets to determine on his or her own once they look at a bird?



Thank you for you condolences on my sweet Bill boy. I miss him. Thank you to everyone. I appreciate you all.

 

[pinkchick]

Elisha~ I ran my humidity in the LG at 35% to 40% during the first 18 days. Then I up'd it as high as I could get it during lockdown. Usually in the LG I couldn't get it up over 50-54% during lockdown. To get that I had to add a shallow bowl of water with a rag or sponge in it and all 3 troughs were full.
Hoping someone else comes by and shares their experiences with you about how the get the humidity higher in the LG during lockdown.

In my Sportsman, I run humidity at 50% the first 18 days and then up it 65% or even slightly higher if I can get it there.

 

[pinkchick]

Sorry to all of you that lost birds to the heat. How sad. I hope that things have cooled down for everyone and that all of your birds and you are re-cooping.
We do not get heat like that here, I can't even begin to imagine how intolerable it is. My hubby does not have fond memories of the heat during his time on the east coast and in Georgia while he was stationed there in the Army.

 

[heath_elisha]

Elisha~ I ran my humidity in the LG at 35% to 40% during the first 18 days. Then I up'd it as high as I could get it during lockdown. Usually in the LG I couldn't get it up over 50-54% during lockdown. To get that I had to add a shallow bowl of water with a rag or sponge in it and all 3 troughs were full.
Hoping someone else comes by and shares their experiences with you about how the get the humidity higher in the LG during lockdown.

In my Sportsman, I run humidity at 50% the first 18 days and then up it 65% or even slightly higher if I can get it there.

I emptied the troughs out and the humidity went higher to 50%.... ugh! lol I'm trying to get it under 40% but I think I will need help with the dehumidifier.

Thanks!!!

 

[Debbi]

Good morning all

Went to respond last night, and the BYC site went down for maintainence! Yes, I do the passive cooling here too, but some days it gets so stifling hot in here with no air flow, I break down and open a window or door, or all!

Vicki, the Partridge flock is still here. Those that want them around here want them for nothing, and that's not going to happen! Too hot to ship, so guess I will have to wait until the fall when it cools off. Still crazy hot here today, but storms may move in later, I hope! I have a strong feeling we had all better thin out the flocks big time this year, the feed this winter is going to be crazy high! For those that feed to hay eating critters, get all you can NOW! Hay here in the midwest will also be at a premium this year, folks around here have only gotten one cutting, in a normal summer, they should've had three by now.

Wynette, Glad you posted Walt's words on the comb issue! Marcy, I like that boy the best of all you have shown so far!

 

[Debbi]

Elisha~ I ran my humidity in the LG at 35% to 40% during the first 18 days. Then I up'd it as high as I could get it during lockdown. Usually in the LG I couldn't get it up over 50-54% during lockdown. To get that I had to add a shallow bowl of water with a rag or sponge in it and all 3 troughs were full.
Hoping someone else comes by and shares their experiences with you about how the get the humidity higher in the LG during lockdown.

In my Sportsman, I run humidity at 50% the first 18 days and then up it 65% or even slightly higher if I can get it there.

I found with my LG, if you set the whole incubator over a pan of water, like a cookie sheet, and fill the trays inside, AND add a sponge, you can keep the humidity at around 60%. But you have to constantly watch it. If I were to use my LG now, it would be for the first 18 days where I wanted the humidity lower, that seems to be no problem, unless it's very humid outside! I like my King Suro 20 much better all the way around! Still would love to find a Sportsman around here for under $400.00!

 

[fowlman01]

"This comb is just slightly leaning. I have won champ SCCL in a strong class with a bird like that. It is not a good presentation and some judges wouldn't put it up for class champ, but I don't think most would ding it more than a point total. I would count that last point, since it is really not part of the blade of the comb [5-point comb]. DQ if it is lopped below the horizontal plane of where the bend occurs."


Wynette~ I am glad you asked Walt about this and thanks for posting what he said. I have a question....no where in the SOP book can I find where is it discusses the degree of lopping before it is considered a DQ. Is the severity of the leaning or lopping of a comb something that each individual judge gets to determine on his or her own once they look at a bird?



Thank you for you condolences on my sweet Bill boy. I miss him. Thank you to everyone. I appreciate you all.

DQ if it is lopped below the horizontal plane of where the bend occurs." Page 33 APA SOP under DQ's/Shape/Combs.(D). #1

To everyone who has a SOP......you need to read the first 39 pages before they even think about talking about the Standard otherwise your knowledge and information is woefully lacking..

Bending is not a DQ. Find where it starts to bend (horizontally) and if the points go below that it is a DQ. At that point it will look something like a Leghorn female, not just slightly bent like the comb discussed.
There is no doubt if it goes below the initial bend in the comb. The whole comb is worth 5 points. Some judges will assign more cuts than needed because visually it is not pleasing, but good judges will know how many points off a slight bend is and judge accordingly. It kind of makes me chuckle when I read all the effort and posts put into getting 5 points on these birds when they need so much help in the important areas. Don't sweat the small stuff until you get these bodies and tail angles correct.

The comb is important, but not as important as some of these posts seem to indicate. The combs are more important in the Rosecomb breeds.

Walt

 

[pinkchick]

Got my Sportsman (used &refurbed with all new essential parts) for $280.00, delivered to my door with a smile and a hug from dear chicken friend and fellow Welsummer breeder. He had 2, I should have purchased both of them when I had the chance, but I could not justify it. Now after using it, I sure could see the benefit to having another one. It would be like playing the lottery with hopes of actually winning if I could find another one around here for that price now.

 

[snowbird]

Walt, the original Critique on this bunch of males was to find a couple good enough to keep as breeders to breed back to their sisters. With their type and all having thumbprint in combs are you saying go ahead and use for breeders ?

 

[pinkchick]

Thank you Walt and thank you for explaining it the way you did, makes it very easy for me to visualize and understand now.