Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Raven1]

WWW! That just make everything right in the world.

 

[aceschix]

Hen

Hi Everyone,

I've learned a lot on this thread! I was wondering if someone can give me their opinion on if this is a rooster or a hen. This bird is under 3 months old. It does seem bigger than my others and has more color too. The second picture looks more rusty on the neck but its really a silvery/white.

​

​

Thanks!

 

[MellowBird]

Darn. I was really hoping for a rooster. After I posted this I finally found a picture of a young rooster, they definitely have more color on the wings. thanks for verifying this with me!

 

[pinkchick]

Don~ Question for ya. Would you use a rooster thats blade touches the head if this was the only thing that you didn't like about the bird? Also, what will this type of issue cause in the offspring? Is their a specific comb type I should look for in the females to maybe counter act it? Thanks in advance.

 

[pinkchick]

Just wanted to stop in and say hey! I've been dragging my feet on posting but I'm still reading and keeping up with the thread.
I have put a lot of thought into my Marans and I think we have decided that we are going to concentrate on dark eggs and not so much on SOP birds. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll be forgetting about the SOP when breeding. I think the wife saw the disgust I had when all my roosters had DQ's. She really likes the SLW's more than the BCMs, so I have her out there with me now. Looks like I'll be looking for a rooster from really dark egg stock and I'll keep my #4 and #5 layers. Using them as foundation stock will give me something to start with.
Also, last night I finally was presented with a reward of another one of my projects. One of my pure bred Piedmontese heifers calved a little bull somewhere around the 80 - 90 lb area. Pic of mother and son as he stood for the first time.

 

[DMRippy]

Pinkchick..... go see what I got Monday..... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/466415/blue-laced-red-wyandotte-thread/860#post_9526551

 

[pinkchick]

Congrats Slick!

 

[pinkchick]

Donna~ Talk about a SCORE! That is the coolest! Congrats to you.....and directly from Mr. Foley...even sweeter!!!!!!!

 

[snowbird]

Don~ Question for ya. Would you use a rooster thats blade touches the head if this was the only thing that you didn't like about the bird? Also, what will this type of issue cause in the offspring? Is their a specific comb type I should look for in the females to maybe counter act it? Thanks in advance.

Kim, This all goes back to the saying use what is available and cull the off spring like crazy. Continued use of this comb will produce more of the same. I would try and use female with a smaller comb.Sooner or later you will have to break this genetic cycle of the faulty comb.
One think I look for in the comb of the male is does the bottom of the blade lineup with the eye at the starting point. This is just something I always look for in the comb of the male.
If I had a choice I would not use a male like you describe. I just stay away from the faults and find that I can raise more birds without faults.

 

[aceschix]

Quote: So I must ask.
Is the tiniest side spring in the same category as the floppy comb? Can I get offspring from a roo with one that will not have them and cull the rest? How dominiant is it? This is the first one I have seen in this line but otherwise I like the rest of the roos characteristics....