Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

I am finaly at a place where I think I have good enough stock to work from that I am comfortable asking for imput on this generation. I thought I would share my few Birchens from this year to see what your thoughts are in what I should look for and additional points you may see that I am missing from staring at them 3 hours a day

Boy #1
Needs to grow his tail feathers back because boy #3 & #4 liked to pick. They (3 &4) have gone on to the rooster free range farm.

#1 again - he has nice slate legs, nice silver, straight comb no springs
Large beefy size



#1


This is #2 I am so undecided about him.
The darker pigment to the hackles bothers me. He is not as clean as #1, comb has - maybe a thumb print. His legs and leg feather are lighter than #1
I can not decide what the coloration is in the hackles. It is not thetrue gold leakage I had in earlier birds.
Thoughts?



#2 - See the back is not as creamy colored as it looks in the picture above.


But you can see not the bright silver of #1




Both for comparison.
#1 on the left

#2 on th right



This is the beafy Silver Birchen girl. With #1
Thoughts



Beafy girl again with #1 in th back




Sorry for the story book. It has taken me a while to choose them and then to get up the courage to put them up here.

Yes, please be honest. Thanks

Hey Ace! Nice progress!

I would definitely hold onto number 1, but will need to be selective on the females you place with him so you have odds of getting better back length onto the offspring. The second one can have a couple of things going on with him colorwise. I won't be able to help much, unless you'd be able to get a closer shot of the saddle color for me. When you say cream, depending on the kind of cream color, can be worked with. The type overall, while not perfect is certainly well on the way. I like the females I've seen too, the only thing I can tell from the distance of the photos is that you will want to work on getting the color on the collar, while making sure it doesn't creep down onto the chest. How's the eye color? Where'd you get your start from? I'd love to see more pics and if you ever need a second set of eyes on them, I'd be happy to help.

 

[3riverschick]

The leg set is better on number 2 than number 1. See the front shot of each bird? See how the legs in number 1 are narrow at the top and wider at the bottom? In a meat bird, the legs should be wider apart at the top. In bird 2, the legs are nice and strong without being coarse (same as number 1). But in 2, the legs are also set a bit further apart and perpendicular to the ground staying the same width apart from where they exit the body to where they meet the ground. Build the barn first, then paint it. I love the breasts on both birds. Like 1 a bit better, however the leg issue makes my clear choice bird number 2, who also has a lovely breast. Nice birds, look like a nice foundation flock. Congrats!

Best,
Karen in western PA
new email is: [email protected]

 

[dtran0268]

I bought these as chick from local breeder 6 months ago, This is my first few marans and I do not know alot about the breed. Which one of the two rooster below I should keep? Thanks everyone

 

[laughingclown]

I bought these as chick from local breeder 6 months ago, This is my first few marans and I do not know alot about the breed. Which one of the two rooster below I should keep? Thanks everyone

I like #2. He seems to be more well rounded.

 

[laughingclown]

I have noticed that this thread has been crickets lately and I dont know if it is my fault. That being said, If I was out of line I formally apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.

 

[Hens and Roos]

think everyone is taking advantage of the nice weather school started for our kids this past week and things have been crazy getting back into the routine not to mention sport practices for 2 of our kids.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I have noticed that this thread has been crickets lately and I dont know if it is my fault. That being said, If I was out of line I formally apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.

I think it's Debbi's fault because she hasn't been posting lately!!!!

I do hope all is well with her ....

Perhaps she is over-run with Silkie sales????

 

[ihavechickens2]

my blue copper maran rooster

 

[picanins]

my blue copper maran rooster

OK. I'm peeking my head up out of 'reading and learning' mode to ask a question. This looks more 'Wheaten'ish'. Do Blue Coppers vary so vastly in colour or is the photo just very light? :/

 

[DMRippy]

I think with all Marans the color just varies. I like the darker Copper, like Vicki breeds too. But I am not there. This year putting color in the pullets has been HUGE. My original Marans hens were pretty much solid black. I used a lighter Blue Copper like that one and now I have copper in the hackles. I am seeing I need two lines, a pullet line and a roo line.