Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

Actually, that helps me a lot!  Sometimes this forum is like a giant 100 square mile forest and any hint on where to start helps! 

This thread is alot to digest and undertake I agree, but there really is some great info and wisdom tucked away in here and also in the original Marans thread as well. I often revisit the old thread to find info or posts that seem to have been lost. Just find some time for yourself and start reading just as you would a good book. These threads truly are worth it.

We all started somewhere with our birds and I can say that just because some spend or may have spent top dollar on birds, or perhaps eggs, that top quality birds didn't just happen or hatch, so it's not all about how much is spent or perhaps even that the birds or eggs may have come from a "top breeder" or a prominent breeder......trust me on this. Even top breeders do not produce top quality birds 100% of the time. However, without the majority of those top breeders & old time breeders, Marans and for that matter along with all breeds would not be where they are today. IMO, it all comes down to getting to know the breed, breeding selections and serious culling decisions and having a great support group of Marans friends that are willing to be open and forthcoming to those with questions or in need of advise. This is one of those great places to be for just that.

 

[Raven1]

Pink and Vickie I think I have to sell my "Birchen" start again. I have waited and waited but my 2 girls look to me like they have cream and lt. gold on their hackles. As I understand you its the hens that dictate the color in the offspring and I would be better off to start over again?

 

[pinkchick]

Thanks Vicki! Let me know what Rod says....I am on his list for more eggs too. Hope you get yours soon.
About the BCM boy...... I think he may end up being on the darker side since he comes from one of Bill Sr.s dtrs and Lil' Bill. Those dark genetics run strong from Bill. Male offspring from his lineage also take their sweet time coloring up and if things stay within the norm we should see some copper coming on very soon if he is going to get any.

 

[pinkchick]

Pink and Vickie I think I have to sell my "Birchen" start again. I have waited and waited but my 2 girls look to me like they have cream and lt. gold on their hackles. As I understand you its the hens that dictate the color in the offspring and I would be better off to start over again?

This is what I understand as well and I think that I may be battling some leakage too with these birds, but this is something that I knew going in to this particular line. I will digress to Vicki as she has more knowledge than I in the silver dept.

 

[Raven1]

Also I am noticing my tails are getting more narrow(pinched). Not all my new birds (spring hatches) just some. My roo has a nice open tail so I am guessing I have a serious problem in my hens. This is something I just need to cull out or can it be bred out?

 

[pinkchick]

And the last 2 Birchen pullets......again sorry for the crappy photos and the smallness of this one. LOL! I have no clue how I cropped it like this.
I'm not user friendly I tell ya!

 

[pinkchick]

Also I am noticing my tails are getting more narrow(pinched). Not all my new birds (spring hatches) just some. My roo has a nice open tail so I am guessing I have a serious problem in my hens. This is something I just need to cull out or can it be bred out?

Don can explain how to eliminate narrow backs WAY better than I can...but I will give it stab.

IMO, the first thing I look for is a nice broad bird (broad in the breast, back, shoulder and body) with a good back length. Narrow bodied birds WILL NOT produce broad birds with nice open tails. I have found that I had to cull for it, I culled every narrow skinny bodied bird with closed tails or less than desired open tails. The more I tried to breed it out the more frustrated I became because I could not eliminate it with breeding. Hope Don comes by to better explain.

 

[SIMZ]

This thread is alot to digest and undertake I agree, but there really is some great info and wisdom tucked away in here and also in the original Marans thread as well. I often revisit the old thread to find info or posts that seem to have been lost. Just find some time for yourself and start reading just as you would a good book. These threads truly are worth it.
We all started somewhere with our birds and I can say that just because some spend or may have spent top dollar on birds, or perhaps eggs, that top quality birds didn't just happen or hatch, so it's not all about how much is spent or perhaps even that the birds or eggs may have come from a "top breeder" or a prominent breeder......trust me on this. Even top breeders do not produce top quality birds 100% of the time. However, without the majority of those top breeders & old time breeders, Marans and for that matter along with all breeds would not be where they are today. IMO, it all comes down to getting to know the breed, breeding selections and serious culling decisions and having a great support group of Marans friends that are willing to be open and forthcoming to those with questions or in need of advise. This is one of those great places to be for just that.

Great tip that I'll remember. I actually have very little extra money to throw at my birds - most of my money goes to support our laying flock and batches of meat birds to fill our freezer - which is why I'm asking for guidance. I just want to start with some solid birds mostly for our personal use because I really like the breed. Just like anything - it's obvious that a person can spend as much as they're willing to on these chickens! lol It's going to be fun digging into all these threads.

I've started following this thread and love what I've already learned. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions and give guidance.

 

[pinkchick]

One last photo.........just for Stoopid and totally Marans related because this little guy is being raised by my Marans hen Bad Betty. She is doing fantastic as a Mamma, maybe this is what she needed and now she will settle down and remain in her designated coop.

This is my 2nd generation project Blue Laced Barnevelder baby. My girl Stoo's first chick. He is just a cute little fuzz ball.

 

[Raven1]

I guess that is way it surprized me my hens don't appear to be narrow but some must have been. I culled several hens a couple of months ago maybe they were the hens producing this. I am going to cull very very hard again and see what the next season brings. I have at least 3 huge broad backed open tailed street sweeper girls and by golly that is enough to start back with. Like we all know it cost the same to feed poor quality birds as it does to feed nice ones. I would rather have 3 really nice girls than 20 so so ones!!