Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[puglady]

Back atcha puglady,
Saw him give me a drive by a few times but have my netting up and no one's free ranging today. Most folks in NH are pretty satisfied with the hatchery stock I think and the pricing is right for around here, I only sold off my Ameraucanas by putting them on here. The price was too high for craigslist. I hear you on the CLB's - I love them. My Black Coppers are growing up pretty nicely. I have one girl that is gonna be HUGE and at least 3 of them seem to have good type and color coming up. I am hoping for just 1 good rooster or I'll try again next year. Right now I'm waiting for everyone to start laying so I can see what I've got and despite the fact I really am too busy I am hatching more CLB's - just a few to make up for what I lost to predators this summer.
The BCM chicks I got from you did not survive the heater lamp going out that night - it was so sad seeing them laying there. Ant and I tried to coax the last little survivor back to life and used a heating pad to try and warm him up but it was to no avail...Ant was very sad about it but we have new chicks for him to love on now so all is well. Hope your chicks turn out well. You should post some pics.

So sorry to hear about the little ones. I'll let you know when the next ones hatch if you want and you can swing by and pick a few gratas. Should be in just a couple of weeks. I'm hoping to keep a bunch of these ones. I have set 42 so fingers crossed. The CLs were moved to the little yellow coop you saw Friday night and they're doing well. The girls are developing nice crests. One of the boys, Pitt, has a nice crest but his comb is already a little "bent" in the middle. The other two have straight combs so far. I've read on here to breed a roo with a good comb to a hen with a good crest to get a better "type" so I guess Pitts out of the running already. I'll probably put him in the general population shortly and let the other two grow out some more with the girls.

 

[ChickenExtreme]

Went out and caught the two boys...and they were NOT happy....for pictures. The more I look at them, the more I think it will be Red Boy as the breeding stock. He is bigger, blockier and smoother in his colored bits, except for the breast. Am I correct in believing it will be easier to adjust color over type? Here are the pictures for critique --- don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings, but I do have to choose one of them since these are the only two I have to start with.

We'll start with the head. Here is Red Boy's evil glare and the I'm not going to cooperate pose. Note the heavy copper spotting in his breast feathers.


Sunset Boy's head --- he's much more cooperative. Clean black breast, not liking the uneveness of his hackle coloration so much.



Top/Rear view. Sorry, this is the best I could do with unhappy roos without an assistant to help take the pictures.

Red Boy is first. Tried to get a better shot in a pen too.





Sunset boy, again, more cooperative.

Black Copper Male


Comb, Face, Wattles, & Ear-Lobes: Bright red.
Beak: Horn, black shading permitted.
Eyes: Reddish bay.
Head: Lustrous deep copper, neither yellow nor mahogany.
Neck— Hackle : Lustrous deep copper, neither yellow nor mahogany. Some feathers, especially in the lower hackle, may include a narrow dark stripe through the middle of each feather, terminating in a point near its lower extremity.
Front of neck : Black with markings of deep copper.
Back: Lustrous deep copper.
Saddle : Same as hackle.
Tail— Main Tail :Black with slight luster.
Sickles and Coverts : Lustrous black.
Wings—Shoulders : Black.
Fronts : Black.
Bows : Deep russet red.
Coverts : Lustrous black.
Primaries : Black.
Secondaries : Black, exposed portion forming black wing bay.
Breast: Solid black or with a few copper spots. Not laced.
Body & Stern: Black.
Legs & Toes— Lower Thighs : Black.
Shanks and Toes : Shanks and toes light to mid-slate, showing pink between the scales. Bottoms of feet pinkish white.
Shank and Toe Feathers : Black.

 

[Cadeau]

Hi all

Been missing a while - some things going on, plus back to school time!

Time to take a hard look at my roo hopefuls from this spring's hatch - and I was hoping to get some opinions!
Roo #1





eyes are still a bit dark....getting lighter, but I don't know how much lighter they will get....he's 5mths old - ?? -
anyone??

Roo #2




his legs are on the light side...still with a slate overlay, but lighter

 

[Cadeau]

Roo #3
Don - is this what you were saying about a "busy tail"?

He's shy (and fast), so this is the best I could snap!



Roo #4
This guy is younger than the above boys
prob @4mths






Roo #5
This guy is younger, too...

 

[TinTennessee]

I'm not saying it is I'm asking, is that a sprig on #4 second picture, just above & behind the earlobe?

 

[Cadeau]

Nope - no sprigs here!
No DQs get to the "bachelor pad" grow out!

 

[DMRippy]

#5 looks like a RIR more than a Marans, shape wise and he has a DQ... no feathered legs...

#4 let him grow out and see if he gets some color. His back looks too long.

#3 I can't tell much from those pics... I don't think I like his shape, maybe his back is too long too.

#2 I like his color and size. I think I would use him for making roos.

#1 I like him too, maybe best. I think I would use him for making pullets

DID I WIN????

 

[ChickenExtreme]

Does anyone have a pic of a sprig? I'm not sure what one looks like

 

[Cadeau]

Only if *I* win

haha

NO DQs - they ALL have feathered legs (or will have after they finish feathering out from their juvie molts!)

2 guys do have lighter legs, but not pink (or yellow)

p.s. what are you seeing that makes you think he looks like a RIR?
The only breeds I have here are BCM (and a couple blue) and cochin bantams!

 

[DMRippy]

Does anyone have a pic of a sprig? I'm not sure what one looks like

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/517113/marans-sop-discussion-thread/270#post_8028843