Marans Thread for Posting Pics of Your Eggs, Chicks and Chickens

[amazondoc]

When you're dealing with black/blue/splash, you just have to keep the pattern genes straight. For instance, don't be breeding a splash wheaten to a blue copper, or a "plain" splash to a black copper. Other than that, you're pretty much good to go.

Ideally, if you breed blue in any of the patterns (based on any of the E series genes -- E=extended black, ER=birchen or black copper depending on other genes, EWh=wheaten), you should work for a dark blue with good dark borders on the blue feathers. But that is soooooooo far down my list of things to worry about.......

In general, feel free to breed blue, black, or splash together AS LONG AS they have the same "E" alleles. That's why a lot of people (check my sig file) say they breed "blue/black/splash" or "BBS".

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Thanks so much. That is exactly what I wanted to know!

 

[cpartist]

Kathy, your Blue Marans are lovely...

Regarding the Black and Blue Copper, this is my understanding (and take this with the caveat that I'm a relative "newbie to Marans) is that the varieties are compatible with each other in the same way that B/B/S are in other varieties. I got my Blue Copper from peachick who I believe got her stock from Whitmore Farms, who speaks to this on their website. They run their Blue Copper and Black Copper together and the offspring of a Blue/Black cross will give you 50% Blue Copper/50% Black Copper.

I've also read, that mating Blue Copper to Black Copper will improve egg color and lacing on the Blue Coppers.

My Blue Coppers eggs are as dark as my Black Coppers, but with more gloss. I took these pictures yesterday-they are a couple of months into their "cycle".

The Marans eggs are the top row, the Blue Coppers are #1, 3, and 5.

My Blue Copper girl is not perfect, but she does have nice lacing

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Well while we're all on the subject of genetics...I've been wondering if there's anything different (genetically, physically, chemically...) about the method in which the different dark-laying breeds make their eggs so dark. What I'm getting at is...is there any merit to the idea of introducing some Penedesenca into a flock of Marans? Like Wheaten into Wheaten? Or would that just be a colossal waste?

Those Penedes sure are crazy though. Beyond Leghorn crazy...they're like feral cat crazy.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Thanks!
I agree, your girl has beautiful lacing! That is one of the things I really like with them!

Here is one of my Blue Marans. She is sooo sweet!

And another ....

And, a Splash Marans

 

[cpartist]

Quote:
Thanks!
I agree, your girl has beautiful lacing! That is one of the things I really like with them!

Here is one of my Blue Marans. She is sooo sweet!
http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab31/kathyinmo/1-21-10 flock pictures/flock2-18-10135.jpg

And another ....
http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab31/kathyinmo/1-21-10 flock pictures/1-21-10flock014.jpg

And, a Splash Marans
http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab31/kathyinmo/1-21-10 flock pictures/flock2-18-10134.jpg

Beautiful! The first girls lacing goes all the way into her tail!

I notice that your girls eyes are brownish, as is mine. My Black Coppers eyes are the pumpkin color I understand is the standard. Is there a different standard for the Blues,
or should we be breeding toward a more orange colored eye?

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
I was wondering about that myself!

 

[kathyinmo]

Aww Haa ..... I found this:
Blue Marans
Disqualifications
More than one-half inch of positive white in any part of plumage; two or more feathers tipped or edged with positive white.
Red or yellow in any part of plumage or skin.
Positive enamel white in ear-lobes.
Bottoms of feet showing complete absence of white.

Color of Male

Comb, Face, Wattles and Ear-Lobes: Bright red.
Beak: Horn shading to white at tip.
Eyes: Reddish bay.
Shanks and Toes: Dark slaty blue; bottom of feet pinkish white.
Head: Glossy black.
Neck: Hackle—An even shade of clear bluish slate, distinctly laced with glossy black.
Front of neck, same as breast.
Back: Back and Saddle— An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Tail: Main Tail, Main and Lesser Sickles
Coverts—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Wings: Fronts and Bows—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Coverts—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Primaries—An even shade of bluish slate.
Secondaries—lower webs, an even shade of clear bluish slate; upper webs, clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Breast: An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Body and Stern: An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Fluff—Clear bluish slate.
Legs: Lower Thighs—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Shanks and Toes—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Undercolor of all Sections: Bluish slate.


Color of Female
Comb, Face, Wattles and Ear-Lobes: Bright red.
Beak: Horn shading to white at tip.
Eyes: Reddish bay.
Shanks and Toes: Dark slaty blue; bottom of feet pinkish white.
Head: Bluish slate.
Neck: Hackle—An even shade of clear bluish slate, distinctly laced with black.
Front of neck—same as breast.
Back: Back and Saddle— An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with black.
Tail: Main Tail and Coverts—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather laced with black.
Wings: Fronts, Bows and Coverts—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with black.
Primaries—An even shade of bluish slate.
Secondaries—lower webs, an even shade of clear bluish slate; upper webs, clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with black.
Breast: An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with black.
Body and Stern: An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with black.
Fluff—Clear bluish slate.
Legs: Lower Thighs—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with black.
Shanks and Toes—An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Under Color of All Sections: Bluish slate.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Quote:
That's purty.

I need two roosters just like that.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
That's purty.

I need two roosters just like that.

I have only the 2 pullets in Splash. They really are lovely, I think! Makes me want more!

Here is the 2nd egg the blue pullet has laid: (the one on the bottom left)