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

[nivtup]

Two cockerels that will most likey be staying on for a bit. Both have flaws.

First up, some copper in the breast area, although pretty good in other areas.

Second up, good color, but way too much tail angle.

Sometimes you work with what you have.

 

[nivtup]

And one of the pullets.

Need to work on neck color some.

Egg color looks good though

Sorry for the dirt, we have had some moisture lately.

 

[drom]

Well, your red breasted roo has a good tail angle and he has solid red shoulders which you want and you have pullets that are mainly black. So, I personally would favor the red breasted roo over a bird with a conformational defect. But, I don't know anything about the genetics of squirrel tail. I just looked it up and all I found was that it is a hereditary trait and that more than one locus is involved. Too bad the French site does not have something on this in their genetics section. Maybe someone else here has some info on it and will respond.
Some breeders really don't want to work with any roosters that have color on their breast, but I have seen many pictures posted of roosters who look too black to me. You don't want so much black that you just end up with red spots on the shoulders rather than a solid red shoulder and you don't want all black hackled hens. So, like most people, I believe the breeders who say that red breasted roosters are useful just so long you understand the standard. I guess ideally you are supposed to have one of each; a black breasted and one with color.

 

[L&Schickens]

Well, out of the 30 eggs I bought, 15 hatched, one died and now that they are 6 weeks old, I have determined that I have 10 cockerels and 4 pullets!!!

 

[Solsken Farm]

L&Schickens :

Well, out of the 30 eggs I bought, 15 hatched, one died and now that they are 6 weeks old, I have determined that I have 10 cockerels and 4 pullets!!!

Aww Loren, welcome to my world. I waited for 2 specific breeders for like 6 months and got one pullet from each, and a total of 8 cockerels. LOL. This is the way of the hatching world sometimes.....

 

[Wynette]

Hatching is always a crapshoot.

Squirrel tail is, IMO, a worse trait that too much red in the breast. It's easier to breed out red breast feathers than it is to breed out squirrel tail. But, like nivtup says, you work with what you have!

 

[tfpets]

L&Schickens :

Well, out of the 30 eggs I bought, 15 hatched, one died and now that they are 6 weeks old, I have determined that I have 10 cockerels and 4 pullets!!!

Holy Moly!! And I thought having 17 roosters all together at my house was alot, just having that many of one kind when you want pullets? I am soo sorry

I'll bet those are going to four nice hens though! And you have alot of options for the best Roosters dont you!

When I hatched mine - I got one disabled guy who eventually passed, and I have ONE rooster. It's makes you kinda nervous, having only one....

Take it easy Tina​

 

[KellyHM]

I have a Wheaten in my bator!!!

I was so hoping these guys would hatch since the other 2 Wheatens I hatched out died. I have 8 eggs and they're technically due tomorrow, but I don't mind early birds!

 

[drom]

Quote:
Yes, I agree. I think the defect is something to really stay away from whereas the red breast you can work with.

 

[Solsken Farm]

Quote:
How exciting! Please post baby pics. My wheatens are almost 5 months old now. No longer babies..... I love wheaten babies!