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

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Well, it's probably both. Things that occur more frequently in certain lines ARE genetic, after all.

Just think of it as a breed predisposition. The Marans breed is predisposed to toe problems, because of the leg feathering. Nonetheless, it should be possible with careful breeding to breed away from toe problems within the breed -- and, conversely, it should be possible to breed towards MORE toe problems, if careless breeders pair up birds that had or produced these problems in the past. So, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some lines have more problems than others -- but I doubt that anyone has looked at the lines closely enough to know!

 

[Wynette]

Kathy, I'm unsure whether fused toes are genetic or not. But, we ALL know there are not many pure lines of Marans in the U.S.; thus, there has been much linebreeding done. Any time this is done, you'll have issues. Period. You'll find many opinions on it; I think you just need to do your research, and believe what seems right to you, and do what you can to correct things. Many very admired breeders say linebreeding is fine and should continue to be done. Others say it's best not to do for for more than 7 generations, and indicate it's best to find a completely different line to mix in. IMO, whatever you decide, the proof's in the puddin' as they say! Take a look at the end result, compare it to the proposed SOP, and if you've got a winner, you've got a winner, regardless of lineage.

As far as as the arguing going on regarding the Jeane line - you've got your opinions, please keep them to yourselves from now on, or this thread will be closed. I'd hate to see this thread go down because of a few who cannot communicate well. Consider yourselves warned.

 

[evonne]

oohhh you guys made her use bold letters... you're in trouble!!!!!

on the fused toe thing... obviously only having 6 month olds, i haven't seen it.... but i now know to watch for it...
but is it linked to the parents you think?? or just a random freak genetic thing... like being a dwarf?? it occasionally happens genetically, but most of the time it's just random.....

i can understand if it's associated with the feathered feet, but do you think it's a particular breeding pair every time?? or more likely the 1/250 eggs kind of thing....


also, this is the first time i've had this happen, and it happens to be one of my marans, so i'll ask y'all first.. may be a silly marans thing.. may be a chicks in general thing.. but i'm here already...

i have one little guy that's way behind on his feather development.. i realized after looking close yesterady that it's also the one i've been tempted to take out in the back yard and introduce to my rock... he's extremely vocal... and now i think it's because he's cold when the others are just fine... he runs around and eat and drinks normal... is it normal to have one out of a bunch develope feathers slower?? he's also a bit smaller than the rest...

and another generla chick ? while we're on the subject.. i have 2 that have larger fluffballs on their tails, and 4 that have almsot no tails.. i'm assuming hte 2 with fluffballs are females? because the ones with no fluff look like they have bigger combs?? but it's only slightly bigger .. still hard to tell from the combs...

i wish they would grow up already so i could figure out what i'm doing with them.. lol...

i may try to get some eggs from onthespot in the spring since she's failry close and maybe the PO wont scramble them too bad from there to here.. i'm having the worst luck with shipped eggs...

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Read the info that verycherry reposted in post #3918 for a better idea about the fused toes. One significant passage is this: "Syndactyly has been associated with both ptilopody and brachydactyly by several workers (Davenport, 1909; Danforth, 1919a, 1919b; Jaap, 1939). They proposed that the same gene was responsible for all three of these conditions and that modifying genes and genetic background determine the phenotype of each individual."

It's those "modifying genes and genetic background" which will create variability from one line to another -- ETA -- and it's also these things which keep us from having an easy "either/or", "on/off" kind of solution to the problem.

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
No one's in trouble - let's keep it that way!

I don't understand much of recessive gene indications, but fused toes and the slow feathering gene are two that are prevalent in Marans. I had a customer hatch one with fused toes last year. She also had bator temp issues, so I'm unsure if it was due to that or a recessive gene. Either way, it most definitely should not be used for breeding purposes.

I don't know much on the slow feathering gene either...sorry! I'm sure other Marans folks do, though!

Let's keep this thread rolling!!!

 

[evonne]

oohh but slow feathering is a marans issue?? at least i'm on the right trail then... should i band him so i know that he shoudl not be used for breeding?? i'd have a hard time giving him away knowing he shouldn't be bred due to a funky genetics trait, but he could hang with my mixed flock of eating egg layers

 

[Wynette]

Yes, it's a Marans issue. Not to say other breeds don't also have this issue, though.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

The Marans have issues on top of issues on top of problems for one simple reason in my opinion, lack of quality breeding. Wait make that two reasons, mixing and matching of the lines and colors trying to make something new. If you look at the old lines they didn't have these problems, they breed true, are healthy, productive birds.

JMHO
Steve in NC

 

[pinkchick]

Here are a few babies

believe it or not there are 21 of the little fuzzies here

 

[verycherry]

Pinkchick, beautiful babies!

I have eggs due to hatch in about 2 days, so wish me luck. They're Wheatens. They're from shipped eggs so I'm nervous. I said I wasn't doing shipped eggs again after having several pip at the bottom and die, but I only have one female Wheaten Marans for my Blue Wheaten male so I had to take a chance.