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

[geebs]

Okay... let's get some more opinion on the mossy thing. I posted last year about striped marans... (mossy is what it is I guess)... I have learned now since the birds are well into adulthood that mossy birds don't always stay mossy. I have a couple of adults that turned out fine without the stripes that they had as babies. The color is now very even. I believe I had a couple others like that in subsequent hatches that ended up nicely colored as well. Feel free to cull them all my direction.. ha ha... I believe there is a great breeder out there that this is a trait of a young bird... I don't think I can post names on here but check around the information can be had. That is what I learned last year.

 

[kathyinmo]

Look at the difference in these 2 pullets, at 80 days old. What is preferred ... a little copper, or no copper? I know the one is way to much copper. I am just watching these grow out. I actually think my Birchen and Splash are better than the Black Coppers!

 

[Byrdj]

I'd like more input on other's experiences with mossiness in chicks as well. I wasn't so lucky with my chicks with mossiness. All of mine have been pullets and when mature, show too much brown in their breasts and are culled. On a side note, it seems that the hens with mossiness and too much brown in their breasts also lay the darkest eggs.

 

[Byrdj]

Quote:
Any copper or brown in a hens breast is a DQ in France. All black isn't good either! It goes to show how much work needs to be done to the BC marans to get them to proposed APA standards and the challenges we all face.

BTW, I wouldn't be certain that the bird in the first pic is a pullet.

 

[americana-chick]

Looks like i will be joining you guys soon, i am getting 3 black copper maran hens and 1 black copper maran roo!!!!

 

[geebs]

I was about to point that out as well.(the dark egg thing).. How much can we overlook on color if the egg color is just right. My mossy hen lays a VERY nice egg. Does she have too much red in the breast... yep (my solution is to breed her to a less red rooster)... I really like the egg color... We will see what comes out of that.

 

[geebs]

Welcome to the gene/brain pool americaunachick!!! The more the merrier. I am wishing you very good luck on the hatch!!!

 

[Byrdj]

Quote:
I agree. At this early stage of breed development in the U.S., I think good dark egg lines should be improved and created first. After that has be accomplished and stablized, it's easier to breed to feather coloration.

 

[americana-chick]

Quote:
Thanks!

 

[geebs]

I agree Byrdj... otherwise we could be crossing junglefowl with Austrolorps for pretty red heads on nice black bodies and forget the egg color entirely... he he