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

[pasofinofarm]

3 chickens said "Sure did got rid of my whole c1 line way to many problems with them for me..."

I have felt the same way a time or two and my birds are supposed to be C-2, LOL!

I just keep plugging along because it is what I do. My other breeds show the results of years of careful culling and breed up and I hope that one day soon so will these. In the mean time at $30 a dozen for eggs they have been a good way for others to get a start also. Since I have hatched from top breeders in this country I can say with certainty that no flock produces all perfect chciks all the time.

Melissa

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Quote:
I definitely agree

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
I definitely agree

I have 5 lines from well known MOAC members. And the chicks that resulted from my initial breedings, I've had some Cuckoo's pop up, and in my local breeder's line some Birchens. I think these are things we have to deal with till we all get together and clean up our flocks. I am not selling anything till I know how dark an egg my offspring are going to make. I have a sneaky feeling alot of people are quietly breeding in other LF to make the breed larger, and then not caring about the color of the egg, and only care for conformation. Just a guess after seeing that the average egg color I am getting is a whopping 4 to 5 at best. I have a line of Buff Orps that lay that color. lolol Same things are happening in the Ameraucanas. Very small gene pool to work with in the states. Results are not so nice an egg. On the other hand, some only breed for the egg color, and sacrifice conformation. But, as a result, there's tons of genetics leading to many different looks of Marans. And I do not see anytime soon, to get the breed getting to a point where they can take a best of show, at the bigger shows. And there are a few breeders who do lay the dark eggs and birds are gorgeous. DROM is one. But, for the most part, the average Marans flock owner neither has the patience or time and money to put into the breeding program it will take to get to that point. I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with my flock.

 

[daps2000]

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
I have 5 lines from well known MOAC members. And the chicks that resulted from my initial breedings, I've had some Cuckoo's pop up, and in my local breeder's line some Birchens. I think these are things we have to deal with till we all get together and clean up our flocks. I am not selling anything till I know how dark an egg my offspring are going to make. I have a sneaky feeling alot of people are quietly breeding in other LF to make the breed larger, and then not caring about the color of the egg, and only care for conformation. Just a guess after seeing that the average egg color I am getting is a whopping 4 to 5 at best. I have a line of Buff Orps that lay that color. lolol Same things are happening in the Ameraucanas. Very small gene pool to work with in the states. Results are not so nice an egg. On the other hand, some only breed for the egg color, and sacrifice conformation. But, as a result, there's tons of genetics leading to many different looks of Marans. And I do not see anytime soon, to get the breed getting to a point where they can take a best of show, at the bigger shows. And there are a few breeders who do lay the dark eggs and birds are gorgeous. DROM is one. But, for the most part, the average Marans flock owner neither has the patience or time and money to put into the breeding program it will take to get to that point. I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with my flock.

HUmmmm! ... let me guess .... did you get your eggs from VP of MOAC? well ... I've gotten from 3 of the members ... and I found only 1 that has great FBCM ... What I'm saying is you are so right ... but not all of them are that way!

Some things are best left for the imagination. lolol I do speak from my own experience. And there are great breeders in all of the breeds. I expect the tables turning for the Marans,favor slowly. As a whole, I forsee it taking years to get to the point where the Marans breed will be competative and win. For now, I am going to use what I bought, and just throw out the door this whole lines thing. "Who's lines do you have?" I've got so and so lines. As I told an APA judge, I am a picture type of guy. Can care less about who that bird in a pic comes from. I can make a bird look like a picture easier then trying to imagine what a given breed should look like from one guys mental description. I will keep the breed, but cull down the numbers to only the best example I have. Be extremely picky. Much more less forgiving then I am with my other breeds. Some breeds, I won't through out anything. Here I am only going to keep the best I have. And go it slowly. And be patient

 

[daps2000]

 

[drom]

Quote:
I definitely agree

I have 5 lines from well known MOAC members. And the chicks that resulted from my initial breedings, I've had some Cuckoo's pop up, and in my local breeder's line some Birchens. I think these are things we have to deal with till we all get together and clean up our flocks. I am not selling anything till I know how dark an egg my offspring are going to make. I have a sneaky feeling alot of people are quietly breeding in other LF to make the breed larger, and then not caring about the color of the egg, and only care for conformation. Just a guess after seeing that the average egg color I am getting is a whopping 4 to 5 at best. I have a line of Buff Orps that lay that color. lolol Same things are happening in the Ameraucanas. Very small gene pool to work with in the states. Results are not so nice an egg. On the other hand, some only breed for the egg color, and sacrifice conformation. But, as a result, there's tons of genetics leading to many different looks of Marans. And I do not see anytime soon, to get the breed getting to a point where they can take a best of show, at the bigger shows. And there are a few breeders who do lay the dark eggs and birds are gorgeous. DROM is one. But, for the most part, the average Marans flock owner neither has the patience or time and money to put into the breeding program it will take to get to that point. I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with my flock.

Well, I had an absolutely perfect hen last year, she was top show quality and she laid beautiful eggs. But I lost her

And I can't take any credit for the birds I have really. Like most people, I got them from someone else who has worked on egg color for years.

I am very happy with the egg color I've started out with and my bird's confirmation and health are good. But they have faults. That doesn't bother me in the least mainly because I have bred, shown and raised different animals over the years and know that it is really not easy. I have much more realistic expectations now than I did 15 years ago.

I am just not in any hurry anymore. And you are so right, most people don't have the patience and get disappointed.

I would never want to insult anyone who sells hatching eggs, thank God people do, or I wouldn't have little birds of my own

but breeding animals and selling them or selling animal products is a great way to lose money. Very few people who breed and raise animals for a living actually get more money out of it than they put in to it. And even the most ethical and responsible breeders have to put up with a ration of you-know-what from people. So for me, the Marans are a hobby.

 

[daps2000]

ouch ... not getting what I want from this thread ... !

Too much drama! I was asked to edit my post

... ok ... done!

 

[cottagegarden]

The last thing anybody wants is for someone to get frustrated when you are trying to learn about a breed, so whatever happened pls dont take it too hard.
There is a fine line between saying nice things about people and talking about your experience if it wasnt good, all around
it is someone's reputation we are talking about. What Marans need is honesty and sharing from people who are breeding with them and people have to understand
it is a work in progress. A with a work in progress it is good to know what you can expect.
There is a saying that goes something like 1 in 10 is a good chicken, 1 in 50 a show chicken, and 1 in 100 a great show chicken.
Marans arent going to be any different, and since breeders are just trying to get them to the point of meeting the SOP right now it is going to take some time
to get them where most hatch to meet that.
Quote:

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:

Please don't get me wrong, there's alot of birds that don't meet alot of breeds standards. It just throws a huge curve when you have to meet both an egg standard and a conformation standard. And the egg standard is where the patience is. I won't know which cockerel is throwing the darker gene till their baby girls grow out. I wish they would just have a tag that gets hatched with them sayin PICK ME I AM THE DARKER EGG BOY!. lolol
DROM I seen your page, your birds are rocking! Anyone here can learn from how you do things in the FBCM's