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

[Wynette]

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I always try to be truthful & let folks know what I'm working on in my breed pen, and I ALWAYS welcome feedback - good AND bad. After all, how do we know we're on the right track unless we get feedback from folks?

I don't know the answer on the Birchen question you have - I don't know much about genetics, but I've got a book coming, and have been talking a lot lately with a few breeders who've got proven stock, that know a ton about it. I'm anxious to learn more about the genetics!! I agree with you - I think the Birchen coloration is just beautiful!

Pink - congrats on your babies! They look fat & healthy!!!

 

[pinkchick]

Thanks!

I am hoping for at least 5 or 6 roos out of the bunch. I have only ever kept one BCM roo and he recently was culled and I normally don't keep BCM roos around but I am thinking that I should start. I do keep BCM hens and pullets for my Blue Copper breeding program but have never really been interested in the BCM roos, just give me the blues and splash and I'm in love. I've been wondering if the blue and splash roos are the reason for some lighter egg color from some girls that I have in the laying flock that have recently started laying, they are from a test breeding from the first of this year, but it is hard to tell because some of the gals that made the breeding pen are laying wonderful dark colored eggs, but they are girls from Black Copper mothers and the Blue Copper roo. The gals in the laying flock are from the Blue Copper hens x Blue Copper and Splash roos. Both the blue and splash roo hatched from very dark eggs as did the mothers but I wonder if it is from the blue x blue or splash x splash matings. I understand that sometimes egg color lightens in the blue and splash variety and this is the first time I have had any egg color loss in offspring. I'm going to switch it up and use a BCM roo over some of my Blue Cpr and Splash hens to see if I can gain some egg color in that particular group of my birds and probably not do any blue x blue or splash x splash matings anymore.

 

[Lotsapaints]

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I'd be interested in finding out too having just hatched out a splash and blue copper from nice dark eggs. I too think the color is beautiful and I'm hoping for pullets to go in my egg flock....I really don't need anymore roos

 

[pinkchick]

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I'd be interested in finding out too having just hatched out a splash and blue copper from nice dark eggs. I too think the color is beautiful and I'm hoping for pullets to go in my egg flock....I really don't need anymore roos

Unfortunately it will be about a year before I know anything. The more I think about it the more I think it was the blue x blue or splash x blue or splash x splash matings that has caused the egg color loss. Good thing the birds that are laying the lighter eggs are my project birds. I just love the diversity of the blue gene and its effects.....there are soooo many possibilities with blue.

 

[Lotsapaints]

I sure think mine are beautiful but along time before they lay eggs if they are pullets...I've been pretty lucky with my hatches a few more girls than boys later in the season..

 

[AppleyardAlley]

We just started raising chickens this year. I had really wanted Wheaten Marans, but had really bad luck with the eggs I bought. I ended up with just 3. Then, one mysteriously died and another was trampled in the brooder during a storm. My remaining one (I fear) is a rooster. Today, though, I bought a trio of Black Coppers, and I'm so excited! I think in the future all my chickens will be Marans. <3

 

[Wynette]

Welcome to BYC, Appleyard!

Marans are sure a lot of fun to have around! They can be a frustrating breed to work with, but the joys of ownership far outweight those frustrations!

 

[haTHOR]

so what are the fun aspects for you wynette? i do not love my fcbm's or my cm's personality, compared to my black javas (elegant, stately, reserved, calm) or my EEs (curious, bold, even affectionate). my marans (both types) are more like my brown leghorns...skiittish and flighty. they are the ones who get out of the pen and can't get back in, who don't go up to the coop and have to be caught on the roof and put in @ night, and who scratch me badly b/c they are so nervous. they never just give in when i'm handling them like my other pures and cross chicks do. what am i missing that you guys love?

 

[Wynette]

haTHOR - REALLY? Oh my goodness! If mine were like that, I think they wouldn't be my favorites, either! I wouldn't say mine are lap chickens, but they definitely are friendly and super curious. The hens are much more friendly that the roo, of course. The hens, when they go broody, NEVER try to peck me when I check under them, nor do they even fluff up & growl at me like one of my other breeds. They tolerate me handling them often, and follow me around when I allow them to free range.

 

[gvntofly05]

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That's about how mine are.

I like my Black Coppers more than my EE's. My EE's are really dumb! They get right under my feet and won't move unless I push them out of the way. I don't know how many times I've stepped on their feet!

My Black Coppers follow me all over the yard, even the roosters. My roos let me pet them but they don't care much for being picked up. Mine are nowhere near as flighty as the EE's can be.