Marans

[holmes14522]

Good Afternoon,

So I am in the process of getting (2) french black marans hens this week. I also am getting a black copper marans rooster. My question is if I bred these hens to the rooster do they make French black copper marans? Any Marans breeders advice on this bred of bird would be greatly appreciated. I really want to bred nice chocolate egg laying Marans. There is not a breeder in my area.

 

[sawilliams]

I believe the difference between French and not is feather footed, or at least that's the main difference. I'm not sure on gene domanace. I would assume depending of the genes of the females you will almost for certain have some with and some without, breeding second generation would result with more without the feather feet

 

[holmes14522]

Do you know what people usually prefer in this breed? Feather or not feather legs?

 

[sawilliams]

No i don't I'm sorry. I got 1 FBCM this year becuase I wanted the feather foot ants the dark colored eggs. Well, I wanted the dark eggs and thought the feather foot would be a nice change.

Feather feet are pretty popular right now though.

But if the feathering it's dominant by mixing in a featherless you wont have a pure stock and won't know down the road which a truly feather footed and which carry a non feather footed gene

 

[sawilliams]

Hopefully someone else still chime in as to which is domanate

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know where you are located. Each country can have their own SOP for what constitutes a certain breed. The differences can be a lot more than whether the legs are feathered or not.

In theory with that cross you should get solid black chicks though I'd not be shocked to see some leakage in the feathers. Leakage means you might see red feathers randomly scattered around. I would not sell the offspring as a Black Marans even if it were solid black because the offspring might not hatch black with that father, depending on what it was mated with, The genetics will be mixed up.

Do you know what people usually prefer in this breed? Feather or not feather legs?

That will depend on why people want them. From your questions I don't think you know enough to be breeding for show so you should not sell them as show chickens. If they are for show then whether or not they have feathers should match what your country requires as far as feathered or clean legs. If someone just wants the dark eggs then it may not matter. Some people don't like feathered legs, thinking it might cause problems in mud or snow/ice. Others want the feathered legs for their own reasons.

 

[PouleChick]

I really want to bred nice chocolate egg laying Marans

If that is all you care about and aren't intending to breed / show etc then that is fine, the eggs will be dark (how dark depending on the breeding of your birds!).

 

[holmes14522]

Yes I am new to chickens and I just want to be able to have an endless supply of dark chocolate eggs. I am not planning on selling show birds as this is all new to me and I am just starting to learn about them. Thank you for all your advise.

 

[PouleChick]

Yes I am new to chickens and I just want to be able to have an endless supply of dark chocolate eggs. I am not planning on selling show birds as this is all new to me and I am just starting to learn about them. Thank you for all your advise.

Welcome to BYC
My other comment would be that I'd reconsider only have 2 hens to one rooster - you will end up with very sad and unhappy hens who are being overserviced by the roos. Are you able to keep more than 3? If not why not get just 3 hens, if you want fertile eggs you can buy them in when you get a broody to put them under or when you can incubate them. This would mean you can still get chicks without a roo.

 

[holmes14522]

I have a lot of other hens. But only want to hatch the maran eggs.