Utah!

[bitsyhorse]

Dinner time! there's another way you can see their size... the board the one baby is sitting on is a 2x4

 

[sideWing]

I need some advice on my Marans project. I have been watching KSL and there are not many Marans for sale or Marans eggs in the SLC valley so I think I could keep my project going and sell a few eggs/chicks to buy feed.

My question is, what do Marans lovers want most? Darker eggs? Show quality stock? Blue or splash maran?

I have a few options.

Option 1 (Fun):
The Marans barnyard mix. Black CM roo + Blue CM roo over FBCM hens, one of them a Little Peddler line with clean legs, and a gold cuckoo marans.

Option 2 (Dark Eggs):
Get rid of every thing but Black CM and focus on FBCM and dark eggs.

Option 3 (Blue Marans):
Keep the blue roo only and get 50/50 black and blue.

Culling the little peddler with clean legs is possible in each option.

So, what do you think?

I know the first idea is to do what I like, but I like Marans. I would be happy with any of these ideas.

Pic for fun.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I need some advice on my Marans project. I have been watching KSL and there are not many Marans for sale or Marans eggs in the SLC valley so I think I could keep my project going and sell a few eggs/chicks to buy feed. My question is, what do Marans lovers want most? Darker eggs? Show quality stock? Blue or splash maran? I have a few options. Option 1 (Fun): The Marans barnyard mix. Black CM roo + Blue CM roo over FBCM hens, one of them a Little Peddler line with clean legs, and a gold cuckoo marans. Option 2 (Dark Eggs): Get rid of every thing but Black CM and focus on FBCM and dark eggs. Option 3 (Blue Marans): Keep the blue roo only and get 50/50 black and blue. Culling the little peddler with clean legs is possible in each option. So, what do you think? I know the first idea is to do what I like, but I like Marans. I would be happy with any of these ideas. Pic for fun.

Most of the people I sell to are about egg color...so I cull in the Spring for egg color, then cull again in the fall for correct plumage...correct feathered shanks, correct copper, etc.. 2 sets of growouts each year, trying to improve the egg color to as dark as possible while maintaining decent plumage. My blues sometimes get black flecks...black leakage... and they look like blue splash almost. But they lay the darkest eggs right now so I am hatching from them, then culling for plumage on those chicks that growout, then seeing what color they lay and using the darkest layers for the next batch. If that makes sense. I focus on blue myself, but I get more calls for blacks than anything.

 

[sideWing]

Most of the people I sell to are about egg color...so I cull in the Spring for egg color, then cull again in the fall for correct plumage...correct feathered shanks, correct copper, etc.. 2 sets of growouts each year, trying to improve the egg color to as dark as possible while maintaining decent plumage. My blues sometimes get black flecks...black leakage... and they look like blue splash almost. But they lay the darkest eggs right now so I am hatching from them, then culling for plumage on those chicks that growout, then seeing what color they lay and using the darkest layers for the next batch. If that makes sense. I focus on blue myself, but I get more calls for blacks than anything.

Very interesting. They are beautiful birds in their own right, but I guess it is the darkest brown eggs that really set them apart. So you focus on blue because they are laying good eggs for you, but when folks want to buy chicks they are asking for black? The blue are so beautiful. I surprised that people ask for more black.

It looks like I need to sell, cull, or trade out my clean leg, cuckoo, and blue roo. At least the clean leg and cuckoo are pullets, should make it easier. This golden cuckoo is amazing though. From JPS poultry. They sell show grade stock.



This is very helpful, thank you!

 

[abkoldewyn]

I am just dying!!! they are SOOO cute! I didn't expect to see them out and "playing" so soon!

So sweet! So tiny!!! I love, love your Silkie mama!

 

[abkoldewyn]

My little handful of happiness. These babies are gorgeous! Two blue silkies and two white show girls!

I'm especially loving this little one! Great vault and feet!

​

Both blues have amazing beards!

 

[sideWing]

My little handful of happiness. These babies are gorgeous! Two blue silkies and two white show girls!

So cute, congrats!

 

[newmarch2014]

I need some advice on my Marans project. I have been watching KSL and there are not many Marans for sale or Marans eggs in the SLC valley so I think I could keep my project going and sell a few eggs/chicks to buy feed.

My question is, what do Marans lovers want most? Darker eggs? Show quality stock? Blue or splash maran?

I have a few options.

Option 1 (Fun):
The Marans barnyard mix. Black CM roo + Blue CM roo over FBCM hens, one of them a Little Peddler line with clean legs, and a gold cuckoo marans.

Option 2 (Dark Eggs):
Get rid of every thing but Black CM and focus on FBCM and dark eggs.

Option 3 (Blue Marans):
Keep the blue roo only and get 50/50 black and blue.

Culling the little peddler with clean legs is possible in each option.

So, what do you think?

I know the first idea is to do what I like, but I like Marans. I would be happy with any of these ideas.

Pic for fun.

If I were in the market for a Marans (and believe me, I considered it but have great restraint and reasoning powers) I would want a Blue. If I was looking to vary my egg basket, any Marans color egg would most likely be sufficient for me. Now that is coming from a keeper only into her 2nd year. I like variety (2 of each of 4 different breeds). If I was at this longer, or was a purist, or was more intense my answer may be different but I am average. If I were going to be here in Utah long enough to expand my flock the next purchase in 2 years was intended to be 2 Marans for sure (and since I am partial to the blue that is where I would have hoped to find) and either 2 Cochins or 2 Lavender Orpingtons. Now that I am into this far enough to have plenty of eggs and I am getting more for the eye candy and pet factor I now am experienced enough to know that I would be looking for striking color mixed with amicable personality and a pretty mix of eggs in the basket.

 

[sideWing]

If I were in the market for a Marans (and believe me, I considered it but have great restraint and resoning powers) I would want a Blue. If I was looking to vary my egg basket, any Marans color egg would most likely be sufficient for me. Now that is coming from a keeper only into her 2nd year. I like variety (2 of each of 4 different breeds). If I was at this longer, or was a purist, or was more intense my answer may be different but I am average. If I were going to be here in Utah long enough to expand my flock the next purchase in 2 years was intended to be 2 Marans for sure (and since I am partial to the blue that is where I would have hoped to find) and either 2 Cochins or 2 Lavender Orpingtons. Now that I am into this far enough to have plenty of eggs and I am getting more for the eye candy and pet factor I now am experienced enough to know that I would be looking for striking color mixed with amicable personality and a pretty mix of eggs in the basket.

Your restraint and reasoning powers are legendary.

That's good to know. I do want to work my Marans toward the SOP, but will not be killing myself to do so. Maybe a little variety would be good? Much to think about. The blue Marans roosters are so beautiful! Maybe I will just see how he turns out. In the end I think I will go towards FBCM and dark eggs, but I'm still thinking it all over.

It's much easier to sell a dozen Marans eggs if you can say they all came from a FBCMxFBCM breeding with feathered legs. Or at least that's how it seems in my research so far. But the blue roosters are so beautiful!

 

[mom of silkies]

My silkies' newet hatch!