Utah!

[La Casa de Pollo]

Sidewing--the boy has nice coloring, but I am noticing the narrower tail too...and also his eyes look dark---usually they are a bit lighter on the Marans. I have some dark eyed ones from Sphinx, they are the first ones I have seen with dark eyes....I do not know if ladycats are all dark eyed, this was the only chick that I got to hatch from those pretty eggs. Normally they have a greenish color to them.

My blue roo is nice but a little heavy on the coppering, much more so than the pic Cynthia has posted here of the mature blue roo crowing above. However, the chicks are all growing out on the less coppery side, with two having more and also that mossiness that we talked about before. At least there is a variety, I may grow out another of mine to use with the hens I got this year from different bloodlines to try for closer to SOP next year. Also my roo's eyes are a bit more orange than I would like, the greener color as mentioned above seems to be more the standard--light eyes of a greenish or hazel color...I have the dark eggs now, just needing to work on the plumage color balance...mine are all on the heavier/wider side also, tails are wide, but the shanks are very lightly feathered, to the point where some of the chicks are nearly missing feathered shanks it is so slight. **sigh** It just takes time

 

[sideWing]

Sidewing--the boy has nice coloring, but I am noticing the narrower tail too...and also his eyes look dark---usually they are a bit lighter on the Marans. I have some dark eyed ones from Sphinx, they are the first ones I have seen with dark eyes....I do not know if ladycats are all dark eyed, this was the only chick that I got to hatch from those pretty eggs. Normally they have a greenish color to them.

My blue roo is nice but a little heavy on the coppering, much more so than the pic Cynthia has posted here of the mature blue roo crowing above. However, the chicks are all growing out on the less coppery side, with two having more and also that mossiness that we talked about before. At least there is a variety, I may grow out another of mine to use with the hens I got this year from different bloodlines to try for closer to SOP next year. Also my roo's eyes are a bit more orange than I would like, the greener color as mentioned above seems to be more the standard--light eyes of a greenish or hazel color...I have the dark eggs now, just needing to work on the plumage color balance...mine are all on the heavier/wider side also, tails are wide, but the shanks are very lightly feathered, to the point where some of the chicks are nearly missing feathered shanks it is so slight. **sigh** It just takes time

Marans are so tough. The more I learn the more I realize you would need large numbers of pretty good stock to really get it right. I enjoy learning and working towards it though.


Better eye shot. They do say they lighten as they get older right?



Barring on the chest too.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Marans are so tough. The more I learn the more I realize you would need large numbers of pretty good stock to really get it right. I enjoy learning and working towards it though. Better eye shot. They do say they lighten as they get older right? Barring on the chest too.

I think they do lighten up some as they get older Mine are more dark green at hatch and become more spooky light green/hazel by maturity.

 

[sideWing]

This is from an ad on KSL.

"We have several pullets 9 weeks old nearing the point of lay"

Wow! What kind of chicken is nearly laying eggs at 10 or 11 weeks!? Tell me your secret. My RSL started at 18 weeks and I was giving out high 5s.

 

[Cynthia12]

I had my leghorn start at 3 and a half months..this month! I was shocked. I'll take em though.

 

[RedIII]

It depends on the breed I'm sure. A dual purpose breed probably needs a wide tail, where a Sarama is probably different. I'm not sure on other SOP, I'm just trying to understand Marans and Wyandotte and they both like an open tail. I'm still very new to it and just learning.

With Wyandottes, I know that "bunny tails" are a DQ feature. It's where the tail is kind a soft, rounded bob shape instead of the teepee. My blue hen has it, so I've never thought about showing her, even though she came from a blue ribbon-winning hen :/

 

[Cynthia12]

x2. It wouldn't be the same without you two. Cynthia, I get what you are saying. Happens to me to, but I think part of the problem is that I am newer.

I will admit, I don't remember reading where you are from. So, where are you at? How many chickens do you have..and, can you have roosters, or do you have the back yard flock like myself? If you have roosters, you have fertile eggs..and hopefully you live close to me!

 

[Cynthia12]

red..have you shown before?? I haven't given it a try. Not sure I would like to do that down here. The same guy keeps winning. Every yr. Serious. :/

 

[sundancenbare]

I can do chicken train this weekend if needed, I will be going to Logan from Taylorsville Saturday Morn Returning Sat PM if anyone needs transport

 

[RedIII]

red..have you shown before??   I haven't given it a try.  Not sure I would like to do that down here.  The same guy keeps winning.  Every yr. Serious.  :/

Ugh, that's no fun Nope! I've never shown, mostly because I worry about my babies getting stressed in that environment. I just find it interesting to read up on the SOP for some breeds. If one or the other of my Wyandotte girls didn't have DQ features, I would have tried to show them a couple of years ago. It's not often that you see the blue or black Wyandottes.