Comment about Marans Mills By Marcia Rasmussen-MOAC Member-March 1st 2010
Brenda,
I can't tell you how much I appreciated your "Marans Mills?" article in the Marans Club newsletter.
I learned most of what I know about chickens from my grandparents, who had tended a multi-purpose flock since the Depression years, selling eggs and meat birds to the local community. My youngest memories are of spreading the morning scratch and having Grandmother show me, very gently, how to reach under a hen to retrieve a newly-laid egg. It was a wonderful way to grow up, but until recently, I was only exposed to the mass-produced birds available from commercial hatcheries.
All of that changed with the dawn of the Internet. As soon as I began searching on chickens, I fell in love with the Marans. (All the more so, since my family is most decidedly French.) You can probably guess where this is going. I ordered a shipment of cuckoo Marans chicks from McMurray the first year they were offered and I waited expectantly for those fabulous mahogany eggs I had seen on the Internet. I was heartbroken when the first eggs were no darker than my Granddaddy's barred rock eggs. With a little more research, I learned why.
Sadly, many people simply will not care whether the chicks they order from the big hatcheries are true to the Standard or not. BUT, with the Marans, they should, at the very least, care about egg color. If they order "chocolate eggers," as McMurray advertises, they SHOULD care if the egg is only pale brown. I realize there is a lot more to breeding quality stock than getting the egg color right, but at least the Marans has this going for them. If people order chicks expecting them to lay "chocolate" eggs, they should soon realize that something is amiss.
In any case, I appreciate your article. Anything and everything we can do to educate the poultry community about this problem is a step in the right direction. You might consider writing a broader scope article and publishing it for a wider audience. This problem is not unique to the Marans.
Meanwhile, I'm still lovingly breeding the best birds in my McMurray cuckoo line, but it's a more-or-less hopeless battle. I look forward to "starting over" with some of your birds whenever they are available.
Marcia
Commet form Randi Lynn:
Thank YOU Brenda for always taking the high road and being honest always in your intent and actions!
You know why I got out of the entire Marans "fubar" years ago and why I mostly have stayed mute since. Like you, I say no thank you to the turmoil and backbiting and wonder why in the heck people have to be so darn crazy!
You were one of the only people out of the old group that started out that I even kept in contact with and the reason was because of your integrity and spirit! You wanted the BEST for these birds, first and foremost and you've endured far more abuse than anyone should!
I pray for you to have an awesome rest of the year and that your life is filled with the blessings you deserve and ........
about all this apcray..."This too shall pass!"
Hang in there, and you do have folks that truly care and want the best for you!
Randi Lynn
Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Leave a feedback if you like.
