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The Birchen variety(or silver-black) (genetic family ER) |
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This Marans variety is not
the more confidential variety which exists in the breed
because regularly some Birchen subjects have appeared in
the various stocks of Brown-red and Silver-cuckoo Marans.
Although it is rare, this variety is far from any risk of disparition and we can only be pleased about it. Modestly,
we can define the silver-black Marans as a Brown-red
whose plumage cuckoo zones are replaced by a silver-white
shade (ER génétic familly). |
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The silver (s) color factor which is
dominating in relation to its "golden" (s+)
allele (notably present in its cousin, the Brown-red
Marans) is systematically present in the genotype of the
silver-cuckoo variety.
In the image of this last color, we easily understand the degree of good relative frequence of the silver (s) genes in the breed. So in the absence of the cuckoo color genes, the Marans breeding stock, carrier of the (s) characteristic, give birth to Birchen subjects. The Birchen Marans has nothing envy to the famous Brown-red variety as for the esthetic qualities. These subjects are in fact wonderful due to their plumage color which is very contrasted and spectacular. |
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During a long time, some farms of the poitevine area have still been keeping some Marans of every color like the Birchen, the golden-salmon and even the coppery blue (Blue-red in englisch?)…
Unfortunately, a lot of these subjects, although laying exceptional extra reddish-brown eggs, to be clearly faulty for the other standard points (too small size, few or no feathers on the tarsus, irregular figure or even black eyes).
Today, we meet, in some well known farmers of the MCF, some very correct Birchen stocks which present a good standard and especially very nice extra reddish-brown eggs.
It is advisable to notice that these Birchen founders are also very precious. They are notably exceptionanl to improve some lineages of silver-cuckoo Marans which have very often become inadequate if not unconventional on the quality plan of the extra reddish-brown eggs.
The MCF deals with various color crossings kinds in a fascicule by Albert Roguet (French langage) entitled "genetic of the Marans colors" available at the headquarters – tel 03.23.97.45.03. These crossings allow the achieving of pure silver-black (Birchen) and golden-cuckoo variety notably
Description of the Birchen Marans |
The Birchen Marans can be described as conform to the Brown-red except for the silver parts which are in every respect by a silver-white color which is very contrasted on a black plumage background.
The different distribution of the feather colors (black and silver) are strictly the same as the Brown-red notably on the head, the hackle, the ear tuft, the breast, the shoulders the back and the lancets.
The eyes are orangery-red, the tarsus are grey but never black. The armband as well as the folded wing mirors are obligatory black.
Nota bene : to date, the Birchen Marans (as well as the blue varieties for example) are not recognized by the SCAF standard.
So it is for the farmers of these nice varieties to exhibit their subjects during their next championship.
Under these conditions, the approval formalities would be easily carried out and in a relatively short time because these different colors (although they are unfortunately too little spread) show today an indisputable genetic coherence and a good selection level including for the egg color.
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THE OFFICIAL VARIETIES OF THE CURRENT STANDARD
Silver-cuckoo Variety |
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OTHER VARIETIES NOT APPROVED YET