Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome! - Page 3775

Tail feather question...my 2 week old BCs some have tails and some do not. With my Orps it was suggested that the tail less one was a cockerel. That actually seems to be true in at least this isolated case because now at 4 weeks the Orps: 1 is still tail less but has a red comb and chest bumps what I think are the other cockerels, the other 3 Orps with tails are more docile, have little to no comb and what they do have is a peach color so far. It might also just be isolated to this group. Did you guys find tail feathers to be an indicator of gender? Or even a diet deficiency? Or completely meaningless until XX age? (sorry for all the questions) I am trying to learn all I can!

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooweemama 

I'm sorry. I am new to chickens and I feel so bad for these guys in the heat. My ducks hop in the pond- voila. I hope the faults are heat induced. 

they are still young, give them a few more weeks at least and than see how they look.  Some take longer than others to finish growing out.  We have a hen molting right now that looks horrible, feathers missing all over- it will take her awhile to grow the new ones in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hens and Roos 

they are still young, give them a few more weeks at least and than see how they look.  Some take longer than others to finish growing out.  We have a hen molting right now that looks horrible, feathers missing all over- it will take her awhile to grow the new ones in.

I was reading in my Chicken Health book that molting is really hard on chickens, especially the older they get. I feel so bad for them. I will def wait. I am enjoying the process too. Gives me time to learn more. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooweemama 

Tail feather question...my 2 week old BCs some have tails and some do not. With my Orps it was suggested that the tail less one was a cockerel. That actually seems to be true in at least this isolated case because now at 4 weeks the Orps: 1 is still tail less but has a red comb and chest bumps what I think are the other cockerels, the other 3 Orps with tails are more docile, have little to no comb and what they do have is a peach color so far. It might also just be isolated to this group. Did you guys find tail feathers to be an indicator of gender? Or even a diet deficiency? Or completely meaningless until XX age? (sorry for all the questions) I am trying to learn all I can!

no problems with the questions, it's how we learn.  In some breeds the tail can be used as an indicater as to pullet or cockeral, our cuckoo marans pullets seem to grow a tail faster than the cockerals and the pullets feather in faster too.  One thing we like to do is take some small zip ties- pink for girls and blue for boys and band each chick with what we think it might be based on what we are seeing, of course you have to change the band as the chick gets bigger so it doesn't hurt their leg.  A lot of what everyone learns and shares is based on watching and taking note of how the chicks develop once they hatch from the eggs. HTH

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooweemama 

I was reading in my Chicken Health book that molting is really hard on chickens, especially the older they get. I feel so bad for them. I will def wait. I am enjoying the process too. Gives me time to learn more. 

we will give as treats some black sunflower seeds and whole oats to help give extra protien to help with the re-feathering process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooweemama 

Ok here are my two 4 week old BCs. (I have 6 more but they are only 2 weeks old)

 

Pullet or Cockerel?

 

 

My other chick:

 

 

I'm not sure what is up with the plum color I am seeing in these pics- I don't see it in real life. But I hope this gives you a good shot of them otherwise? Copper has tried to crow and he is a little more aggressive than Samson. 

Both are roos and the one named copper, I would watch him.  If he has copper on his lower neck already he may get too much.  10% is all that is allowed.  He also looks like he has split breast.... just keep an eye on him. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMRippy 

Both are roos and the one named copper, I would watch him.  If he has copper on his lower neck already he may get too much.  10% is all that is allowed.  He also looks like he has split breast.... just keep an eye on him. 

I tried googling split breast and all I came back with was chicken breast recipes. LOL Could you tell me what that means and why it is bad? Thank you so much!

First I will post older photos.

#1

#2

#3

Ok here is Rooster #1 (Rambo)

Rooster #2

Rooster #3 (Dirk) One in question

Rooster #2 and #3

Go ahead and comment all you want. I did notice a lot of the birds were holding their tails to the side and they normally dont. So maybe it is the heat!

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooweemama 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMRippy 

Both are roos and the one named copper, I would watch him.  If he has copper on his lower neck already he may get too much.  10% is all that is allowed.  He also looks like he has split breast.... just keep an eye on him. 

I tried googling split breast and all I came back with was chicken breast recipes. LOL Could you tell me what that means and why it is bad? Thank you so much!

Split breast is just like it sounds..... see the divide between his breast.....it should not be there.  I have not done the research to know why, other than it does not look good.  But it is a bad thing.  He may grow into it... just watch him.