Hatch Results- not sure if I was supposed to post them. Sorry, I probably didn't follow this thread as closely as I should have. Lots going on...
Set 30 birchen Marans eggs to hatch (posted that part already)
Temps shot up to 112 one day, ahhhh!!
Amazingly 11 still hatched
2 were...white
I know, it's awful! If you read the AM thread 1/2 of the posts are from people who think they have AM's, but they're EE's. I don't blame them, they were sold to them as such, but then they breed them and sell them as AM's too sometimes. Vicious cycle!
Look for a pea comb. If she is an Easter Egger rather than an Ameracauna (95 ish % of them are) there is a good chance that one egg gene could be brown rather than blue. If she was sold to you as an Americauna (with an i) the odds go up even higher. Many hatcheries throw that "i" in there as a...
Mine have laid between 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 months, but I'm in CA! I bet it's what you're saying about her hatching in the summer and she's just holding out for more light and warmer weather. It helps that she's pretty!
I'm thinking (hoping) that post wasn't directed at you. There are some people out there who raise and sell Marans (and many other breeds for that matter) that know very little about them but claim to and this (unlike what you did) is wrong. I can't count the number of instances I've heard of...
I would think the ones that turned out green would be pretty pale, not "olive." Most people use a darker layer for the brown like a Marans or Welsummer. I'd like to see pics if you try it!
I got one from My Pet Chicken. I was very happy with her. Oh, she wasn't straight run though, not sure if they do that. I ordered pullets. She was blue, very pretty. I have gorgeous pullets from her now who I crossed with My Marans. The ones who lay olive have some great shades!
I have heard that aggression can be passed on and personally try not to breed any aggressive birds just in case. However, I did "accidentally" breed a mean roo once. I thought he was old enough that if he were going to become aggressive I would have seen signs. Nope! I only got 2 chicks from...
It is my understanding that blues should not be crossed with wheatens or blue wheatens. Blues can be crossed with blues, blacks or splashes, and wheatens can be crossed with wheaten or blue wheaten. Some people cross with splash wheatens too, but it sounds like splash wheaten is not yet an...