Sudden "bantam" from LF lines?

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onthespot

onthespot

Deluxe Dozens
11 Years
Mar 29, 2008
7,187
59
271
Riverside/Norco, CA
I have this little Copper Black Marans cockerel, from a Large Fowl pen, that is just not growing at all! He is smaller than a quail, and already trying to breed pullets twice his size. Javas at that, which are not easy going breed! He is all boy, all the time, but he is T I N Y!!! Did I mention he was small??? I know he is not another breed, because he has feathered shanks, and too much mossiness... Anyone know why a little roo would stay so small? I swear he is hardly bigger than a button quail.
 
I believe there is dwarfism that shows up in Marans on occasion. I don't know if you could or should breed it, or if this is how bantams are "made." I would however love a bantam Marans!

I got some batam Welsummers, but they lay light eggs.

I'll keep my eye on this thread!
 
Well, since I hatched him myself, I know for a fact that he came from one of my darkest eggs, because that is all I set. I set only my best eggs from my best hens, so his egg genetics should be good. I wouldn't care if it was dwarf or bantam. I am sure there would be people lined up to get some so small. I will try to go take a photo of him, next to a BLRW cockerel that hatched same day, same incubator, same pen, same feed, same everything as the little guy. BRB. Okay, he is not as small as a button quail, maybe coturnix. still, you gotta admit he is pretty small!

8084_bignsmallroos.jpg
 
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Yup dwarfism shows up in Marans but is very rare, you may never have another dwarf marans, you may have 1 or two you never know, and it is because of genetics.

and to PhiladelphiaPhlock i believe there are bantam black copper marans, i think the ABA accepted them a bit ago
 
Is it maybe just a failure to thrive chick? I have one of those in my wheaten marans.....all chicks came from the same batch. Yet here is a "normal" girl next to the failure to thrive chick.

downsized_0703002006.jpg
 
mine has normal meatiness, and normal plumage except what gets plucked because he is the smallest one. His tail got ratted, and he is missing some from his head too. He is just as vigorous as the other birds though. Does not appear weak or cowed. He gives his all to any scrap over food or girls already. I have not hung around long enough to see if he is crowing yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was giving a freshman wobbly mew or two already.
 

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