Are these the same?

[CCUK]

I got two marans last year and they look a little different to me. Does anybody think they are the same or different.

This is Mabel she is about14 months and lays dark brown speckled eggs. When we got her she was more brown than black. She had a moult before Christmas and went black.


This is lottie she is about 6 months but hasn't started laying yet. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Gray Farms]

Look like Cuckoo Marans to me. No two birds are exactly identical, even the same color of the same breed.

 

[rebrascora]

Since Mabel is older her feathers will have been looking jaded pre moult and blue and black feathers do often start to get a brown cast to them as they are dying off and being replaced.
I would say that they are both Marans but there is variety in every breed otherwise, if they were all the same, we might all have red rosette show winners!

 

[CCUK]

Since Mabel is older her feathers will have been looking jaded pre moult and blue and black feathers do often start to get a brown cast to them as they are dying off and being replaced.
I would say that they are both Marans but there is variety in every breed otherwise, if they were all the same, we might all have red rosette show winners!

Mabel looks loads better after her moult. She had no feathers on her head or bum. I think she may have been picked on where she was previously. She seems a little stooped compares to lottie. And she's quite heavy!

 

[rebrascora]

There might have been mating damage too if she was missing feathers on her head. Marans are a dual purpose breed so I would expect them to be quite heavy and Mabel will be up to weight since she is laying, whereas Lottie may still have some maturing to do. If she wasn't laying, I might have been concerned about her weight.... hens that are laying internally and develop ascites are unusually heavy....

Actually, it might be a good idea to check Mabel's abdomen for any bloat, as she may be suffering ascites as a result of a different ailment. I find checking them whilst they are on the roost by cupping my hand between their legs and directly comparing one to another gives a good indication of which ones have some abdominal swelling and need further examination. Ascites can also be caused by Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome as well as possibly kidney failure or heart failure. If birds are noticeably and unusually heavy, ascites is very often the reason. Does she walk normally or are her legs more widely spaced and make her walk with a bit of a waddle?

 

[drumstick diva]

agree with rebrascora & gray farms

 

[CCUK]

There might have been mating damage too if she was missing feathers on her head. Marans are a dual purpose breed so I would expect them to be quite heavy and Mabel will be up to weight since she is laying, whereas Lottie may still have some maturing to do. If she wasn't laying, I might have been concerned about her weight.... hens that are laying internally and develop ascites are unusually heavy....

Actually, it might be a good idea to check Mabel's abdomen for any bloat, as she may be suffering ascites as a result of a different ailment. I find checking them whilst they are on the roost by cupping my hand between their legs and directly comparing one to another gives a good indication of which ones have some abdominal swelling and need further examination. Ascites can also be caused by Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome as well as possibly kidney failure or heart failure. If birds are noticeably and unusually heavy, ascites is very often the reason. Does she walk normally or are her legs more widely spaced and make her walk with a bit of a waddle?

I had a hen with ascites due to peritonitis. Sadly she died. She does seem to walk normally. And seems happy enough I'll check her in the morning. Lottie has had a limp for a while. It seems to have got better
I only notice it when she runs. Looks like she's skipping.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

They look alright to me.