Breed Confusion: Breeder says one thing... Chick says different. Marans Veterans Needed!!!

[Alanna]

One of my babies looks just like yours. I have 18 babies that I hatched out on Mothers day. I bought eggs from someone local, one dozen pure marans (black/blue) and one dozen mixed breed eggs. The mixed breed are from a Wheaten Marans Rooster who is in a pen with pure Ameraucana, Barred Rock, Black Marans and Cuckoo Maran hens. I don't know who is who though lol. I can tell the Black Marans that are turning out to be roosters, and I can tell the ones that are from the Ameraucana hen because they have muffs, but I can't tell which are the pure Marans and which are the mixed. I will take pictures tomorrow of the one that looks just like yours. It is exactly like yours, black with brown coming in on the feathers. Sorry I'm not much help beyond that info.

I WOULD BE SO THRILLED if she was a BCM. just thrilled! I like where you are going with this! lol

 

[Alanna]

I think the only cuckoo here is the breeder. I have a Lemon Cuckoo Orp and she has had the barring from the first day I got her.

Haha! That's how I've been feeling but since I'm the newby at this... I thought I was just going crazy! Glad to know it's not me! lol

 

[Alanna]

You probably will not get your money back on the cockerels. I'd just keep em, and process the ones you don't want at 16-18 weeks. I know some people may be grossed out by that, but, you may as well get use out of them, they'd make really good soup, tacos, shredded chicken sandwiches. I agree with PP about getting chickens from some one here, or go the your state thread, and see when you have a chickenstock, or swap meet... get some chicks then. Sorry you got caught up with a jerk-a-puss breeder.

On her site it says that she will accept them back if they end up as roos she would gladly accept them back. But when I talked to her this morning by phone, she said she was very confident in her sexing skills and I just need to wait it out until they go through their molting phases. I'm not grossed out about the processing. I did it in H.S. for FFA and donated the bird to the food bank. However, I'm a big wus now and don't think I could do it. I do have a friend willing to take at least one of the roos. Thanks for your comment!

 

[hdowden]

I WOULD BE SO THRILLED if she was a BCM. just thrilled! I like where you are going with this! lol

im sorry but BCM dont look like that

 

[hinkjc]

Alanna, the one you are calling a barred rock actually appears to be your cuckoo marans if it has white skin. The white orp chick down appears normal to me. I've seen white orps hatch with yellow and gray down. My understanding is this is due to the silver or gold gene. I find the gray chicks feather in with a much crisper white plumage at maturity. I don't know much about Marans, but do Wheaton or black coppers look like the dark chick with red leakage you have? I would look into that. If these were at some point crossed in the line, it could come back in generations (throwback).

 

[Alanna]

Alanna, the one you are calling a barred rock actually appears to be your cuckoo marans if it has white skin. The white orp chick down appears normal to me. I've seen white orps hatch with yellow and gray down. My understanding is this is due to the silver or gold gene. I find the gray chicks feather in with a much crisper white plumage at maturity. I don't know much about Marans, but do Wheaton or black coppers look like the dark chick with red leakage you have? I would look into that. If these were at some point crossed in the line, it could come back in generations (throwback).

Thank you! That is what I've heard is that my "BR" is the "Cuckoo". Does it look like a roo to you? I will look into the Wheaton and BCM. It's a shame if my "now identified Cuckoo" is a male. I was really hoping to end up with eggs! If my dark one ends up being a throwback, will it change the eggs she produces?

 

[Coop de Grille]

Quote:
I'm pretty certain it isn't a BCM but a cross between a Marans and something else, but not Ameraucana.

 

[goldfinches]

Could it be possibly that the first bird you posted is a marans/ameraucana mix? Or marans/brown leghorn maybe?

 

[Alanna]

I'm pretty certain it isn't a BCM but a cross between a Marans and something else, but not Ameraucana.

so, if she does have marans in her genes... Is it safe to say I could still expect dark marans eggs? I have to say... I really like her. she is quite sweet!

 

[Alanna]

Could it be possibly that the first bird you posted is a marans/ameraucana mix? Or marans/brown leghorn maybe?

To be honest... I'm not sure of any possibility. I'm sure anything is possible at this point.