Chicken Cannonball

Justadoz3nshort

Chirping
May 28, 2023
87
103
91
Rhode Island, US
Can anyone take a guess at what they think my 6 week old chicken's breed mix is. She was actually hatched from a farm stand egg. It was a dark brown maran looking egg. I have literally never seen such a round meatball shaped tailless bird in my years of chicken keeping. She also has feathered feet. If it helps when she was hatched she was all brown/black with a red face which is odd because now her colors are opposite. I'm calling her a "her" but I know it's too young to tell sex.

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Pekin or sablepoot X? Slightly gamey. Also looks like a female 6 weeks is not necessarily too young to sex though best guess at 8 weeks
 
With that coloring, size and feathered feet she is a d'Uccle cross. D’Uccle can also be rumpless gene carriers. Was the egg full sized or bantam sized? There are bantam Marans that do have a more round shape.
 
The egg was full sized. Bigger than you buy at the grocery store labeled "large"
My guess then is that she is crossed with heritage Maran lines. The older heritage Maran body type is quite a bit different from what you see at hatcheries. Much more round and plump. They are also larger than hatchery Marans and lay bigger eggs.
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My guess then is that she is crossed with heritage Maran lines. The older heritage Maran body type is quite a bit different from what you see at hatcheries. Much more round and plump. They are also larger than hatchery Marans and lay bigger eggs.
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Hmm that's a good guess!! I raise cochins so I'm used to their shape but even round they have tails so that threw me off. Maybe "Dicky" is a late bloomer and will get a tail eventually or she will always be lacking. I'm interested to see.

*fun fact she is named Dicky because at less than 24 hours old she chomped on my finger when being moved to the brooder
 
My guess then is that she is crossed with heritage Maran lines. The older heritage Maran body type is quite a bit different from what you see at hatcheries. Much more round and plump. They are also larger than hatchery Marans and lay bigger eggs.
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Hello! I know it's been a long time but I figured I'd update because the change is wild and to let you know I think you're right about your guess. Dicky is now laying dark brown eggs and has a "maran like" body. Good guess!
 

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