Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

I haven't found a maran chicken with feathered legs here, yet.

Really? The most common variety of marans here that have clean legs are the cuckoo variety. The majority of Black copper and Blue coppers have feathered legs to some degree. From my understanding clean legs is a recessive trait from one of the foundation breeds used to develop them. If they are advertised as French Marans they MUST have feathered feet. I have both varieties and like them both, although I do like the feathered feet better.

 

[RoyalChick]

Field Trip Photos

In this first photo we are looking at Legertha. She is starting to lose her head poof. You can see the tiny pin feathers coming in. I believe these two are going to start looking silly soon.
View attachment 2827586

This is Sylvie from up high.
View attachment 2827587View attachment 2827588View attachment 2827589

The reactions of the big hens were very interesting. Sydney came over twice and got her face right down next to them. They were peeping away. I can't tell if Sydney said anything to them or not.
View attachment 2827590

Aunt Aurora was all over this. She has a fascination with chicks that makes me wish she would set. She might be an excellent mum.
View attachment 2827591View attachment 2827592

The high today is only going to be 76°F (24°C) so if we go back out it will be mid day in the sun.

so lovely!

 

[RoyalChick]

Really? The most common variety of marans here that have clean legs are the cuckoo variety. The majority of Black copper and Blue coppers have feathered legs to some degree. From my understanding clean legs is a recessive trait from one of the foundation breeds used to develop them. If they are advertised as French Marans they MUST have feathered feet. I have both varieties and like them both, although I do like the feathered feet better.

Having spent the evening researching Marans I actually think I know about this. The UK standard (I believe @Marie2020 may be in the UK) is for no feathers. The French standard (which I think the US adopted) is they must have feathered feet.
WOW! I know something about a breed of chicken. Maybe it is a sign? A sign I need to drive to Kentucky perhaps!

 

[BY Bob]

All together now, singing
" If I could walk with the animal's grunt, squeak, squawk with the animal's and they speak and talk to me "

Great song

 

[BY Bob]

You really are making a great pitch here!
Thank you so much. I am going to chat to the people at the farm and find out whether they still have a Marans flock (I know they did a couple of years ago) and how feathered their legs are!

I love a car trip. If you want chicks from @RebeccaBoyd I will gladly go and get them for you. Mrs BY Bob is on board and ready to roll.

The first weekend in October we will be in South Carolina. We could easily swing by on our way back and pick them up for you.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

You know, the first weekend of October they would be roughly 6 1/2 weeks old, males would be known for sure by then and Bunny would either be done with them or close to it. Just saying.

 

[RoyalChick]

I love a car trip. If you want chicks from @RebeccaBoyd I will gladly go and get them for you. Mrs BY Bob is on board and ready to roll.

The first weekend in October we will be in South Carolina. We could easily swing by on our way back and pick them up for you.

Much as I love this (and I really, really do!) I think I have to wait until Spring.
I think I mentioned I am retiring at the end of the year and so early next year I will have all the time in the world to enjoy and care for baby chicks. Until then though I am still pretty flat out workwise and specifically in October and November I will be travelling so I would miss out on a lot of the fun!

 

[RoyalChick]

You know, the first weekend of October they would be roughly 6 1/2 weeks old, males would be known for sure by then and Bunny would either be done with them or close to it. Just saying.

Oh dear. You and @BY Bob are making this very hard!
I really think my travel in October and November makes it impossible.
Such a lovely idea though.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Well, maybe something can happen next spring. I completely understand wanting to have time to properly socialize them and enjoy all the chick moments and milestones.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well, maybe something can happen next spring. I completely understand wanting to have time to properly socialize them and enjoy all the chick moments and milestones.

It was articles like this that got me worried.
https://blog.mypetchicken.com/2014/12/12/four-important-feather-foot-concerns/