Genetic Mystery

[RoostersAreAwesome]

yes, he still is in there with them (since Jan 1) I will attach photos now.
Keep in mind- this is the rooster that is in the breeding pen with them since Jan1, but the pullet in question was sired by my CCLB.

And the dead chick above that is white came from one of these hens with this rooster, so it isn't the rooster.

Yeah, wheaten is the only thing I can think of. Your legbar x pullet probably inherited the wheaten gene from her mother, which is why she isn’t solid colored.

These are wheaten marans chicks.

Do any of your marans hens have yellow foot bottoms?

 

[Amer]

I’m going to say recessive white. Recessive white is common in Marans. You would be able to see if a bird carried wheaten because it would have a lot more red, so it isn’t a gene that can “hide.”

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I’m going to say recessive white. Recessive white is common in Marans. You would be able to see if a bird carried wheaten because it would have a lot more red, so it isn’t a gene that can “hide.”

That wouldn’t explain the first pullet.

 

[Minky]

That wouldn’t explain the first pullet.

Do you mean it wouldn't explain it because she is red, not white?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Do you mean it wouldn't explain it because she is red, not white?

Yes. From a black copper marans, she should be mostly black. But recessive white wouldn’t cause her coloring either.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I have a BCM that fits that description. From a small hatchery that doesn’t have Wheaten Marans.

He isn’t a wheaten and he doesn’t have recessive white. He’s a birchen.

 

[Amer]

That wouldn’t explain the first pullet.

Aye, you're right, I forgot about her.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I’m going to say recessive white. Recessive white is common in Marans.

Takes two copies to show and should make a white a bird.

The dark eye color is indicative of the "quality" of Marans being worked with.

Please note the shade/darkness of any individual egg will have zero impact on the genetic input/output.. and egg shade varies by point in the lay cycle and speed at which it passes that gland. So only setting "the darkest" eggs.. is a fallacy.

Only keeping birds that lay an average shade acceptable and setting ALL acceptable eggs.. WILL achieve the same results, maybe faster, IMO.. just for informational purposes.


Glad you'r having lots of fun hatching adventures!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Hey Amer, can marans have slate legs? Because this hen has legs that look blue rather than black.

 

[Amer]

Hey Amer, can marans have slate legs? Because this hen has legs that look blue rather than black.
View attachment 2562211

Technically Marans don't actually have the id+ gene. Any color they have is caused by melanin in the epidermis. Whether the shade is blue or black doesn't really matter.