Marans question...confused

[wistlindixie]

I just took some pics and I'll upload them now. Maybe I can get this mystery solved.

 

[wistlindixie]

 

[wistlindixie]

 

[pinkchick]

Okay... thank you for posting them. Are these the only other chicks that hatched?
Marans do not or should not have yellow legs.

eta: I spoke to soon!

I'll be patient and wait for more photos.

 

[mistymeadowchicks]

Adorable chick! I hatched a couple FBCM chicks, then bought 4 autrolorps; I can see how they could be confused. One of my Marans chicks was a solid dark smokey grey; the other was nearly identical to the BA's when very young, except for maybe the wing tips. Fortunately, both marans have feathered legs so they're easy to spot. Good luck & I'd love to see more pics! PURDY PLEASE!

 

[HarmonyOaks]

'dixie-

I have both Black Australorps and Marans in Black, Blue and White. You are positively correct in finding the Australorp chicks look like a clean-legged black Marans. Black Marans are known to produce a lot of clean shanked offspring, even when hatched from feather shanked parents. If you look really close at their legs, sometimes you can see a sprig of tufted down. It can appear anywhere from the toe to where the shank meets the thigh. I had some clean legged blacks hatch a few weeks ago, but when I went to change their bands out, noticed some had grown in a few sparce shank feathers. So checking on them once they start feathering out is another tip. As they grow out and up, there should be a noticeable differences in their appearance, enough to distinguish between them... size, shape of body and eye color... but again, that is dependent upon genetics, and the quality of birds you are starting with. On a side note, you are sure two Marans hatched right? I have several Australorps who lay a dark egg, about a four on the egg chart, which can easily be mistaken for a lighter Marans eggs, especially considering that the eggs from Blue Marans tend to be lighter than say a Black Copper.

I wouldnt worry too much about it now, just take time and enjoy your new peeps!

-Carrie

 

[mistymeadowchicks]

Ah! While I was typing, you were uploading pics!

 

[HarmonyOaks]

'Dixie,

I just saw the photos you uploaded. The chick with the yellow shanks (legs)... that isn't a Marans or an Australorp trait. I think something else got in with their hens or you were sent a different breed there. Australorps have black, shiney legs and my black and blue (but presenting black) Marans do too.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
I thought so but I couldn't remember what my only Australorps leg color was...I rehomed her a while back and my mind completely drew a blank.

Wistlin~ I also hestitate to tell you this but I think that the chick that you posted a photo of in the second post with chick pics in it is a roo........

 

[wistlindixie]