Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[flgardengirl]

Blue x Blue will give you 50% blue, 25% splash, 25% black, in theory. I see splashes pop up more often than blacks for some reason lol.
Here's the breakdown. This applies to blue and black copper as well.
Blue x Blue = 25% Black 50% Blue 25% Splash

Black x Blue = 50% Black 50% Blue
(notice a black bird can't have a splash chick because splash needs 2 copies of the blue gene one from each parent, blacks are pure (without blue genes)
Black x Splash =100% Blue

Blue x Splash = 50% Blue 50% Splash

Splash x Splash = 100% Splash

Black x Black = 100% Black

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I'm curious ... my blues are dark. All were black at birth. It wasn't clear that I even had any blues until a couple of weeks in. I know some blues are obvious out of the egg. Is there something different in the genes of the darker blues?

 

[flgardengirl]

No if they are blue they are blue genetically. If you aren't sure you could post pics. Usually a good clue is looking at thier fluff around thier rumps even some of the darkest blues will have lighter bluish or dark grey fluff around thier butts lol. Sometimes people will cross thier blues with a black to get them darker if their lines start fading but the resulting blues are still blues.

For example on the fluff thing. Both the birds in this picture are blue coppers. One is extremely dark and one is average blue (with not such good coppering) colored. Look at the fluff on the dark ones rear down by his leg. It is sort of lighter greyish that's how I could tell he was blue for the longest time. He lightened up more as he got older but he is still dark but definitely blue.

Heres another really dark blue copper pic. They can be tricky lol.

Another dark blue copper but you can tell he is blue easily.

Black coppers should have black fluff or some have a blackish brown.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Oh Susie, I'm so glad he's getting better!!! Uma, my girl, had legs like a newborn foal, all rubbery and she couldn't keep them under her. She couldn't even sit up from a lying position when it first came on, I had to lift her up to get the sling on her. All day today, come potty time, she has gotten up and walked right out the door on her own! Still wobbly, but so much of an improvement! Try some vitamin B-complex with your little guy, it seems to get the nerves going in their legs. Uma was barking at the cats today and giving the evil eye to the little roos! That's always a good sign!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
those are some seriously dark blue boys! I haven't gotten any that dark yet....that's why I like to keep splashes around. If I feel like they are getting too dark blue to where I can't tell for a while if they are blue or black, I will cross in again with a splash to lighten them up just a tad. That boy on the right in the first photo is a wonderful tone of blue!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Oh Susie, I'm so glad he's getting better!!! Uma, my girl, had legs like a newborn foal, all rubbery and she couldn't keep them under her. She couldn't even sit up from a lying position when it first came on, I had to lift her up to get the sling on her. All day today, come potty time, she has gotten up and walked right out the door on her own! Still wobbly, but so much of an improvement! Try some vitamin B-complex with your little guy, it seems to get the nerves going in their legs. Uma was barking at the cats today and giving the evil eye to the little roos! That's always a good sign!

just catching up on the thread since I've been at work all day. I am sooo happy to hear Uma is doing so well for you!! I'm so glad that you will have more time to enjoy each other's company!

 

[Debbi]

Thanks Vicki, she's doing so much better. I know it won't be for long, but we will appreciate each other more for the time we have left together. I think she is really loving the idea of being waited on!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
haha...I bet she loves it! I would think every day will be an irreplaceable gift. My crazy girl is only two years old, but hearing you and Ivy's stories about your dogs is making me realize I'm gonna be shattered when her time comes. We are inseparable.

I think that my chicks are going through growth spurts again...they are getting all lanky again...I can't help but laugh when they are all legs and take off running and look like they are going to snap a leg off or topple over on those long stilts! haha If it means they are getting bigger and wider to hold more heft, then hey!....I'll take it!!

 

[Debbi]

Yup. This old girl has been with me longer than my ex-husband was! We get along a lot better too!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I knew we had a lot in common .... I have a horse that has out-lasted 2 husbands!!! And I've never had an issue with the horse. (Big clue for me --- stick to horses and chickens, and I don't do too badly with cats either .... )