Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

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The short outer toe on the feather leg breeds is called a "Rudimentay Toe" and is acceptable by both the APA and ABA.

 

[pinkchick]

Our pullet that I just posted pictures of has a shorter outside toes.

I was just going to say that same thing.


I do see some coppering in her hackles but I suspect that she will not end up showing tons of copper and she may be a tad on the darker side.....LOVE her lacing!!!! Oh and speaking of that......a page back I was talking about the whole blue genes other "leaky" factors and making it another story......her random darker feathers illustrate this "leaky" thing perfectly. The blue gene is a leaky gene as we know, compound that with the blue gene and its (for lack of a better word)...diluting properties and the varying shades of blue that blue can and will express itself in ....it does not always cover or should I say "dilute", completely. It allows random darker blue or lighter blue to show. Splash birds are the best example of this "leakiness" and Blues, IMO, are the best example of the various shades of blue that can happen.

Are her eyes slowly changing?

She's lovely....I have a couple growing out that look just like her.

 

[Christie Rhae]

Oh thank god I don't have a total freak show going on over here. I would love to have blue copper but am limited by who will send me eggs in Hawaii. Anyone??? Lol

 

[Debbi]

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Oh heck no!

Don't feel alone in that department, we ALL have our little freak shows going on! Marans are not for the faint of heart!

 

[Debbi]

Hey Kim,

Wish I'd had a video camera with me yesterday! I took all the Silkie babies out to their new, pink, ex pen for some outdoor time. They were having a blast doing the Ninja leaps. All of a sudden, here comes JR. You should've seen the look on his face! "What the heck are THOSE THINGS???" He walked all around the pen, back and forth talking to them. They all froze when he got close, and that just made him more interested. Not quite sure if he was intrigued or hungry, but he couldn't take his eyes off of them!

 

[pinkchick]

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Have you had eggs shipped to you before??? If so, did they take longer to get there and how did the hatch go?

 

[Debbi]

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Have you had eggs shipped to you before??? If so, did they take longer to get there and how did the hatch go?

I have shipped parcels to Hawaii before, and from here in MO, it took 5 days via Priority mail. If you can find eggs on the west coast, they should be there within 3 days??

 

[pinkchick]

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That's funny!
Gnarles isn't overly fond of babies, he is tolerant and firm with them, but he is not aggressive.
Bill on the other hand is my #1 babysitter, I always put Bill out with the chicks that are going outside in the grassy commons area for the first time, I let them out at 3 weeks of age. Bill takes right to them, everytime, no issues. I think he enjoys them greatly.....he immediately does the wing dance and sorta circles them, not trying to flirt like he does with the ladies, but rather like he is trying to herd and show dominance. He also chatters to them and starts to show them what to peck, eat and scratch directly after he does the wing thing. I have to be careful about which hens I can let out with Bill that day...some of them are not as accepting as Bill.
Funny chickens, but their silly and very individual antics and personalities keep me totally in love with them.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Oh heck no!

Don't feel alone in that department, we ALL have our little freak shows going on! Marans are not for the faint of heart!

For sure!

 

[Debbi]

That's strange, because the two Bill boys here are hateful to the younger Marans chicks, JR tolerates them. I really have to make sure they are in their own little pen with either Daddy Clyde or Roy before I let Myron and Billy in. They are also the most aggressive breeders here too! The girls are now learning to get their butts up on the roost before the two little devils get let in! The rooster population needs thinning badly here, so a break in the weather may help motivate people to want some roos. Billy is so very black, as in no color, he has to go. Too dark here as it is.

Myron, I am liking more and more. Let's hope we all survive his teenage months!