Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[flgardengirl]

rsarns:
Either light blue or splash. Hard to tell with the lighting. Im leaning towards light blue because the splash are really white with blue markings rather than light blue with darker blue. I really think if the feather base is light blue rather than white I would just call it a blue. This is just my opinion.

Hard to say if boy or girl. I keep looking at that tail standing straight up that looks a little roo-ish but it could just be the angle of the photograph. If you could take one outside in good light from the side view, it would help. I think in a few more weeks you will know for sure. I've had a BIG blue girl with a really large comb fool me. She turned out to be my darkest laying blue hen. Seems like if it was a little roo it would be crowing by now?
Then again, I have one ameraucana x Phoenix cross male that didn't crow or even look very rooish until 3 1/2 mos. NOw he's a little warlord and I can't keep him off the girls ...go figure lol.

 

[gilavina]

Just thought I'd stop in and say hey...its been a terribly long day and sleep sounds about like what I'd like to do, but its waaay too early for all that. Think you might go ahead and order some of those birchen eggs then Lenette? I'm going to hold off on any chicks/hatching eggs til next spring. Granted..it will be early, but hopefully spring will come early too!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I am going to say splash! I have never seen a blue chicken with that much contrasting and it not be a splash. Pullet no doubt in my mind. The coloring is correct for a Blue pullet and no comb. My boys all had huge combs at 2 weeks.

I also think splash and pullet.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
if it is a pullet you can do test hatches to find out if she is a splash or not. If you mate her with a black roo you will get 100% blue chicks if she is a splash. I have two splash rocks and one looks blue but very faded with and occasional splash of dark blue color if you saw her you would say she is just pale blue.

 

[chevgrl]

Hello everyone... back on my feet after that stinkin migraine... what's new?

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
hey you! That must have been some nasty migrane! I'm reading on recipes for makin my own flock block for my chickens this winter. I am gonna make smaller ones for each pen and make up extras and freeze them so I only have to make them a couple of times this winter I would think

 

[slick4591]

Quote:
Thanks. Everything I've read on middle toe feathering says to cull, so I don't think anyone will disagree with you.

 

[Peach2u]

Quote:

Peach, did you get the pullet from the same breeder? The hackles are much too light for a black copper...but she's a pretty gal!!

No she came from a diffrent State & breeder. Seems I'm having trouble getting true Maran chicks in my area. Spring I'll order eggs to fill in the ranks. Mammie had a sister who was darker and more feathers on her feet, but she was too slow and the dog running my chickens got her and 2 other before I could do anything. I was not a happy camper. Then he/she went to the next farm over and attacked their fowl. All I heard was a bunch of geese,chickens, and turkeys all honking and cackling at once then a gun shoot. I didn't ask but the dog hasn't been back. I now keep bottle rockets and fire crackers by my side door. The screaming rockets work great! The only problem I've had since is a skunk who thought he could dig under the coop. It dug under the run. Then he dug under the coop. Guess he got tired and gave up my coop is like fort Knox! Only a bear or humans can get in it. The coyote left tracks around the run this morning. They left more dig marks on the outside. Guess it's time to hook up the shock flock around the run. But they dont work too hard for food.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Hi!

This bird is a Splash and yes looks to be a pullet.

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Peach, did you get the pullet from the same breeder? The hackles are much too light for a black copper...but she's a pretty gal!!

No she came from a diffrent State & breeder. Seems I'm having trouble getting true Maran chicks in my area. Spring I'll order eggs to fill in the ranks. Mammie had a sister who was darker and more feathers on her feet, but she was too slow and the dog running my chickens got her and 2 other before I could do anything. I was not a happy camper. Then he/she went to the next farm over and attacked their fowl. All I heard was a bunch of geese,chickens, and turkeys all honking and cackling at once then a gun shoot. I didn't ask but the dog hasn't been back. I now keep bottle rockets and fire crackers by my side door. The screaming rockets work great! The only problem I've had since is a skunk who thought he could dig under the coop. It dug under the run. Then he dug under the coop. Guess he got tired and gave up my coop is like fort Knox! Only a bear or humans can get in it. The coyote left tracks around the run this morning. They left more dig marks on the outside. Guess it's time to hook up the shock flock around the run. But they dont work too hard for food.

Peach, sorry to hear this - sounds like you're doing all you can! Keep working on finding good stock in your area if hatching just isn't an option. OR - if it IS, there are many folks on BYC and via the Marans club sites that you can get quality hatching eggs from - take your time, do your research, and know up front that with this breed being so very new, you will have to be willing to cull hard to move forward.

You're in the right spot to learn about the breed, and "meet" fellow Marans enthusiasts!