Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Hens and Roos]

Too Sweet! I hesitate to say this but I am thinking this little chick is a male.
What is the age of it?
Also, is there a possibility that it could be from Cuckoo Marans? Possibly a mix of 2 varieties of Marans.

Pink are you thinking possible Cuckoo because of the white spot on it's head? this picture is one of my that was hatched out summer of 2011 from a Blue Marans hen x Blue Cuckoo Marans cockeral. Not sure if this helps!

 

[pinkchick]

the chick is 2-3 days old here. she (i hope!) is definitely a pure-bred hatchery chick-- from meyer hatchery.... their collection says she can be either a black copper or a blue splash. what makes you think she might be a roo?

Do you have another photo of this chick that shows a full side view?

Chickens in general have certain sexing characteristics that are naturally occuring, these are what I look at and what I watch for determining gender chicks... I also breed for these traits in my birds so my eye automatically judges all poultry this way. I do hope that I am wrong and that this is a girl....will hold off for another photo.

The copper spots that you are seeing could come from anything and this is where I

under the chair and say that chances are this chick is of mixed breeds or varieties of Marans. Nothing against hatcheries but they do not always focus on qualitty of the breed, nor can they always keep an ever watchful eye on all of the breeds and accidental fence jumping does happen. Sorry to be the one who gives you this news. I mean no offense to the hatchery or to the fact that you purchased from them.
Can you get a closer photo of the chick and its copper spots on its body?

Splash birds are Blue birds....splash birds have 2 copies of the blue gene making them splash, blue birds have one copy of the blue gene which makes them blue. This chick is not a Splash chick.
If you look in the photos of Christie's chicks....the white looking chicks are the splash chicks.
Your chick could be blue...but the white spot on the head and the copper colorations on the body and the greenish colored legs tells me that this chick may not be of pure Marans or it is 2 varieties of Marans mixed.

 

[pinkchick]

Pink are you thinking possible Cuckoo because of the white spot on it's head? this picture is one of my that was hatched out summer of 2011 from a Blue Marans hen x Blue Cuckoo Marans cockeral. Not sure if this helps!

Yes that is exactly what I am thinking, but since I don't have Cuckoos I don't have any photos to post of them for illustration purposes. Thank you for posting this cutie pie!

 

[BuffMomma]

We have 5 Black Marans hens They are such friendly ladys and love treats LOL

 

[DMRippy]

Here are my babies 15 minutes after I picked them up from the post office! They were hungry hungry hippos! I had to run back to work. I left my client sitting in the chair ( I own a salon). Everyone knows how chicken crazy I am so they understand, lol!
Tonight they all seem happy and content. I have not harassed them again to inspect them closer. There are BCM, 2 splash, some blue copper and I think two solid blue. Oh the genes I will get to study with these babies!!

Now you will be the Marans Queen of Hawaii! Plenty there to work with!

 

[Debbi]

Oh Christie, what a bunch of cuties!! Congrats!!!

I sure hope your customer wasn't getting a perm??

What a nice gal to wait while you picked up your babies!!

 

[Debbi]

Stream-House,

Sorry to say, but I have to agree with Pinkchick. That baby looks like a mix to me too. Me thinks there is some Cuckoo in the mix there. I have yet to hatch a Black Copper or a Blue Copper with that reddish tinge to the chick down. And, just by looking at the stance of the chick, I would guess it to be a cockerel...

Sorry!!

 

[pinkchick]

From my only Black Copper who started laying approx. 8 weeks ago or so. Her first 3 babies just hatched yesterday...I have 2 black coppers and 1 blue and Bill Sr is their daddy. 2 have feathered legs and 1 has clean legs.




These are sooooooooooo going in the incubator!!!!!!!

 

[Debbi]

From my only Black Copper who started laying approx. 8 weeks ago or so. Her first 3 babies just hatched yesterday...I have 2 black coppers and 1 blue and Bill Sr is their daddy. 2 have feathered legs and 1 has clean legs.




These are sooooooooooo going in the incubator!!!!!!!

WOW!!! What beauties those are!

Heck yes, put them in the bator!! Congrats!

 

[stoopid]

Cook 'em!