Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[chickenlisa]

Sorry to read about your eggs Lisa.

There are so many factors that can cause eggs to not be viable, from vitamin deficiencies to detached air cells and the fact that they are Marans eggs.
Tell me....do you think (if you know) that all the dark ones may have been from the same hen?

No clue about that...interesting point though. These were bought eggs- shipped from Tx- some of the oldest (dates laid were penciled on them) other eggs are growing and looking good- lockdown now so when I looked at them last they did. I think I put them into lockdown a night early though- last night was beginning of day 18, not end of day 18....oh well, I think it should still be ok. I've had eggs pip in the turner before when I wasn't thinking they were ready....If it was all one hen's eggs- that could explain it. Or detached air cells would too....C'est la vie...I'm past that now and excited about the viable ones in the bator...
Lisa

 

[pinkchick]

I agree with you Donna. I am only keeping the one BCM to see what becomes of her. I don't want slow feathering in the females at all.

I think this BC chick of yours is a pullet. She is not nearly feathered as the little one that I kept that is younger than yours. The one I have here is still bare backed but is feathering out everywhere else.

 

[DMRippy]

Ok this is a pullet and I am thinking a really dark blue? Looked blue at hatch... looking more black now but still on the light side....









This is the only one with feathered legs.... very lightly!

 

[pinkchick]

I'll take her back if you don't want her Donna! JK! But I do think she is a cutie.

Do I see a feather on the outer toe? If that is what I am seeing I am happy!

 

[DMRippy]

No clue about that...interesting point though. These were bought eggs- shipped from Tx- some of the oldest (dates laid were penciled on them) other eggs are growing and looking good- lockdown now so when I looked at them last they did. I think I put them into lockdown a night early though- last night was beginning of day 18, not end of day 18....oh well, I think it should still be ok. I've had eggs pip in the turner before when I wasn't thinking they were ready....If it was all one hen's eggs- that could explain it. Or detached air cells would too....C'est la vie...I'm past that now and excited about the viable ones in the bator...
Lisa

I don't find that age really effects eggs hatching... at least with my flock. I have some in the bator that were pushing 4 weeks when I put them in and to my surprise 99% are developing.

Also.... I do find that roos and pullets have favs.... it could be that the pullet/hen that laid the dark eggs was having NONE of that roo or vise versa. I had some Olive eggers in the same pen one pullets eggs were fertile and one was not..... they are both in different pens now and both are fertile.... just a thought. I would let the seller know.... not to complain but they may want to make some changes. I would want those dark eggs to be fertile if none of the others where.

 

[DMRippy]

I'll take her back if you don't want her Donna! JK! But I do think she is a cutie.

Do I see a feather on the outer toe? If that is what I am seeing I am happy!

I think she does.... I will try to catch the little bugger again to make sure.... I think I will keep her and the Splash roo.... I can work with both of them. Not sure what to do with the other girl..... I am going to tag her and write that down about her.... Both of the Blue Copper Roos I have from Gnarls have feathered legs ... not sure about the toes.... I have the dark blue roo making Olive Eggers at the moment and the lighter roo with my VERY dark black pullets.

 

[DMRippy]

The splash.... Pretty sure it is a roo.... I needed another Splash roo.... I sold mine. But no feathers on the legs.... My pullets have heavily feathered legs well two do anyway.

Sorry I only got two pics my battery must have been going out. Not looking too rooish in the pic is he???? But his comb is pink and I can see waddles in this first one.

 

[pinkchick]

For crying out loud every stinkin' Splash I have here has feathered legs and so far since I started hatching in October, I have only hatched 1 Splash pullet, the rest have all been roos. I sold the little pullet even though I was going to keep her. The young couple that came to get a few chicks saw her and some of the other Splash cockerels and fell in love with them. They called me 2 days later and asked for all the Splash babies from this hatch. They said they would rather have the Splash vs. the Blue Coppers.

 

[DMRippy]

I am ok with a roo... wish he had feathered legs but I may fix some of that in the next gen.

Funny my hatches have been pullet heavy. Granted they are small hatches but 2 to 1 with just about every hatch and my lav splits and leghorn crosses... I think that hatch is more like 3 to 1 maybe 4 to 1 IDK I hope it keeps up.

 

[DMRippy]

Here is my new brooder we are finishing up today for the new babies.... if you want to look....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/569950/incubators-anonymous/1740#post_8567719

Vicki you are next... I got some pictures of the baskets and dividers....