Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[jeremy]

8 day old Wheaten Marans chick, boy (

) or girl (

)?

Please, please, please say it's a girl.

 

[Harris5]

Quote:
X2

 

[Harris5]

Girl vote...

Too cute Jeremy!

 

[jeremy]

Thank you! I think I'm babying this chick more than I have ever babied before, LOL. I only have 2 in the brooder right now so they get LOTS of attention.

 

[Debbi]

Jeremy ~ What a sweetie, and what great pics!!! I'd say pullet, but that's just my limited experience! Nice baby either way

 

[jeremy]

Thanks Debbi!

That makes 2 votes towards pullet & 0 for it being a cockerel. I'm gonna smile just a little bit, I don't want to jinx myself...

Oh and my camera does all the work taking nice pictures, it deserves all the credit!

 

[kathyinmo]

Tell me why I just hatched a clean legged BCM..... my stock. I have only 2 roosters with them, and neither are clean legged.

 

[cpartist]

Quote:
Hi Kathy

I hope more knowledgeable genetic experts will weigh in here... but I believe although feathering is dominant,
there are 3 genes for feathering, so the genetic mix will throw an occasional clean shanked depending on the total
genetic background.

I used a clean shanked roo for my initial breeding (because I thought he was best in other regards), over feathered girls...
averaged 70% with leg feathering. I'm now breeding feathered over feathered, and getting a few (10-20%) non feathered.

I think just using the ones showing feathering for breeding will give you most or all with feathering in a few generations.

 

[VillageChicken]

That's right. Because feathering is dominant, even a rooster without two feathered shank genes will have feathers, but will carry one gene for unfeathered shanks. Combined with a hen who is also heterozygous (one feathered shank gene, one unfeathered) they will throw approximately 25% unfeathered offspring.

 

[kathyinmo]

Thanks! I haven't hatched many chicks from this same stock, and this is the first time I have seen this happen. I have only one rooster with my Marans (well, actually 2 now), so this tells me my rooster does not have two feathered shank genes.

Thanks for the information!