Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[desertmarcy]

Hi all, I am wondering if a pure Black Copper Marans chick can have a white spot on the top of its head, or is that an indication that the strain has been mixed with something else? Not seeing this on mine, they have always had solid black heads, but someone I know got some chicks like that and there is a question as to their purity. Thanks.

 

[Debbi]

Hi all, I am wondering if a pure Black Copper Marans chick can have a white spot on the top of its head, or is that an indication that the strain has been mixed with something else? Not seeing this on mine, they have always had solid black heads, but someone I know got some chicks like that and there is a question as to their purity. Thanks.

I believe the white spot on the head is an indication of a Cuckoo.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:

My Cuckoos had white head spot. Haven't had that sort of spot on any of my Black or Blue Coppers so far.

I'm curious, do the Birchens have head spots?

 

[pinkchick]

Black Coppers should not have white spots on their heads. Birchens do not have white spots on their heads......only the variety of Marans that have the white spots on the heads is the Cuckoo variety.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Black Coppers should not have white spots on their heads. Birchens do not have white spots on their heads......only the variety of Marans that have the white spots on the heads is the Cuckoo variety.

I ask about the Birchens because one of my young Cuckoos looks almost Birchen-esque in his hackle feathering so I was curious. Thanks, pink!!

 

[desertmarcy]

Thanks, that's what I thought, but wasn't sure. The chicks came from the same people who were advertising Black Copper Marans using photos stolen from other sites...

Black Coppers should not have white spots on their heads. Birchens do not have white spots on their heads......only the variety of Marans that have the white spots on the heads is the Cuckoo variety.

 

[flgardengirl]

Here's a pic of a couple of my birchens when they were younger chicks-no head spots like the cuckoo. Note the the birchen do have reduced or no white patches on stomach or wing tips as in the bcms (see pic below)

Black copper marans baby -has more white than birchens (silver). According to the French Marans Club of Australia that is normal.

 

[Debbi]

Cute babies Lynette! Makes me want some more! Oh wait! I do have eggs in the bator!

And 6 Silkies in the brooder...what is wrong with me??

My SD card came today, and I got to play a bit with the new camera! Woo-Hoo!! This camera is GREAT!!! Hope to get some chicken pics tomorrow, just for kicks, giggles, and practice!

 

[flgardengirl]

Hi Debbie those are old pics. Yeah, I wanna see your cute Silkie babies!! Sounds like you are gonna have fun with that camera.
I have one Silkie chick in my room with me tonight. For some reason, the KW broody decided she didn't want this silkie chick when it was born today. It has a dark grey back and light silver wings and head. OMG its so cute! I don't know why she doesn't want it. She kicked it out from under her twice. The first time, it was ice cold and I put it back under her and she seemed okay with it. Tonight before it got dark I thought I'd better check one more time and its a good thing because she had it kicked out again and it was cold and not moving at all. I thought it was dead and I held it and stroked its back a few times and it moved a little. I took it inside and turned on the space heater and got him warmed up until I could set up a brooder. He is making the cutest little chirpy noises now and a lot better than he was, but very weak. He didn't seem to be able to hold his head up real good so maybe something is wrong with him. Time will tell, he is mostly sleeping now. I hope he makes it.
I gotta to remember to Always follow this rule: When broodies are hatching chicks, get either an incubator fired up or a brooder going...just in case grrrr !!

 

[desertmarcy]

Oh that is really good to know. The couple who bought those chicks brought them over today for me to see. There were 3 Cuckoo Marans chicks, there were 4, but one had already died, and the other 2 chicks looked sort of like BCMs, but much darker than mine, not as much white on stomach or wings, and not as much whitish around the eye as mine. I am new with Marans myself, and only familiar with my bloodline, but I am wondering now if those other chicks they have are birchen or a mix. It is terrible having such disreputable sellers around on CraigsList, gives CraigsList a bad name. And the buyers were being so nice about it, blaming themselves for not knowing better, etc.

I hope they can get some satisfaction out of this seller; they did call them on it and were told they would "make it right".

Here's a pic of a couple of my birchens when they were younger chicks-no head spots like the cuckoo. Note the the birchen do have reduced or no white patches on stomach or wing tips as in the bcms (see pic below)

Black copper marans baby -has more white than birchens (silver). According to the French Marans Club of Australia that is normal.