Marans Thread for Posting Pics of Your Eggs, Chicks and Chickens

[SunnyDawn]

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I'm glad you did post. Now I feel more comfortable showing pics of my hatchery girls. Here's my babies that I just picked up today...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41069_new_cuckoo_marans_babies.jpg

Aren't they cute? I know the leg color is off on one and there is no feathering on the feet but I just love those dark eggs with the freckles all over!

Now a few weeks ago I also posted pics of some BC marans chicks that I had picked up from a breeder that swore they were of high quality purebred stock and someone on this thread noted that half of them did not have the right coloring. Now, although I love my hatchery gals, when I pay for purebred breeder stock and don't get it, that does upset me (not at you guys for telling me the truth but at the breeder for misrepresenting her birds). Since this is part of the learning process for me and you asked me to post picks in a few weeks so you could see feather development, here goes! Be honest, I'm a big girl, I can take it! They are just over 4 weeks old here.
#1 The two in the front, center are both from the same person and I was told they were BC marans.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41069_bc_marans2.jpg
#2 This pullet (hope, hope, hope) in the center is more like what I thought a true BC marans should look like. There is not as much beige color on the breast as the one in the first pick... The black ones on the left and right side of the pic are also from that breeder but they have almost no copper coloring and they are almost pure black with some white feathering here and there.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41069_bcmarans2blue_orps.jpg
#3 Sorry it's such a bad pic but I just couldn't get this guy to come out in the open for me (I really did try). He's the one with the small head (not really that small just looks like it because of the angle) toward the right side of the pic. I assume it's a male because he has a lot of bright red feathers coming in (again very hard to see in the pic) on his neck and a few on his head but he has strong copper coloring on his back.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41069_img_3895.jpg

Well? Not such a great start for my first BC marans are they?

Beautiful Chicks and Beautiful starters ..... can tell you take good care of them and your cages are very nice

Thank you! They have just graduated to the outdoor brooder, which is open to the inside of the coop (well with chicken wire blocking them off from the older gals). We worked very hard on that brooder bumpout, my DH will be so happy that someone noticed! You just made my day!

 

[amazondoc]

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The brown one looks to be a severe example of the trait referred to as "mossiness". Unfortunately, it's a pretty common problem in the black copper variety. Fortunately, though, the chick may molt out those brown feathers and look at least relatively normal by the time it matures. Enjoy the chicks, in any case!

 

[SunnyDawn]

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Definitely not!

 

[geebs]

I agree with Amazondoc on his assessment and it may be my screen but do the legs look green? I hope it is my screen... I know the colors are off some

 

[SunnyDawn]

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The brown one looks to be a severe example of the trait referred to as "mossiness". Unfortunately, it's a pretty common problem in the black copper variety. Fortunately, though, the chick may molt out those brown feathers and look at least relatively normal by the time it matures. Enjoy the chicks, in any case!

Thanks for the info. I would like to eventually start breeding some of my birds but I don't know enough to even think of starting any time soon. I am enjoying learning about them though and I love the variety of eggs I get.
Are any of them good examples of BC marans? At this stage I think I'll be happy if even one of them looks half way decent. If not, oh well. I won't buy any more birds from this person in the future. I'll just enjoy my gals for their beautiful eggs and great personalities.

 

[geebs]

So tell me.. are the legs green????

 

[amazondoc]

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Can't tell from those photos. We need individual pics -- and they need a good bit more age on them, too.

 

[SunnyDawn]

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It's not your screen. It is apparently my camera. I must have it set wrong (set it for outside when I was inside the brooder) 'cause all of the birds legs looked green in the pic and only the 2 EEs actually have green legs (and they aren't that green). The BC marans actually have slate colored legs with no hint of green!

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OK, thanks. I'll wait 'till they develop a bit more.

 

[geebs]

wheeeew... That would have made it a whole new ballgame... Lets have some pictures that have individual birds in them... it is easier that way..It is really hard to tell what you have because the birds mature out so differently... You don't know each hen that the babies came from... they could be all different lines so they may all mature differently... It is kinda a wait and see game at this point... The mossy may turn out after all...Some start out that way and lay some awesome "glossies"

 

[SunnyDawn]

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Thanks. I'll keep my fingers crossed! I really would like some nice dark eggs from at least 1 of them. Am I right to assume the one with the red feathering is a male?