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

[flowerchicks]

I got 2, 2 day old chicks yesterday at the feed store. One is an australorp and the other is supposed to be a cuckoo maran. She is an itibity little thing, all black with feathers down her little legs and 5 toes. Did I get a silkie chick? There weren't supposed to be any for sale. I see that some of the pictures of the marans have feathered legs but I dont see any with 5 toes.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Quote:
yep little black feet silkie

 

[pinkchick]

I believe you got a little Silkie chick.

 

[cottagegarden]

The good news is(from your siggy) you now have a friend for the Silkie you have!!
If you go back look for white legs(or with slate spots) and barred wings. Girl Cuckoos will be darker, they only have one baring gene.
Boys will have lighter feathering, like a Barred Rock.
Cockerel chick Pullet

 

[flowerchicks]

: well, back to the feed store I go. I actually wanted a little silkie girl for my roo so its ok, and she's sooooo cute. Thanks everyone

 

[bonnylass79]

Ok, I have a breed standard question. How bad is feathering on the center toe? Is it considered a DQ or an elimination? It seems to be a common trait with this line that I got. Just hatched six chicks from them and all six have heavy leg feathering and feathers on the center toes. Here are some pictures of them on craigslist: http://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/grd/1646426828.html I'll try to post better pictures later, although it will probably be next week. I plan to get some more birds with better leg feathering to improve my breeding program, but I also want to know what to cull in the process.

And if you look at the eggs, don't be alarmed by the really light egg. It's from my Buffs.

 

[Tala]

Can a blue Marans chick have puffy cheeks?

I got 7 Davis line BCM chicks that are looking wonderful, but the seller threw in a "blue Marans" chick freebie, great another chicky!!!! She looks like the others has feathered legs and such, except she has always had puffy looking cheeks!! I haven't been able to get it to really show up in a picture though, so will keep trying. Since she was free, maybe she's just a mutt??
Thoughts?

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
It's a DQ.

People often forget that Marans are NOT supposed to have heavy feathering on the legs. The French standard used to specify SPARSE leg feathering. I don't remember whether it still specifically says that or not. Too many people breed for heavy leg feathering, and they really shouldn't.

 

[cottagegarden]

It shouldnt have puffy cheeks if its a pure Marans-I hope its a girl and she gives you really pretty eggs.
Beards and Muffs are incompletely dominant so they will show up pretty well if they have gotten into the mix.
Cheeks will cover the wattles a bit so Marans-

Marans crossed with fuzzy cheeked bird

Quote:

 

[bonnylass79]

Quote:
It's a DQ.

People often forget that Marans are NOT supposed to have heavy feathering on the legs. The French standard used to specify SPARSE leg feathering. I don't remember whether it still specifically says that or not. Too many people breed for heavy leg feathering, and they really shouldn't.

That what I figured. These guys look like they might even be more heavily feathered than their parents. At least they came out of nice eggs. Leg feathering is easier to correct.