Midnight Majesty Marans same batch; odd variations...

[ManOverBoard]

Hey all!
We ordered a clutch of Midnight Majesty Marans a few months ago and have been thoroughly enjoying them!
Of the ten hens, there is some interesting diversity... some are developing that gorgeous copper on the back of their necks, some have huge bell bottoms of feathers on their feet, two are foot featherless, and of the two barefooted beauties, one has 5 toes on both feet. We've heard that Marans are a hybrid breed, but is this much diversity amongst the breed from one clutch normal?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Let me clarify some terms for you. Marans is a stable breed. It is foot feathered if French style, clean footed if American style. There are the classic colors of black copper, blue copper, black, and even wheaten.

Majesty Marans is a sexlink hybrid between a Barred Rock hen and a Copper Marans rooster. That means the boys will be barred and the girls will be solid color with varying copper bleed through depending on the genetics. Black Copper Marans have variety of copper from just neck cover to almost their whole back, called mossy, which is a default.

I find in hybrids with my Marans, about 50% of the time the foot feathering carries forward, so how much foot feathering will vary with hybrids.

As to 5 toes, something else crept into that hybrid line as neither Barred Rock or Marans have 5 toes. Maybe the breeder has some Dorking or possibly Silkie, though no cresting or dark skin came through.

It indicates to me your source is mixing more into the Majesty line than just Barred Rocks and Marans.

LofMc