some Q's about blue, splash and bl.copper marans

[Cluckin'Crazy4them]

I am buying some 4 wk straight run blue, black copper, and splash chicks this week. I get to pick them out myself as i reserved first pick. Does anyone have some photos of these chicks? What colors should I be looking for for males vs females at this age? Any other pointers from your knowledge or personal experience I should be looking for?
Also, is there a difference in color/quantity of eggs between the colors of this breed? ( ex. BLUE VS. SPLASH ). ????
I could use as much help as I can get at the moment!

Thanks so much!

 

[bigshawn]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=383387 Plenty of pics and info on "all" Marans here..............

 

[they'reHISchickens]

At 4 weeks you might be able to sex the marans. The boys will color copper at the hackles and have larger combs than the girls. The colors will be obvious: the blues, blacks and splashes. I don't think there is a difference in the egg color in conjunction with the feather color, but I don't really know. IF they are a mixed flock of the colors, it's more of who's your mama for the egg color because blue daddy and black mama gives you both genes and a black chick so you don't really know.

You don't want a chick with obvious brown mottling in the chest area. The really bad ones should show this by 4 weeks. Check out the previously mentioned thread for the ideal feathering pattern on the legs, too. Leg feathering you can see from Day 1.
From what I can read, marans are not yet so defined that they all come out true to type so choose the best you can and work from there to get what you want.
Depending upon what you want and how many you are buying, I'd pick out the 2 best roos ( one as a spare) and then the best pullets to get to your number. Or only the best looking roo if you are limited.
Then I have also heard that the best roos don't develop until a year old. That doesn't help you at all!

 

[Cluckin'Crazy4them]

Thanks for the tips on sexing

That link was very helpful. I have never seen such a long forum!?!?! 460 Pages

whoa...
I am very excited to have Marans apart of my flock. Have a beautiful marans roo, I hope he'll like his young girls

What is mottling? Sorry, new to chickens :]