The black copper marans that weren't??

[onwingsofdragons]

So, I have black copper marans. I just hatched out my second small batch of chicks. The first batch was full of everything a black copper marans clutch should be. This second batch... not so much?? I don't understand!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Oops, looks like someone hopped a fence or some eggs might have gotten mixed up to me. I especially love that last little black chick with the feathered legs!

 

[onwingsofdragons]

I like the ONE that looks like a marans too lol! Our neighbors don't have chickens and our marans are the only ones laying, besides my duck but there's no mixing up those eggs! Our only other breed is standard cochin, but they aren't a month old yet. I just don't get it.

 

[The Farm]

Are you sure your breeding stock are not mixed?

 

[donrae]

I've seen black coppers often hide wheaton genes, it's very frustrating for the breeders. Other than that, though, I got nothing.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I just hatched out my first batch of Marans from fertile eggs from a breeder, so I am definitely NOT an expert.

She was very careful to explain to me that with the BCM eggs, I could still get a number of colors popping up, and leg feathers or no leg feathers.

I forget what the percentages were, but Marans is Marans and the colors are present even in the Black Copper because the lines we have in the US all come from a small number of birds.

There was a small chance I might get a Wheatan, but only a very small chance.

Unless someone hopped the fence, you could simply have some throw back or under pigmentation.

This article says it pretty well and agrees with what the breeder was telling me:
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/5-3/marans_chickens_layers_of_chocolate_brown_eggs/

Lady of McCamley

 

[ramirezframing]

Like stated above, its a throw back to wheaten.