Wheaten and Blue wheaten Marans Discussion Thread

[HenThymes]

Hi, I know absolutely nothing about Wheaten marans other than I have a 6 month old cockerel from a Nov. hatch. I would really like some opinions from those with wheaten knowledge to let me know if he is worth anything or just freezer camp material.

All of my marans are still in a gangly stage and just started crowing this week. TIA

I just like this one!

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

Thanks for the replies! WOW, that would be awesome to get that many Marans eggs!!!

I feed them Purina Layeena, they "free range" in a 1/2 acer fenced in field. They get ACV in their water a few days a week. My chickens are on a deworming program, spring and fall. Ivermec, then valbazen. The coop is spot cleaned daily and then stripped weekly. I'm a bug freak and check each one weekly, once a month give them a dusting with poultry dust. There have never been any shells or wet spots in the nesting boxes. I walk the field (with the dogs) looking for eggs, have never found any. Their coop is pred proof so nothing is getting in, snakes aren't a problem here. I also feed them all any left over fruits and veggies. During the winter I bought kale, endive and cabbage so they had something to play with and fresh greens to eat every day. I have 10 other chickens (EE'ers & 2 BO's) that lay like crazy. Their weight is good. They are both from the same line. I don't mind feeding chickens that eat like pigs, but I'd sure like to get more than one egg a week! One of them usually lays a very course, rough feeling egg, never smooth, and color is very patchy and very "chalky" - if that makes sense. The other lays a big, very dark speckled egg. Eggs from both are jumbo in size. They'll be one year old at the end of the month.

At this point I don't think they're ever going to lay more unless I'm missing something in their care....??

EDITED to add...
They all get a little bit of fresh home made Kefir daily (as do the dogs). Our chickens (all hens) are also pets so we spare no expense to make sure they're happy and healthy. I've been convinced I must be missing something that is specific to the care of Marans. The eggs in the incubator are from Fitz Farms. I sure hope they're better layers. I really want to get into Marans but have a full plate and that project will have to wait to start until next year. Oh, the incy eggs are 4 WM's, 5 BCM, 5 BM's.

 

[berkeleysprings]

i am no pro , he is still young , verry young , he is nice looking , nice tail set /angle , very littil tail cotton fluff if any after a year is better . keep a eye out for brown spotting on lower thigh andupper part of hock , lower brest ... best time to evaluate is after next adult molt , also smokey eggs will stop , some hens will do thaty from time to time
but the eggs will hatch normaly , i have test hatched a few and all come out normal , try getting smokey eggs wet , they look great thanks for sharing and please post some hen pick if u have them , i/we love seeing them


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[jeremy]

Tricia, I like him!

I feel like he has good color, even at his age.

I snapped this photo of my Wheatie girl today.

Her name is Frenchie... very original, I know.

 

[VillageChicken]

Okay, back to the single matings. If one were to try to breed for a more correct hen, with more cream colored breast, and the only hens to work with have too much wheat on the breast, would you use a cockerel with white underfluff or white in the tail or wing?

 

[ItsAZOO32]

Hi all! I have one little Wheaten Maran chick that hatched out two weeks ago. It is getting a comb and looking pink.. do I have a boy here or are all this color female? thanks! I am still new to chickens and learning a LOT these last few months.

 

[berkeleysprings]

yes hen
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[berkeleysprings]

i am so bad woith colors but white or greyish underfluff is all i get or light colored but i am a firm beleaver that spotted brest or whete in brest is caused by hens with to much mohogany on back or i can guarentee if u breed my to dark hens to a normal rooster i have the very next generation hens are spotted brest

here is the best incubator i ever dad

here is some 3 month old hens , funny how black in tail and wing is comeinfg in so quickly also the second pic hens chest a little dark but i think will lightin up and all but wee will see

randon eggs nothing special

and a few week old chicks

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[ItsAZOO32]

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YAY!! So.. I have a friend that has a chick that also hatched from this same batch of eggs but hatched under a broody. They are Blue Wheaten Maran and I was told they could be Blue, Black, Splash or Wheaten. This little girl is obviously a Wheaten. The other one is black with a white/light colored belly and neck. I will see about getting a picture. Does this sound like it could also be a hen or are they sex-linked and there is no chance this is a girl?

 

[berkeleysprings]

hummm , i could be wrong but blue black or splash yes but not wheaten if there kicking out all 4 colors , i think thats trouble
but many know better than me ,,, someone could of made a m=istake and mixed a wheaten with black copper and blue i dont know im confused lol as always
, all i know is never cross wheaten with black copper

and thety its beeen the cause of much color troubles
Quote:

YAY!! So.. I have a friend that has a chick that also hatched from this same batch of eggs but hatched under a broody. They are Blue Wheaten Maran and I was told they could be Blue, Black, Splash or Wheaten. This little girl is obviously a Wheaten. The other one is black with a white/light colored belly and neck. I will see about getting a picture. Does this sound like it could also be a hen or are they sex-linked and there is no chance this is a girl?