Wheaten and Blue wheaten Marans Discussion Thread

[Debbi]

I agree
I was under the impression the blue only affects where there should be black . but I really know a little about blue

It does. Wouldn't the shank feathers on a regular Wheaten roo be black??

 

[snowbird]

It does. Wouldn't the shank feathers on a regular Wheaten roo be black??

The only thing I can say here for sure is that the shank and feet feathers are slow to get their final color. Sometimes it can be after the juve molt.

Keep in mind that this is just what I have observed with all the Varieties of Marans I have hatched. Just like the white in toe feathering I would wait until after the first molt to cull.

 

[berkeleysprings]

yes supposed to be black. but like i said in the last post or two back the chick is young give it time to change. just like don said

 

[Debbi]

Ok, day 10 here for my little "Wheatie-Pie". This kid was not enjoying the photo shoot, and BYC is giving me fits trying to load pics tonight. I have some more shots when it gets later or earlier when so many aren't uploading pics. I can tell right now I will have to get a different colored backdrop for yellow and white kids! This one really washes them out. Soooo, are we still thinking pullet here? Love the shank feathering on this baby!

 

[Jenn1399]

Wheaton pie is so cute!

I am confused by the recent comments on the Wheaton & blue Wheaton Roos... I will go try to grab some photos of my birds to compare...

 

[walkswithdog]

You're right Randy. In a Blue or Blue Wheaton bird, mature feathering that would normally be black is blue. In wheatons that's shank and tail in adults.

I got my education in blue genetics while playing with Black, Blue and Splash silkies and sizzles. My favorite Roo was a Blue Birchen. He rocked. Though a couple of the better breeder color experts were holding out some votes for a demelanized black birchen. I had to sell them and move before I found out. Sigh...

Color is one of those things that can make you go HMMMMMMM.

 

[Bangarang64]

Here's a some detail shot of Caesar's leg feathers.
A bit of black in there but mostly white. Should I be concerned at this stage (5 weeks) ?

 

[Debbi]

Here's a some detail shot of Caesar's leg feathers.
A bit of black in there but mostly white. Should I be concerned at this stage (5 weeks) ?

No. Like Don and Randy said, he's too young to worry. Now what worries me, is the fact that he looks like he is coloring in black on the top, and his tail is looking blue? Maybe it's just my new monitor, I never did get the colors right on it. I am new to Wheatens, so forgive me for stirring problems that may not be there. I need to know myself! At any rate, 5 weeks is really too young to tell anything, in any Marans variety...

 

[berkeleysprings]

i would say dont be worried . he has nice amount of feathers and color takes time . many roos i v raised are lacking dark black shanks iv never replaced my origonal roo from 5+ years ago and shank color is low on my repair list .right now im watching 5 or 6 roo grow to finaly keep one. but iv raised hundreds . . but only worked to get nice hens. this year its time to fix my roosters

 

[Debbi]

i would say dont be worried . he has nice amount of feathers and color takes time . many roos i v raised are lacking dark black shanks iv never replaced my origonal roo from 5+ years ago and shank color is low on my repair list .right now im watching 5 or 6 roo grow to finaly keep one. but iv raised hundreds . . but only worked to get nice hens. this year its time to fix my roosters

Ok then, Wheaties take time to color in correctly? All I have experience with are Black and Blue Coppers. In both varieties, they are either black or blue at a very early age, actually here, I can tell what color they will be once they have dried off and are in the brooder. That said, the color in the hackles doesn't come in for months, if at all with my pullets, but the shank and body color are there. So, approximately, when can you expect to see all the colors in the Wheatens?