Wheaten or Black Tailed Buff Marans?

[Alexandra33]

Received this girl in a dark egger assortment from Cackle Hatchery in February, and as it was stated on the site that BTBMs are currently out of stock for the year, I automatically ruled these out when identifying my little Marans (instead calling her a "Wheaten"). But as time has passed, I'm second guessing my original thoughts. Toots is solid, rich red, black-hackled, black-tailed, and lightly feather-legged.

As a nugget:

Adolescence:

Now (next to one of my true Wheatens):

~Alex

 

[JedJackson]

It definitely matches the black tailed buff Marans pictures that come up from a Google search, and as a chick it looked too reddish to be wheaten. So I would guess it is indeed a black tailed buff, even though the bird looks more red to me.

 

[Pugsabi]

When a Hatchery says that they're" out of stock" it doesn't necessarily mean they don't have any chicks available. It could mean that they have already allotted all their chicks to pre-orders or that they have an amount too small for a regular order. The leftover chicks, plus any chicks from from cancelled orders, are what they use to fill these assorted orders.
Remember hatcheries are in the business of of counting their chicks before they hatch!

 

[Pugsabi]

She could have also been a Houdini and escaped into the wrong pen. That happens too.

 

[Alexandra33]

It definitely matches the black tailed buff Marans pictures that come up from a Google search, and as a chick it looked too reddish to be wheaten. So I would guess it is indeed a black tailed buff, even though the bird looks more red to me.

I definitely trust your judgement, Jed. Thanks! Funny the variety should be called "buff," when that "buff" isn't at all what comes to mind.

When a Hatchery says that they're" out of stock" it doesn't necessarily mean they don't have any chicks available. It could mean that they have already allotted all their chicks to pre-orders or that they have an amount too small for a regular order. The leftover chicks, plus any chicks from from cancelled orders, are what they use to fill these assorted orders.
Remember hatcheries are in the business of of counting their chicks before they hatch!

Very interesting information! You've taught me something new today. Now I understand how this happened, thanks to you.

She could have also been a Houdini and escaped into the wrong pen. That happens too.

Could be, although, it makes sense she'd be in a dark egger assortment since she's a Marans.

~Alex

 

[JedJackson]

I definitely trust your judgement, Jed. Thanks! Funny the variety should be called "buff," when that "buff" isn't at all what comes to mind.

Very interesting information! You've taught me something new today. Now I understand how this happened, thanks to you.

Could be, although, it makes sense she'd be in a dark egger assortment since she's a Marans.

~Alex

Yeah, but maybe that variety is a work in progress since it is rare. Hope you get lots of nice, dark eggs from her!