International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

I’m in a similar boat, too many boys as it is. My two BCM cockerels I’m growing aren’t as good as yours but have some promising quality. One is more similar to his dad, the other had a much better body, fantastic copper but yellow legs. I can only keep on BCM at the moment, so I’m stressing about which to keep, Loki (the sire), or one of the two sons. Like you I just have to wait, the tails will be a big factor for my decision, I think both have high tails but I’d like to think they will be better than their sire’s, as their dam has a lovely small and low tail.

I would say yellow legs needs to go. Would that be a worse fault than high tail and white?

 

[wrathsfarm]

View attachment 3738485

I like this one for some reason. She looks darker to me, especially in the face. Maybe just the lighting.

 

[chickengr]

I’m in a similar boat, too many boys as it is. My two BCM cockerels I’m growing aren’t as good as yours but have some promising quality. One is more similar to his dad, the other had a much better body, fantastic copper but yellow legs. I can only keep on BCM at the moment, so I’m stressing about which to keep, Loki (the sire), or one of the two sons. Like you I just have to wait, the tails will be a big factor for my decision, I think both have high tails but I’d like to think they will be better than their sire’s, as their dam has a lovely small and low tail.

don't keep yellow legs in your flock. that's a serious fault.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

don't keep yellow legs in your flock. that's a serious fault.

I would say yellow legs needs to go

Thanks, I thought as much, his other features are tempting but this is a recessive fault controlled by a single gene, it needs to be bred out ASAP. I think I might try to sell the yellow legged boy to someone who cares more about egg colour than SOP.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I’m in a similar boat, too many boys as it is. My two BCM cockerels I’m growing aren’t as good as yours but have some promising quality. One is more similar to his dad, the other had a much better body, fantastic copper but yellow legs. I can only keep on BCM at the moment, so I’m stressing about which to keep, Loki (the sire), or one of the two sons. Like you I just have to wait, the tails will be a big factor for my decision, I think both have high tails but I’d like to think they will be better than their sire’s, as their dam has a lovely small and low tail.

Its such a hard decision. And an important one! It they are the only 2 Marans cockerels you have, best to keep one for back up.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I’m in a similar boat, too many boys as it is. My two BCM cockerels I’m growing aren’t as good as yours but have some promising quality. One is more similar to his dad, the other had a much better body, fantastic copper but yellow legs. I can only keep on BCM at the moment, so I’m stressing about which to keep, Loki (the sire), or one of the two sons. Like you I just have to wait, the tails will be a big factor for my decision, I think both have high tails but I’d like to think they will be better than their sire’s, as their dam has a lovely small and low tail.

BUT, yellow legs would be an automatic cull and work with the other one bad tail or not. Find a hen with a nice tail.

 

[Punkybrewster]

View attachment 3738513This one’s my favourite. Black flat and ling with a very low tail. Body type will produce some lively cockerels and pulleyed alike. I noticed she doesn’t have feathered legs, or is this just the photo?

Very slight feathering. It is an easy fix.

When I first started serious Marans breeding, I had a problem with over feathered shanks. It led to vulture hocks in some.(It is related)

So last year, I bred to a cockerel with sparse feathered shanks. It led to very sparse leg feathering in some of their progeny.

When I told @Chooks man, he said it wont work. I dont remember how he worded it but you cant breed for it? You will always get good and bad leg feathering?

So now, all I need to do to fix her shanks is breed her to a rooster who has good feathered legs.

I do like her chest and long back. She has clear eyes too.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I have no insight whatever, but Chooks Man would not like you culling all 10.
Maybe keep your best 2 or 3 if you can... I guess what I'm saying is, think about how you felt having to regroup all over again. I can't imagine how that hit you hard.

I can't wait to get some boys....

You know what?
I felt the @Chooks man disapproval as I read this!

My reasoning was, my new hatch here this week are directly from my line 3 originals. Any cockerels that have hatched are directly related to Mr. Goodcomb who is their (10 cockerels) grandfather.

Leading me to believe I dont need those 10.

Im just trying to quickly get back to where I was but maybe Im cutting corners.

Im running out of room quickly though. I will save the 2 best just in case.

Thank you @wrathsfarm.
I needed that.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I would say yellow legs needs to go. Would that be a worse fault than high tail and white?

Yes. High tails and parasitic white are faults found in Marans.

Yellow legs are not a natural fault found in Marans which leads me to believe he is not pure.

Unless someone can tell to me any different.

 

[Tstraub]

@Tstraub ... Got an idea. If I remember right your roughly 3 hours from me? (Lansing) What do you think about meeting half way here in March ish and doing an egg swap. Marans eggs for your Olive Egger eggs?

My OE blue laid her first egg today. I’m pleased to say she did inherit the blue egg gene and the egg color is very nice. If I breed her to a Marans I think 1/2 of her daughters will lay darker olive and half will lay darkish brown. This egg broke when it hit the coop floor but I’m sure once she gets the hang of it and learns to use the nesting boxes they should hold together

Neither of my marans have laid yet but I think they are really close. Betty has been visiting the nesting boxes yesterday and today but no eggs yet.