BCM difference??

[HoneysuckleHomestead]

I have a question. So earlier this year, I bought some eggs from a breeder that seemed very reputable. Unfortunately, only a few developed and I ended up with 4 chicks... 2 cockerels and 2 pullets. The boys look good so far from what I can tell, but the girls look different. I put one of my pullets (a week apart in age) in the coop to compare. My pullet has a larger body type and a bright red comb and yellow/orange eyes. The purchased pullets have smaller bodies, dark small combs and greenish brown eyes. Other than mine, they all came from the same hatch. Why do you think these pullets look so different?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Are you already familiar with the SOP for the breed?

It looks to me like the smaller pullets are slower-developing, so there's the potential for them to look more like you expect as they mature. From the photos, it looks like all of the pullets may be over-melanized (lacking copper coloring), so breeding to a rooster with good copper coloring may help future generations.

As to eye color, it does change as chicks mature, so I think there's the potential for your pullets' eyes to turn the bay (orange-y) color of the SOP.

You may also want to post to the International Black Copper Marans thread for additional opinions.

​