BCM Roo...will he ever get any copper?

[morninggloryhatchery]

Maybe in his next molt he will get those handsome copper feathers. He is a handsome boy!

 

[pinkchick]

Thanks everyone!

We will just have to see what will become of Bill.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
I think that's the key here -- you've only had one. You can't judge the whole breed from one bird.

Different lines will show their coppering at different ages. IMHO, you shouldn't start panicking about a lack of copper until the bird is at least 4 or 5 months or so. Let him grow up a little!

Also -- some black coppers will NEVER show the coppering, because of excess melanizing genes. This is also more common in some lines than in others. So even if he does stay black forever, he is probably still genetically black copper rather than genetically black (with the E gene).



So lets assume that Bill doesn't get that much copper at all and he is still genetically a BC, do I want to use him as a breeder? Will he pass on the gene for little coppering or can he pass on the gene for the correct coppering? Kind of like I got the gene that caused me to have twins but skipped my mother?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I personally am keeping my roos with the least amount of copper as I prefer that over the excess they can get.
I have birds from the same parents and hatch that show too much and others not much at all. I just prefer the least amount when they are young as I know it will pop out as they mature and their offspring are more likely to get it from both parents.
I think Bill is very handsome and I certainly would not worry about it. Just make sure to cross him with a proper girlfriend.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
The conventional wisdom is that you should breed him only to hens that are showing too much red, in order to balance out the effects of his excess melanin. I dunno whether that actually works, or not. However, I'm about to try it myself with a very dark roo and some overly marked pullets -- so we shall see!

 

[onthespot]

Pinkchick, If you decide to rehome him at some point, would you put me on your waiting list for him? I would trade you a good colored roo for him. I am growing some out right now. What lines is he?

 

[COChickens]

I have some Black Copper Marans chicks for sale on eggbid and a few of my hens have a small amount of copper on them but my roo has extra copper to take care of that and I had a rude person email me and say they weren't black copper marans because they lacked copper!

 

[cottagegarden]

BCM are slow to mature and could keep coloring out up to a year.
Whether or not he goes in the breeding pen could consider other type factors.
if he has some copper he has the gene to pass on to his offspring.
My first BCM slight coppered at 4 months, the babies have way more copper at
3m coming from not so coppered parents so it is all part of the adventure and learning the complexities of this breed.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
I cannot rehome Bill.......it would break my heart!

A stork dropped him off on my doorstep? He looked really cute in the pet store window? I found him thumbing a ride down the freeway? He's a rare duck?

 

[Zgoatlady]

Hi Pinkchick
I have three BC roosters for sale I live in Enumclaw, I know its a drive but all of them have copper only one has not gotten copper on his back they hatched around 3-22