Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[johnderosa1]

Trying a bit of experiment: I will be raising three small groups of "non USA" French import bloodlines from: Heaven Sent Ranch LP chicks hatched from eggs purchased, Little Peddler direct stock and a box of chicks from the advertised 2014 France imports at Greenfire Farms I will post pics from the three as they grow. So that they will not be mixed, I suppose I have more pens to build . Right now they are all babies, but their numbers are really too few for a strong eval. Anyone else trying these lines with older birds want to join me in comparisons? I am hoping to try my hand at showing a few in the spring. Thanks, Christine

I have 8 from brenda little that I hatched dec 31. I haven't culled anything yet but there are a few that will definitely go to the layer pen. Observations so far. The black is really black... A solid plus. Color balance and color of copper on males really nice. A solid plus. Leg color excellent. Pullets seem to be showing good color in hackles... One has too much and more straw than copper, one not showing any color. Pretty happy so far. Shank and two feathering variable but havent really paid too much attention. Tail angle and body type look good but no detailed critiquing yet. Eye color... Havent even looked yet. Combs more points than desired and much smaller than other lines. Birds ares are smaller than US lines... A minus for me. Overall I am cautiously optimistic so far. My better male is starting to look like a keeper and @ least 3 of the pullets are looking decent. The next 3 months will be really interesting... Fingers crossed!

 

[silversong]

These chicks look nicely colored and well shaped, in my opinion. How is the shank feathering? I don't go by feather sexing either, but by looking at combs, top chick looks like a little pullet, and bottom a little cockerel- both very cute.

They are both lightly feathered on their outer shanks and outer toes. Pic of cockerel's (?) shank feathering below. I will not get to see these chicks again for two weeks, should be interesting to see the changes by then.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Agreed, Don. Last summer we too tried some eggs from Ebay, from similar sellers.

Out of 6 chicks hatched, two chicks threw missing toes. One chick threw "double" toes, plus yellow shanks.




One pullet stayed tiny before passing, never grew past a few months. One normal looking pullet now looks good- near show worthy (but, had strangely long tail feathers for a long time). Due to the yellow shanks, of course this whole group all had to go into the layers-only pen. The egg color from the pullets was nice though...better color than the eggs originally received. Serious squirrel tail on the rooster, plus shafting on his chest. Very dark eyes on some of the birds. But, basically, this was an expensive waste.

Recently, we purchased eggs from a different source. And while incubating, we then discovered that the seller was recently using laying pullets derived from Breeder 1 above (born within a month of my hatch.). Sure enough... one of the 5 chicks that hatched from this batch was again born missing toes, and a different chick looks to show odd recessives in her coloring. However, only a portion of these eggs sent, came from the Breeder 1's stock.

We have no way of knowing now which hens/pullets are the mothers of which chicks. Since I know there was yellow shanks (plus other serious issues) in the Breeder 1 line (Breeder 2 says they have not seen any of these issues- however, we did receive one with missing toes so there are issues...).

Should all of these chicks just be put in the layers-only pen since there is no no reliable test for yellow shanks (showing in young), or, a test for the missing toes gene? So... besides culling for obvious defects, and Wheaten testing, is there anything else that can be done? Or do I have another few years ahead of testing for this bunch?

In the future, when purchasing hatching eggs, I'm going to ask prospective sellers to number, or, name the hens that the egg came from- if possible. That way, say, if hen #3 throws a chick with serious genetic issues, all chicks from her can be marked/ put under evaluation, etc. Also, I could go back to the seller, and let them know that hen has a certain issue so they are at least aware of a potential problem.

Problem seems, is some sellers appear to care so little about cleaning house once they know there are problems.

It seems both you and snowbird have had issues with chicks hatched from eggs directly from apparently well-known breeders of BCM, but neither of you are willing to say which flocks are showing these serious defects. May I ask why?

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
It is a matter of choice for me not naming people. I will not post someones name on BYC just to please you. After you have been to a few shows and learn who is supposed to have good Marans then you will be more involved.

The last few posts to me from you have been more of a demand than a question. I do not have time for games. Don

 

[ochochicas]

You all could just PM each other if you want to know which line/breeders/birds to avoid.

This thread has become so derogatory that I'm unsubscribing.
Best of luck y'all.

 

[KernH]

You all could just PM each other if you want to know which line/breeders/birds to avoid.

This thread has become so derogatory that I'm unsubscribing.
Best of luck y'all.

Sometimes things are said bluntly, but not really in anger. I know for me sometimes I have to step back and take a breath and relax. Most people don't want to anger anyone. These boards are fun and we have to keep them that way. Kern

 

[Purpletie3]

Problem with typing something is that there is no affect...At least with an "in person" conversation you can read the voice and facial expressions of the person you are interacting with...

 

[snowbird]

I have decided to just keep my thoughts to myself and let The Marans forums run as best they can. I have spent several years on BYC trying to help where I can, but there has always been someone ready to take a run at me for one reason or other. Don

I still think it is my right to not pass on info about another Marans person even if I believe they are selling faulty eggs.

 

[KernH]

I have decided to just keep my thoughts to myself and let The Marans forums run as best they can. I have spent several years on BYC trying to help where I can, but there has always been someone ready to take a run at me for one reason or other. Don

I still think it is my right to not pass on info about another Marans person even if I believe they are selling faulty eggs.

You were justified in not publishing names to the public. Who knows all the circumstances? PMing seems the way to go if someone wanted the info. Kern

 

[KendyF]

Ha, Well Hi, I just joined this thread. Looks like it might be entertaining. I have been breeding towards eggs and size, so I came here to learn more about the SOP.