Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[moms3cuties]

One baby so far!

cute! so exciting when hatching new babies isn't it!

 

[Elginchickens]

Has anyone ever dealt with a user on here named bwalden...who sells black copper maran eggs

 

[JennyTenney]

Looking for some good advice from the experts out there. I have been keeping chickens for 5 years now. I've always done well selling my eggs, but this year I decided to take the plunge and start breeding my own babies. I'm in the process of building my breeding pens. I will have 4 total to focus on Marans, olive eggers, ameraucanas, and australorps.

Here's my question....the pens will only be in use for the summer. We have a fox problem here, so everyone has to be in fortresses. I have roofed chain link pens. Do the chickens need a real coop or can I get by with a semi enclosed sheltered area with roosts and nesting boxes? What I have in mind would allow them to be totally out of the weather. Everyone would go back to the main coop for the winter.

Thanks for any advise!

 

[desertmarcy]

Looking for some good advice from the experts out there. I have been keeping chickens for 5 years now. I've always done well selling my eggs, but this year I decided to take the plunge and start breeding my own babies. I'm in the process of building my breeding pens. I will have 4 total to focus on Marans, olive eggers, ameraucanas, and australorps.

Here's my question....the pens will only be in use for the summer. We have a fox problem here, so everyone has to be in fortresses. I have roofed chain link pens. Do the chickens need a real coop or can I get by with a semi enclosed sheltered area with roosts and nesting boxes? What I have in mind would allow them to be totally out of the weather. Everyone would go back to the main coop for the winter.

Thanks for any advise!

Here in southern Arizona, I don't have any "real" coops. I have chain link fence pens with a solid roof over part of it for shade and rain protection. The birds do fine in this setup. They get more ventilation which is very important in our hot climate. What I have sounds like what you are proposing. If you are truly only going to use them in the summer, I think they will be fine. Just be forewarned that once you start breeding, the chicken addiction and math really take off. 4 pens may not be enough

 

[Purpletie3]

Looking for some good advice from the experts out there. I have been keeping chickens for 5 years now. I've always done well selling my eggs, but this year I decided to take the plunge and start breeding my own babies. I'm in the process of building my breeding pens. I will have 4 total to focus on Marans, olive eggers, ameraucanas, and australorps.

Here's my question....the pens will only be in use for the summer. We have a fox problem here, so everyone has to be in fortresses. I have roofed chain link pens. Do the chickens need a real coop or can I get by with a semi enclosed sheltered area with roosts and nesting boxes? What I have in mind would allow them to be totally out of the weather. Everyone would go back to the main coop for the winter.

Thanks for any advise!

We have a ton of predators here. I lock the coops up at night...with locks. I have two to three layers of hardware cloth (1/2" wire mesh secured with screws and washers) then fencing. I lost my whole flock in the matter of an hour because their coop was not secured enough. Even snakes can get through 1/2"hardware cloth and go after the eggs...

Good luck breeding your own babies! Very exciting stuff!

 

[Alaskan]

Looking for some good advice from the experts out there. I have been keeping chickens for 5 years now. I've always done well selling my eggs, but this year I decided to take the plunge and start breeding my own babies. I'm in the process of building my breeding pens. I will have 4 total to focus on Marans, olive eggers, ameraucanas, and australorps.

Here's my question....the pens will only be in use for the summer. We have a fox problem here, so everyone has to be in fortresses. I have roofed chain link pens. Do the chickens need a real coop or can I get by with a semi enclosed sheltered area with roosts and nesting boxes? What I have in mind would allow them to be totally out of the weather. Everyone would go back to the main coop for the winter.

Thanks for any advise!

sounds good... no reason to have "real" coops, especially if you have warm summers.

However, to really do a breed justice, you will need at least 3 or 4 pens per breed, and maybe a few areas as grow out places. Not that we all have that (I don't), but it is what you need if you really want to do a good job.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Bought this boy from the nastiest chicken setup I have ever seen. Thought I would save one of therm.

 

[snowbird]

Bought this boy from the nastiest chicken setup I have ever seen. Thought I would save one of therm.

Myself I would not use this male for a breeder, since the White will keep showing up as long as you keep breeding it forward. Also the Male is most likely a cross between Wheaten and BC. Don

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Myself I would not use this male for a breeder, since the White will keep showing up as long as you keep breeding it forward. Also the Male is most likely a cross between Wheaten and BC. Don

Yes I thought I would save him though.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Does anyone know where to find an egg color chart? I've contacted one club but haven't heard back. I've done web searches as well to no avail. Is there no place to get them anymore?