Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[scflock]

Will just throw a question back at you, if you breed the white feathered BC Marans how do you expect to breed it out of you birds ? I am a country boy from Tenn. myself and something just says it is not possible. Don

Because not all will have the white. Then you start to use only the ones with no white. I mean take for instance most of my kin are redheads because of the Irish. But ever once in awhile one would have black hair. And then there kids start having black hair. Not all but some. Then if they keep hooking up with somebody with black hair more and more of there kids are going to have black hair. I understand the gene of red will always be there in the back ground and one kid may get red hair but in most part all will have black hair.

I mean all these birds we raise and breed are cross breeds to start with. We have all breed them to get a breed we want. Right. So again why cant you breed the white out.

Its all evolution. Not nature evolution but human induced evolution.

You guys please continue this discussion. I respect Don's opinions, and I think you have valid points

 

[saltandpepper2]

Because not all will have the white. Then you start to use only the ones with no white. I mean take for instance most of my kin are redheads because of the Irish. But ever once in awhile one would have black hair. And then there kids start having black hair. Not all but some. Then if they keep hooking up with somebody with black hair more and more of there kids are going to have black hair. I understand the gene of red will always be there in the back ground and one kid may get red hair but in most part all will have black hair. 

I mean all these birds we raise and breed are cross breeds to start with. We have all breed them to get a breed we want. Right. So again why cant you breed the white out. 

Its all evolution. Not nature evolution but human induced evolution.  

I agree. Most of the roosters thrown by him haven't had white, and almost none of the females. If you breed with those offspring, you would think that the white feathering would happen less and less

 

[Zanna]

I agree. Most of the roosters thrown by him haven't had white, and almost none of the females. If you breed with those offspring, you would think that the white feathering would happen less and less

Just keep in mind that often those white tail feathers (and sometimes in the wing hidden in the fold) don't come in until the Cocks are a year old, or two or three. I find most of the feather(s) that get white are only partially white and only the occasional full length white feather. Do check the underfluff of your birds, I find in mine, the white feathers have correlated with gray/white underfluff on the rest of the birds body. Underfluff should be black. Honestly, I don't quite know what to think of it all other than this is a challenging breed!!

 

[snowbird]

Well will try and be a little more clear. If you breed the White feather fowl back into your hens you will never breed it out of the flock. If you use males and females out of this Male as breeders together you will only multiply the White feathers.

The only way to get rid of the White is to get a sharp Axe and cull all with White . If you can not do this I would suggest another breed would be in order. The only way to get rid of a fault is cull it out each generation. Don

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Just keep in mind that often those white tail feathers (and sometimes in the wing hidden in the fold) don't come in until the Cocks are a year old, or two or three.  I find most of the feather(s) that get white are only partially white and only the occasional full length white feather.  Do check the underfluff of your birds, I find in mine, the white feathers have correlated with gray/white underfluff on the rest of the birds body.  Underfluff should be black.   Honestly, I don't quite know what to think of it all other than this is a challenging breed!! 

Agreed. Somebody here said once, actually I think Alaska did, that u have to breed 200 to get just a few good ones.

I most certainly do understand not to use a rooster to breed if they have white in them. General rule for all breeds that are not suppose to have white, but he is the only rooster I have found around here. So I need to do the best with what I got. And work forward.

 

[scflock]

Well will try and be a little more clear. If you breed the White feather fowl back into your hens you will never breed it out of the flock. If you use males and females out of this Male as breeders together you will only multiply the White feathers.

The only way to get rid of the White is to get a sharp Axe and cull all with White . If you can not do this I would suggest another breed would be in order. The only way to get rid of a fault is cull it out each generation. Don

Agreed. Somebody here said once, actually I think Alaska did, that u have to breed 200 to get just a few good ones.

I most certainly do understand not to use a rooster to breed if they have white in them. General rule for all breeds that are not suppose to have white, but he is the only rooster I have found around here. So I need to do the best with what I got. And work forward.

So, Don, if the only rooster you have has white, can you not breed him until you get one that is not showing white, cull all the white birds, and continue in that same fashion, eventually eliminating the white? Finding good BCM is very hard in my area, and I am assuming not everyone started with SQ birds

 

[snowbird]

Just to be straight forward here, no one started with SOP type Fowl. You have to be able to Cull to move forward. The White feathers is nno different than having Split Wing Carnation Comb or Side Sprigs, either cull or you will never move away from defective Marans.

 

[scflock]

Just to be straight forward here, no one started with SOP type Fowl. You have to be able to Cull to move forward. The White feathers is nno different than having Split Wing Carnation Comb or Side Sprigs, either cull or you will never move away from defective Marans.

Thanks for the explanation. That's what I was getting at. I can cull, but if I only had one rooster to start with I would have to breed him first to get options, then cull from there. I understand that this is lengthening the process, but it may be the only choice for some.

 

[marchick]

Can I ask a very beginner question! What about white almost like light lacing on the chest of black copper marans? They are 4 weeks old. Is that normal and will it go away as the chick gets older?

 

[Alaskan]

Can I ask a very beginner question! What about white almost like light lacing on the chest of black copper marans? They are 4 weeks old. Is that normal and will it go away as the chick gets older?

Actually that is normal.... And should totally molt out. Same with the largest two wing feathers... Those are often white, and then molt out when they get their adult feathers.