Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Alaskan]

It is hard for me to judge from photos unless it is the obvious stuff... Clearly wrong color for instance.

Also, you can get a general idea now from your pullets but I don't get too excited one way or another about pullets until they are at least 6 months old... They just change too much.

Clear culls are clear.... But that is it.

At this age you do know
- clear bad things in conformation
- exactly how their leg feathering is (that doesn't change)
- your two look like they might be old enough that you are probably looking at what their color will be

 

[Alaskan]

Oh yes, a one year old, nice clear photo from above to see the width of body, one from the side to see color and tail angle, and one from the rear to see leg placement, stance and width of tail.

Then all of the experts on here could give a good critique.

 

[Sylvester017]

Slyvester~ it is gorgeous! No matter the breed, I agree, but in Marans, only certain sheen colors are desirable. Hope Don comes by to explain the difference for us. He is a goldmine of knowledge for chickens, and for Marans.

Kim, I have not explained the Purple sheen and Green Sheen as I will go to the warehouse tomorrow and pick up a couple of box of Poultry Books. I will state that I now of no Breed of Poultry where they want the Purple Sheen. Purple sheen says that the Black Blood is Tainted. The Green is the only Sheen we want in breed of Blacks that I know of at all. Don

Many thanks for your knowledgeable responses. May I further clarify the green sheen and not the purple/blue is specific to ANY black chicken breeds? So I should not consider the purple/blue sheen desirable in ANY black chicken? Who - outside of a knowledgeable breeder - could've "thunk" such a thing! Honestly, I continue to learn something new every day on these threads!

 

[pinkchick]

[COLOR=0000CD]Many thanks for your knowledgeable responses.  May I further clarify the green sheen and not the purple/blue is specific to ANY black chicken breeds?  So I should not consider the purple/blue sheen desirable in ANY black chicken?  Who - outside of a knowledgeable breeder - could've "thunk" such a thing!  Honestly, I continue to learn something new every day on these threads![/COLOR]

Let me see if I can help clarify how I understand what Don is talking about, and retract my previous statement to calling the green sheen a variation of turquoise color, I should have maybe said dark dark iridescent greenish teal.
Purple sheen on any black bird is undesirable, it is an indication of the black color not being true black. Green sheen on a black bird is desirable and indicates that the black color of your bird is true black . So for all varieties of black chickens, purple is not desired. If I have explained this incorrectly, my apologies, and I know my good friend Don will come by and correct me so that I am not giving out the wrong info.
But, I did find this wonderful picture of a beetle online that I think will help. This is an extremely good representation of the sheen colors we are talking about and how a person will see them on their chickens. Green good, purple not good.

 

[pinkchick]

...

It almost looks like these pullets have a Beard. They look real nice though. Don



Argh! I don't why it quoted like that, geesh, but anyway, I agree with you Don, they are nice looking young birds, and have a nice copper color coming in. But, what about the mossiness, near the saddle area on the bird in the second photo standing alone?

 

[magdelaine]

Let me see if I can help clarify how I understand what Don is talking about, and retract my previous statement to calling the green sheen a variation of turquoise color, I should have maybe said dark dark iridescent greenish teal.

Purple sheen on any black bird is undesirable, it is an indication of the black color not being true black. Green sheen on a black bird is desirable and indicates that the black color of your bird is true black . So for all varieties of black chickens, purple is not desired. If I have explained this incorrectly, my apologies, and I know my good friend Don will come by and correct me so that I am not giving out the wrong info.
But, I did find this wonderful picture of a beetle online that I think will help. This is an extremely good representation of the sheen colors we are talking about and how a person will see them on their chickens. Green good, purple not good.

I do believe that Ayam Cemani chickens are one breed in which it is desirable. However the genetics governing the melanizers in Cemanis is different than just ER or E as in Marans. In Marans and most other breeds, a purple sheen is evidence of AR (autosomal red) and is undesirable because of the problems that causes color-wise down the line.

 

[pinkchick]

Thank you Magdelaine! Great info! Do you happen to know what issues specifically the AR causes later on?

 

[magdelaine]

Thank you Magdelaine! Great info! Do you happen to know what issues specifically the AR causes later on?

Man I wish I did. My genetics knowledge is sketchy and still a work in progress! I just remember it being discussed on the Facebook Marans Fanciers group with regards to AR; Bev Davis specifically has had experience with it in Wheaten and Golden Salmon varieties but I don't have a clear picture of how it manifests...yet. If someone could post a picture that would be really helpful.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:

Quote: Kim, I saw the Mossiness but didn't want to get to involved being the nice Guy that I am. Don

 

[snowbird]

Quote: Not to be disagreeable but I believe the Cemani should also have the green Sheen. Look at the sheen on this bird and you will see that it is mostly Green. Don