Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Red Banks]

I am waiting a few days for them to get used to the lot and tomorrow will move the balance of the males out if these survive. In the males we moved today I see a couple that look real good and most appear to have good size. The first 150 will be eight weeks the 27th.

I can't imagine that many. Forget my request.... I have enough trouble taking pictures of 28! I like to look at pictures of good ones, it gives me something to judge against.

 

[farmgirl78]

I seem to get a lot of cockerel with shorter backs, if it's all I have can I cross it on a hen with a longer back to improve my offspring?

 

[am040608]

I have a question
Is it normal to have a chick with a black comb? I hatched 3 on the 10th. One has white on its face and wing feathers. The other two are black with a very tiny bit of white on feather tips. One of these 2 has a solid black comb. I'm very unsure of sex as of yet.

 

[MeanV2]

Don, when the the chicks are mossy at 2 to 3 weeks old (brownish feathers) is that an automatic cull? Thanks!

Dan

 

[snowbird]

Don, when the the chicks are mossy at 2 to 3 weeks old (brownish feathers) is that an automatic cull? Thanks!

Dan

Most likely the brown will only get worse as they age. If they have very little I would let them Molt out before culling.

 

[snowbird]

I have a question

Is it normal to have a chick with a black comb? I hatched 3 on the 10th. One has white on its face and wing feathers. The other two are black with a very tiny bit of white on feather tips. One of these 2 has a solid black comb. I'm very unsure of sex as of yet.

At the age you have none of the thing you have mentioned will effect the chicks once they Molt out. I never worry about the White until after the Juve Molt and then I cull all with white, some keep them until after there adult.

 

[MeanV2]

Most likely the brown will only get worse as they age. If they have very little I would let them Molt out before culling.

Don, I don't post on here much, but I enjoy reading your posts and critiques. It is amazing what you can get from so called top breeders. I have hatched eggs from 3 different breeders and I would only consider getting eggs from one of those and I hope to do just that again next Spring. Thanks for your input!!

Dan

 

[snowbird]

I seem to get a lot of cockerel with shorter backs, if it's all I have can I cross it on a hen with a longer back to improve my offspring?

You have probably notice that the Males have high tails also. If there is no one close by that you can get a longer back male from , I would just go with the best male you have and cull very heavy for Back on the young. Also watch the back on the females as they can have short Backs also. With Show poultry it is all a balancing act as it is all averages. Good luck.

 

[MeanV2]

At the age you have none of the thing you have mentioned will effect the chicks once they Molt out. I never worry about the White until after the Juve Molt and then I cull all with white, some keep them until after there adult.

Don, it seems chicks go through constant molts for a few weeks. At what approximate age do you cull them for any white feathers? Can a stray white feather be bred out if everything else about the bird is outstanding? Or is it a cull with no questions asked? Thanks!

Dan

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Dan, three year ago Kevin and myself bought six dozen eggs from different show breeders as an experiment. We kept none of the male and nine females since they were from top breeders. Five female from one breeder are all Black and about half of their chicks are all Black will post some pictures in a couple days from the seven week olds as we are putting them outside.