Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[math ace]

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Yes, that is a side sprig on the side almost at the end. Don

Awwww Don, he was soooo pretty if you just hadn't noticed the side sprig.
It is always incredible to be how you can spot these things.
You have super-human powers of observation. . . .

The short back didn't bother me because my girls are all long.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Sorry Seabreeze, I know how disappointing that is. I have a wonderful Blue English Orpington who is great in every way except he has a side sprig.

Luckily he has a brother who is even a tad better with no sprigs because I won't breed the sprigged one.


Hey want to see some mossies? Here are the not so good results of some of the test hatching. I didn't take pics of the good ones, sorry. I just thought this was interesting the variation of how mossy, mossy can get!

So Geebs, or Pink what are the chances that this will go away

not many huh? and can you tell if they are male or female. I may keep the girls for dark eggies to sell for eating.

 

[snowbird]

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Just a little heads up on these Mossy chicks, they will more than likely shed out most of the brown after Juve molt. The thing I dislike about it is they will end up with Brown cast side and belly feathers. They should be black, I cull all of these anymore without exception.. Don

 

[seabreeze]

Having been a dog breeder of some success for the past 31 years, horses for over 45 years I am really well versed in health, genetics etc., So my question is this about the side sprig.

Does it have a negative affect on the health of the bird? Does it indicate health problems down the line? Does one eliminate a good rooster in other ways for a side sprig? If the rooster has the genetics for great color, feathering, overall symmetry, produces daughters that lay very dark brown eggs, is he to be tossed out for a side sprig or try to select for elimination in his offspring of side sprigs while retaining all other positive genetic traits he passes on?

I know how I do things in breeding dogs and horses, how geneticists consider the pros and cons of of *tossing the baby out with the bath water* but I am new to chicken genetics and breeding practices so am asking to learn.
Thanks!

 

[sewandgrow]

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If she doesn't have a peacomb, then the only clue you might have is the lighter coloring you are seeing. Black copper is dominant to duckwing/partridge, so you won't see much difference. She will probably feather out with more brown and a straw colored hackle vs. copper.

I see no peacomb on anybody, Delawares, or Marans. What comes I see all look alike. The Marans are Black Copper & Blue Copper & the only coloring difference I see is this one has some definite brown on her wings. Almost like a band of it across her flight feathers half way down..So much to learn & everytime I stare at them for awhile I see new things......LOL

 

[sewandgrow]

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Wynette,
I am using a Brinsea 190. It is a cabinet type with a full clear door & has 3 moving shelves & a bottom staionary one (the floor.LOL). Each shelf I have divided into 7 rows. Each row hold 7 eggs. I am thinking of using plastic canvas and making 5 sided boxes for each row or portion of a row that has same mated eggs in it & setting the boxes on top of the rows????? Think that will work?

 

[sewandgrow]

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Jan,
When I click onto that website I end up right back where I am. Am I doing something wrong????

 

[sabella]

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Jan,
When I click onto that website I end up right back where I am. Am I doing something wrong????

I reposted the pics. Go back one page, around halfway up.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Seabreeze I understand what you are asking. I have wondered the same thing too. I would suppose you could breed it out with time. If you can improve other faults then why not side sprigs. However it could take a few generations to be positive it is bred out.

If this is THE roo you want, then use him. I have a different roo that I can use. I do wonder though as they are brothers if the side sprig genetics will be in the unsprigged brother also as they are from the same line. Lots of things I don't know.

And Don, thank you for the input on the mossies. I do have a chicken that has that brownish cast and wondered why it looked that little bit different. I bet I know who the mama is now. Thanks!

 

[VillageChicken]

Quote:
I don't think the comb genetics of sprigs are completely understood. Rooster combs grow so differently than a hen's, and I think one reason most folks would not use a side sprigged rooster is because it may be something that hens can carry and pass on. So unless you're just breeding for another rooster, you could potentially retain the gene that causes sprigs in your hen offspring even though it doesn't show.

That is just a theory though... but sprigs have been persistent in this breed, so it seems to be a gene that can be carried but not displayed.