Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[baunlee]

tick tock tick tock...I would love to find FBCM breeder in time to have my chickie babes this spring, only I can't seem to find a breeder who will return my calls or respond to my emails. Somebody, please help!

There are a lot of groups on facebook. (put rare chicken breed swap into search bar type of things)
EBAY has at least one show breeder whom I have ordered from (dark eggs too)
Check the marans of america map

FBCM are not even that "rare" in my opinion. However actual, true FBCM are. Let me explain, many a chicken person can own "bcm's" but the egg color is not truly dark enough on a consistent basis to be an actual BCM. If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck you might think it's a duck but then it lays an emu egg, it's not a duck. Sorry I'm being a bit abstract. What I'm saying is, some people breed for type, others for color. But even if you breed for type, your color must be a certain # on the scale for them to be technically bcms, as I understand. It's like a fad right now to me this breed as its all over everywhere. I'm less interested in a fad but I hope people that are curious will remain interested. With that, to be diligent enough to pay for the best quality bcm eggs and not something that isn't laying a dark enough egg (and to pass on that light egg quality).

 

[kcrandall]

tick tock tick tock...I would love to find  FBCM breeder in time to have my chickie babes this spring, only I can't seem to find a breeder who will return my calls or respond to my emails.  Somebody, please help!  

Velocirooster, it would be helpful to know where you are located so members can share Marans Breeders located near you. Marans Breeder directories can be found on the Marans of America Club or Marans Chicken Club USA websites. There are several quality Marans Breeders who have websites or Facebook pages. I have read many stories on the BYC Marans threads of people buying Marans chicks or hatching eggs from sellers on eBay, Craigslist or similar sites only to end up with poorly bred birds. This is what happened to me because I did not educate myself about the Marans breed before I purchased chicks. Lesson learned so I spent a year researching Marans Breeders.

So, if you have not already done so, do your research! Some breeders breed to the American Standard of Perfection (SOP) whereas others breed to the French SOP with a primary focus on dark egg color or type or show quality birds. Show quality Marans do not always produce show quality offspring. Poultry genetics are complex and Marans may be the most complex of all, especially the dark egg genes. Search for a breeder who has been working with their flock for several years, will disclose flaws common to their Marans line, will show you photos of theiir current breeding flock, will disclose the average egg color of their breeding hens and is willing to help you evaluate your birds as future breeders.

Ask yourself, what do you want from your Marans flock? Dark eggs, show quality birds, good type, etc. We all want show quality Marans that consistently lay a #9 dark egg - but that is simply not realistic as any reputable Breeder should tell you. So be realistic in what it is you really want from your flock - Marans are a constant work in progress. Then search for Breeders whose breeding program most closely matches what you want in your Marans flock.

Good Luck,
Keith

 

[Velocirooster]

Velocirooster, it would be helpful to know where you are located so members can share Marans Breeders located near you. Marans Breeder directories can be found on the Marans of America Club or Marans Chicken Club USA websites. There are several quality Marans Breeders who have websites or Facebook pages. I have read many stories on the BYC Marans threads of people buying Marans chicks or hatching eggs from sellers on eBay, Craigslist or similar sites only to end up with poorly bred birds. This is what happened to me because I did not educate myself about the Marans breed before I purchased chicks. Lesson learned so I spent a year researching Marans Breeders.

So, if you have not already done so, do your research! Some breeders breed to the American Standard of Perfection (SOP) whereas others breed to the French SOP with a primary focus on dark egg color or type or show quality birds. Show quality Marans do not always produce show quality offspring. Poultry genetics are complex and Marans may be the most complex of all, especially the dark egg genes. Search for a breeder who has been working with their flock for several years, will disclose flaws common to their Marans line, will show you photos of theiir current breeding flock, will disclose the average egg color of their breeding hens and is willing to help you evaluate your birds as future breeders.

Ask yourself, what do you want from your Marans flock? Dark eggs, show quality birds, good type, etc. We all want show quality Marans that consistently lay a #9 dark egg - but that is simply not realistic as any reputable Breeder should tell you. So be realistic in what it is you really want from your flock - Marans are a constant work in progress. Then search for Breeders whose breeding program most closely matches what you want in your Marans flock.

Good Luck,
Keith

 

[Velocirooster]

There are a lot of groups on facebook. (put rare chicken breed swap into search bar type of things)
EBAY has at least one show breeder whom I have ordered from (dark eggs too)
Check the marans of america map

FBCM are not even that "rare" in my opinion. However actual, true FBCM are. Let me explain, many a chicken person can own "bcm's" but the egg color is not truly dark enough on a consistent basis to be an actual BCM. If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck you might think it's a duck but then it lays an emu egg, it's not a duck. Sorry I'm being a bit abstract. What I'm saying is, some people breed for type, others for color. But even if you breed for type, your color must be a certain # on the scale for them to be technically bcms, as I understand. It's like a fad right now to me this breed as its all over everywhere. I'm less interested in a fad but I hope people that are curious will remain interested. With that, to be diligent enough to pay for the best quality bcm eggs and not something that isn't laying a dark enough egg (and to pass on that light egg quality).

 

[Spartan22]

@Velocirooster just for my curiosity, Was The eggs you tasted in Europe creamier and almost more compact than regular eggs?

 

[newhobbie]

I would just like opinions on my boy. He was purchased as hatching eggs Nov 2015 from survivalseedsowers on ebay. Im just starting to really get into chickens and breed standards. Would like to know how he rates!

 

[oregonkat]

I would just like opinions on my boy. He was purchased as hatching eggs Nov 2015 from survivalseedsowers on ebay. Im just starting to really get into chickens and breed standards. Would like to know how he rates!

I'm no expert but I think he is beautiful. Folks may say that he has a little too much coppering on his wings but again I am no expert. I loved my BCM roo more than any others I've had. I lost him and his hens to a predator but I am hopeful for the hatching eggs in the incubator. You can always look up the BCM desirable traits on the Marans club website or even somewhere in this thread, I seem to remember some one posted them.

 

[newhobbie]

I'm no expert but I think he is beautiful.  Folks may say that he has a little too much coppering on his wings but again I am no expert.  I loved my BCM roo more than any others I've had.  I lost him and his hens to a predator but I am hopeful for the hatching eggs in the incubator.  You can always look up the BCM desirable traits on the Marans club website or even somewhere in this thread, I seem to remember some one posted them.

Thank you! I'll check that out. Sorry to hear about your loss, its terrible to loose any to predators

 

[marchick]

I have a question on Black Copper Marans. Can a Black Copper Marans not show any copper at all? I am wondering if the chicks got mixed together. I know the gal has both Blue/Black plus she also has Blue Copper and Black Copper. I am guessing he is around 15 weeks old and jet black. I know that looks like brown on the wing but it's not! He is coal black!

 

[dvoice]

Just a heads up. I may be wrong but from what I know, the flavour of an egg has nothing to do with breed but with diet.