Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[sgtmom52]

I have 3 ten week old FBCM cockerels and can only keep one. I would appreciate opinions on which one to keep. I was told they are Jeane/Presley lines when I purchased the hatching eggs. I am leaning toward #1 right now.

Thanks!

#3 on the left & #1 on the right. #3 has heavily feathered shanks, but they are yellow so I guess that takes him out of the running.

#1 on the left has feathering on his shanks. #2 has only a few small feathers on his shanks

#1

#1

#2

#2

#2

 

[Bravo]

Quote:
Thanks! I was up early this morning trying to "google" chicken eyes for pictures, thinking I had missed something!

I haven't noticed any of the other symptoms Bravo posted either.

So sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!

Thanks Medicine Man. I will look it up. I've searched high and low on the board and cant find an answer. I think I'm not looking for the right thing.

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
Thanks! I was up early this morning trying to "google" chicken eyes for pictures, thinking I had missed something!

I haven't noticed any of the other symptoms Bravo posted either.

So sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!

Thanks Medicine Man. I will look it up. I've searched high and low on the board and cant find an answer. I think I'm not looking for the right thing.

It's ok! I hope you find whatever is bothering yours!

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
Both are very pretty boys!

 

[VillageChicken]

Quote:
If they are hatchmates, it is possible that the two without yellow shanks carry yellow shanks. In order for #3 to have yellow shanks, his mother and father both have to be carriers of the yellow gene. So if there was only one roo over the hens that you got these from, then there's a more than 50% chance the others are carriers.

Your boys have nice type, but they are very dark. Their heads/faces should be copper color, they look almost black. And they should be showing some copper coloring in the saddle and shoulders by now too. It just depends on what you are breeding for. If you just want a pretty flock that lays nice eggs, it doesn't matter. If you want to sell eggs and chicks that produce what are considered "correct" Marans, then I wouldn't use any of the roosters, as they are not likely to produce correctly colored offspring.

 

[VillageChicken]

Quote:
i dont see anything wrong in selling chicks as long as the ones buying them know they are only egg layers not sq the hatcherys dont even come close to sq but they sell lots of chicks to people that only want eggs

There are tons of people that have Marans simply for dark eggs. What each individual does with their flock is their own business, of course. Fewer than 1% of poultry keepers are "breeders," I have read. I agree with what Hudson said regarding hatcheries. I don't think they sell any breed in "show quality" or even "quality" type. Of course we all know it is rare to even get show quality from show quality stock. Maybe 1 in 10? I think that is the estimate.

Just like all other breeds, I imagine Marans will join the "production," class. It is rare to find quality in many of the old breeds.

My opinion is: Do what you want to do with your flock. Most of all, ENJOY them!

But don't you think most folks that buy hatching eggs via Ebay or Eggbid are hoping to get something better than hatchery quality? I'm not saying it's a correct assumption, but I do think folks who buy from a backyard breeder somehow believe they're getting better quality than your chickiemill hatcheries. I understand if they are not sq, but folks should not be peddling birds with yellow shanks or white earlobes and still say that they're Marans.

 

[Zanna]

I currently have two 12 week old BCM that have what I consider ideal leg feathering and type/colour is looking really good. But.........the roo has many feathers on his middle toe, both feet, and the hen has just a few on the middle toe of both feet. If they were bred to lightly leg feathered mates would it be worth a try? Or, are the feathers on the middle toe something they would definitely pass on? I know it is a DQ as far as the SOP goes so neither of these birds could be shown.

 

[Medicine Man]

Quote:
This.

I have to wonder, when did we start seeing all these yellow-legged Marans coming out of the proverbial woodwork? My own hypothesis is that it's a fairly recent phenomenon and likely due to some Olive Egger breeder(s) having mixed-up their peeps by hatching Marans and Olive Eggers in the same incubator and confusing the single-combed Olive Egger culls for purebred Marans, thus introducing them into their Marans program. Just my hypothesis though.

 

[Mrs. Cannon]

Quote:
This.

I have to wonder, when did we start seeing all these yellow-legged Marans coming out of the proverbial woodwork? My own hypothesis is that it's a fairly recent phenomenon and likely due to some Olive Egger breeder(s) having mixed-up their peeps by hatching Marans and Olive Eggers in the same incubator and confusing the single-combed Olive Egger culls for purebred Marans, thus introducing them into their Marans program. Just my hypothesis though.

This is new to me also. I'm curious where they are coming from, could it be from the hatcheries that got ahold of them? Possibly they already introduced something wacky? Or it definitely could have been a breeder who had issues with their birds and in an attempt to "fix" these issues introduced something diffrent. My oppinion would be to cull these birds and don't breed them whatsoever. This breed already has enough things to work on.
I'm sure there is a genetic guru that might know something about these yellow legs.

My suggestion to anyone wanting to purchase Marans from someone....ASK QUESTIONS and GET PICTURES! I happily send bunches of pictures to anyone who asks and will provide information, I have nothing to hide because I'm trying to help the variety/breed out not hinder it

 

[sgtmom52]

Mrs. Cannon :

Quote:
This.

I have to wonder, when did we start seeing all these yellow-legged Marans coming out of the proverbial woodwork? My own hypothesis is that it's a fairly recent phenomenon and likely due to some Olive Egger breeder(s) having mixed-up their peeps by hatching Marans and Olive Eggers in the same incubator and confusing the single-combed Olive Egger culls for purebred Marans, thus introducing them into their Marans program. Just my hypothesis though.

This is new to me also. I'm curious where they are coming from, could it be from the hatcheries that got ahold of them? Possibly they already introduced something wacky? Or it definitely could have been a breeder who had issues with their birds and in an attempt to "fix" these issues introduced something diffrent. My oppinion would be to cull these birds and don't breed them whatsoever. This breed already has enough things to work on.
I'm sure there is a genetic guru that might know something about these yellow legs.

My suggestion to anyone wanting to purchase Marans from someone....ASK QUESTIONS and GET PICTURES! I happily send bunches of pictures to anyone who asks and will provide information, I have nothing to hide because I'm trying to help the variety/breed out not hinder it

I purchased my FBCM hatching eggs, that resulted in 1 yellow legged cockerel, from a BYC auction in March. If anyone is interested in knowing who the seller is please PM me for the information.