Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[yanmar1610d]

My Marans are 16 weeks old. I am wondering when they should start laying eggs? I also have Araucanas that are the same age. They are laying already.

 

[Keara]

Quote:
Marans are slow to mature, give them at least 20wks before you expect eggs.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Marans are slow to mature, give them at least 20wks before you expect eggs.

Marans are odd birds. My Marans were easily double or even triple the size of my EEs and Ameraucanas by 3 weeks - especially so at 6 weeks. Early to crow too. Now, at just beyond 12 weeks, everyone is catching up with them. I even have one EE cockerel that is bigger now than my Marans boys. I'm curious to see when my pullets start to lay.

 

[Keara]

Quote:
here are the new photo's a bit better than the others but it is hard to focus in the dark.

here are the tops of the copper feathers,in this case the saddle feathers

here is the underside, notice the much lighter color almost birchen.

underside again

What do you think, is this the norm?

It looked like my girls are the same on the copper hackle feathers, but I could not get them to hold still for a photo.

 

[newlyweds]

Quote:
here are the new photo's a bit better than the others but it is hard to focus in the dark.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/KearaMc/P7190009.jpg
here are the tops of the copper feathers,in this case the saddle feathers

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/KearaMc/P7190013.jpg
here is the underside, notice the much lighter color almost birchen.


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/KearaMc/P7190012.jpg
underside again

What do you think, is this the norm?

It looked like my girls are the same on the copper hackle feathers, but I could not get them to hold still for a photo.

I looked at my younger cockeral today (about 18 weeks) and he has the same lighter color underneath, same as all three of my hens. I am thinking it's the norm.?.

 

[Sphinx]

Quote:
My experience is severely limited- I have one black copper marans hen. However, every egg she has ever laid has been HUGE. None have been double yolkers, just very big eggs.

Here's a couple examples of her eggs:

 

[Keara]

Quote:
here are the new photo's a bit better than the others but it is hard to focus in the dark.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/KearaMc/P7190009.jpg
here are the tops of the copper feathers,in this case the saddle feathers

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/KearaMc/P7190013.jpg
here is the underside, notice the much lighter color almost birchen.


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/KearaMc/P7190012.jpg
underside again

What do you think, is this the norm?

It looked like my girls are the same on the copper hackle feathers, but I could not get them to hold still for a photo.

I looked at my younger cockeral today (about 18 weeks) and he has the same lighter color underneath, same as all three of my hens. I am thinking it's the norm.?.

thanks, I appreciate you looking! I am going to assume it is the norm too as I have seen it on all my mature males and females so far, and they come from 3 different locations.

Anyone else?

 

[Sphinx]

I went out and checked the saddle feathers on my BCM cockerel, and he had that same lighter color on the underside of his saddle feathers.

My BCM hen doesn't have it I don't think, but she doesn't have any copper at all. She's broody and I don't want to mess with her much, so I didn't check. I can't imagine she does though, with her being so dark, I'd think that would be really noticeable.

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
My experience is severely limited- I have one black copper marans hen. However, every egg she has ever laid has been HUGE. None have been double yolkers, just very big eggs.

Here's a couple examples of her eggs:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/wendywr/chickens/dd6adb06.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/wendywr/chickens/carton2.jpg

Mine look exactly like those! But they have always been doubles. We use those for breakfast egg sandwiches!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Was re-watching the movie "District 9" and noticed what appeared to be a striking BCM roo in one of the scenes!!