Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Edwards' East of Eden]

Oh, no, I'm far too lazy to show! Just a backyard flock - I would like to have good examples of the breed, but I'm okay with just having pretty birdies that lay eggs for breakfast until it's time for them to join me for dinner! I wouldn't want to harm the breed, though, and so I wouldn't want to deliberately propagate bad examples, you know, even if just for my three acres here.

I'm a big believer in the greater good and all that rot.

Don't let me get preachy about how if everyone just did what would benefit the community at large, we wouldn't have any problems ... la dee dah.

Ahem.

Now I'm to the point that I have what are probably six hens in my run, and I wanted twelve, and what I do have is still three months from laying, probably, right? Or do BCMs lay sooner? And I haven't gotten an incubator yet, and - well, I really didn't want to add another three weeks onto starting with another batch of fuzzbutts ... ugh. Can't find any BCM chicks within 100 miles of me.

Maybe I'm too impatient for this chicken thing.

Thank you, Chief, for taking the time to respond. It's much appreciated.

 

[Chef]

Your very welcome! Ya the show ring isnt for everyone. I can understand your plight. It is not easy obtaining quality birds anymore but you gotta work with whatcha got right. Where are you located? BCM's tend to start laying between 5-7 months. I dont think you are to impatient for the chcken thing as it looks like your doing a great job to me. You gotta start somewhere and you have 3 acres to grow into

My guess is you'll have LOT'S of fuzz butts running around before you know it

Chef

 

[chicken-whisperer]

(After your goals were stated) I would breed number 4 roo and look for chicks that have less breast copper and more leg feathers. The mossy hen may not be the best choice. Are there any with longer backs and black bodies. It is a long task but if it can be fun for you than why not. After all, most breeds started at a null point (Jungle Fowl) I still, even after two years am having fun improving my flock.

 

[onthespot]

You will spend ten or a hundred times as much money and spend the same in time and effort and coop and run space trying to "breed up" from those marans than if you just bought some decent birds. Even one decent trio could save you thousands of dollars down the road. Those marans are very far from the standard, with conflicting genetic variations that will take a decade or more to unravel and get breeding true, if my experience is anything to go by. If you are happy with birds that look like that, then by all means, breed and enjoy them. There is every chance that they will lay decent color/sized eggs for you and your family to enjoy. If you are going to try to breed birds that are close to the standard, you may want to start over with better birds from the start. Doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Get some fertile eggs later in the year from a reputable breeder of a known, true breeding bloodline and hatch them out under a broody maybe... Don't kill the messenger... just trying to keep it real and tell you the truth.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I have a similar problem with my marans. Don't you wish chicken eggs were like gator eggs... temperature determines gender. Then we could just hatch roos when we need them

 

[math ace]

Laniered
I was going to sit back and be quiet, but I will have to say onthespot is ON THE SPOT with this one.

The chicks are too far from the standard to start with for SOP birds. There are many on here that have birds much closer to the standard.
You can look back at the thread(s) and find pictures of BYC members with much better stock. Many of us will ship eggs for a reasonable price.
I contacted one of the winners from the Newnan, Ga show and HE was only charging $2 an egg plus $15 shipping. I ordered a dozen and he sent about 6 extras FREE.... This was from proven stock that placed in all the BCM catergories.

I got eggs from Pinkchick... My hatch was not great. I only hatched two chicks. However, these are two GREAT looking pullets and I am thrilled.
The post office was nasty with my box and damaged it. Many others hatched chicks from Pinkchick this year and had better hatches than I did.
I feel the two chicks I did hatch were of such nice quality that it was well worth the cost of shipping and the cost of the eggs.

Onthespot is correct about it not having to cost you an arm and a leg. For the cost of a 2 or 3 bags of food, you could start with chicks that are much closer to the standard than what you have there. You will spend a lot more just on feeding these guys.... not to mention the next few generations . . before you reach the point that you would be starting at with other stock.

Many folks have posted pics of there stock on the marans thread. The pics were then evaluated by others.... so even if you aren't great with the SOP, you will get to see what others said or suggested.

My advice is sell what you have and start over AFTER you have done some more research. You will be very, very, very, very, very, very, GLAD that you did

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I've tryed to hatch some FBCMs twice with no succes. When I have more money I may try again, but I really want some dark eggs!

~ Aspen

 

[Edwards' East of Eden]

I must have gator skin, because not a one of you has hurt my feelings! Woo!

I had found someone relatively near - 115miles or so - who has eggs to sell, and then there's the sellers ya'll mentioned, as well. I just wasn't wanting to get an incubator quite yet - but I'll work it out. Somehow.

Thank you all for the time and comments, really!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
TAKE YOUR TIME... I found an incubator at our local monthly chicken swap for $20.. so there are deals out there.
Also, see if someone in your area wouldn't mind hatching your eggs for you. So folks will hatch the eggs for you for a small fee and others will hatch them for part of the chicks that hatch.

Mrs. Fluffly Puffy,

I had much better success hatching with my homemade incubator than I have had with my store bought one.
It takes time and practice to figure out what works for you and in your area.

Laniered, close does not always matter. Those eggs I hatched from Pinkchick came from Washington State and I live in Florida.
I had a pretty good hatch on my delaware eggs from Oklahoma. I don't remember where my speckled sussex eggs came .. . but I had really good hatches on those eggs twice. My hatch from vermont didn't do well, but that was my first time using the new incubator

If you have never hatched before... I would get some super cheap eggs locally. As long as they are pure breeds, not mixes, you will be able to sell the chicks as straight runs on craigslist. You should be able to sell them QUICKLY if you price them right -- like $2.50 each. This will give you a chance to perfect your hatching technique BEFORE you invest in shipped eggs.

 

[Edwards' East of Eden]

If you have never hatched before... I would get some super cheap eggs locally. As long as they are pure breeds, not mixes, you will be able to sell the chicks as straight runs on craigslist. You should be able to sell them QUICKLY if you price them right -- like $2.50 each. This will give you a chance to perfect your hatching technique BEFORE you invest in shipped eggs.

Why is it that you're so brilliant? Duh! That - that would work - and it would have never occurred to me. Thank you!​