These are my first FBCMs, I have one cockerel and 3 pullets that are about 18 weeks old. I would appreciate any opinions on how they look. They are supposed to be Jeane/Presley lines.
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I would do Black Copper Marans over Light Sussex hens. That would probably result in some nice, big boned girls!
Haven't been on this thread in a while - actually am stateside right now in the good old wolverine state at the in-laws.
Sex-links are usually bred for early sexing of the chicks, by their down color or the presence of barring. Black Copper doesn't work well because the dominant birchen based black copper chicks have very dark chickdown which makes chick sexing by down color impossible if crossed to SLW's or Sussex whose chickdown colors are recessive to the black copper's. If you grow them out till they begin to feather, the hens should have brown (gold) come in at the hackle and breast, roosters will have white or pale yellow in the hackle and saddle (and probably other parts leaking through the black). So if you're willing to grow them out until they're 6-8 weeks old you can consider them sex-links. But that kind of defeats the purpose a bit.
Quote:
I would do Black Copper Marans over Light Sussex hens. That would probably result in some nice, big boned girls!
Haven't been on this thread in a while - actually am stateside right now in the good old wolverine state at the in-laws.
Sex-links are usually bred for early sexing of the chicks, by their down color or the presence of barring. Black Copper doesn't work well because the dominant birchen based black copper chicks have very dark chickdown which makes chick sexing by down color impossible if crossed to SLW's or Sussex whose chickdown colors are recessive to the black copper's. If you grow them out till they begin to feather, the hens should have brown (gold) come in at the hackle and breast, roosters will have white or pale yellow in the hackle and saddle (and probably other parts leaking through the black). So if you're willing to grow them out until they're 6-8 weeks old you can consider them sex-links. But that kind of defeats the purpose a bit.
Hi Roger! My in-laws are in MI, too. Dad might be heading back to Hungary this fall. We are waiting to see his schedule. Hope you are enjoying your time back in the US. Dawn
Hey Ayeup!!! So busy round here.. haven't gotten to see ya much... congrats on the hatch... I need to pick a day... Wednesday and Thursday are out... I can do today or tomarrow... what does your schedule look like.. I will stop at the farm on the way if she has a gallon... LET ME KNOW... I have a full schedule with training clients and trim clients I can hardly keep up. I have 10 from my flock running around the yard... I even hatched out 2 leghorn crosses.... (so cute) I want to see if it works to tell if a roo carries the dark egg gene by waiting till POL and checking egg color... (I love the big white eggs I get from my old hen) Fingers crossed on the hatchies.. I have some I need to get hatched... I will have to bring em up....My broody ain't getting it done.... the bantam pen... I will have to do it the old fashioned method... (bator)
I need to buy some Maran eggs. Where should I go? I've never bought online before. Thanks guys for your input!!! Who is a dependable seller that you would recommend as well?