Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Arielle]

Wynette--thanks for retracting your comment! I'm new to marans too. I bought a few, 8 chicks, via an auction here on BYC in June, wanting a few hens for eggs. You know, a colorful basket. Well I was surprised to open the box with 11 chicks: 5 hens, 5 roosters for the FBCM and one lt sussex hen. THe next day I find out they are APA approved and do feel obliged to breed them well now. Hence I lurk here often, trying to learn. ANd the Lt sussex is a gem. Would love to breed those too, someday, not now.


When I was researching buckeyes and contacting breeders, I asked all the questions I thought I should ask. THe responses were moderate to poor. Very frustrating. I have been fortunate to contect to a master breeder to tell me who to buy from. As a newbie I do need some assistance in buying good stock.

Marquisella--right on!

 

[Arielle]

Can someone tell me how to recognise vulture hocks from the pictures? Is it the triangle formed between the legs rather than a rectangle or square?

Maybe I don't understand the sprig formation--I just donn't see it. Can someone point it out a little better for me.

 

[stoopid]

Walt, I got one of those "olive eggers" as a mystery egg. I honestly don't see any point to them, but some may think it's cool.

 

[onthespot]

snowbird, just curious and not stirring the pot, but what do you do with the hundreds of culls you have bred so far. I sell all the hens, with disclosure, and the roosters go in the pot, mine or Pedro's.

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Alrighty, then! I guess what I actually meant, to be more clear, is that I have not found it typical for someone to get Marans as their very first breed of chicken and then go on to breed them to standard, show them, etc. Folks typically start with other breeds before deciding which breed is "the one" for them. Again, just my experience!!

Sorry you didn't get the answers you were looking for with the Buckeyes when you were researching; that's a shame. I'm glad you were abel to find a master breeder to guide you, though!

 

[marquisella]

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I handled my first Pennes yesterday and other than egg color I am at a loss of why someone would put those into a Marans. But there are plenty of people on this site mixing Marans and EE's. So buyer beware!

Walt

Walt, they mixed them in because the Pennes lay very dark eggs as well. But the shells are matte,, not shiny, and my experience was the birds are nuts!

When I just walked by their pen, they would fly up into the air & bounce around like a ball in a pin ball machine! & God help me when I actually stuck my head into their pen for an egg, I ended up with them on my head.....I only had them for 6 months and got rid of them...

Sorry if there are any Penne breeders out there..

 

[Cattitude]

I just ordered a batch of FBCMs and I am trying to catch up on the thread! Loads of information here, and lots of bookmarks made already. I'm eager to get going!

 

[fowlman01]

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I will pass this info on the APA prez. Our sec is very busy with her own life this time of year (she is involved in fairs) but you should have received something by now.

Walt

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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We need to all remember that this breed is BRAND spanking new - only having been included in the APA's SOP this past April! When ou think about it, we have a very very long road ahead of us. I also have a heritage breed - silver penciled plymouth rocks - these were accepted into the APA I BELEIVE (I don't have my SOP here with me) in 1912 - truth be told, there is almost as much wrong with THEM as there is with Marans! I have been told by three judges and several old-time breeders that my line is among the best out there - I can't take credit, as I have only had them a few years. But - the list of items I'm working on with them is just mindblowing for a breed that's so old!

My start in Marans was a slow one; I started with a pair. It can be done, and I'm still culling very heavily,, and likely will be for many years to come, and that's alright with me.

Thankfully, I have now connected with some VERY knowledgeable Marans breeders (and judges), here and elsewhere, that seem very willing to share their opinions and advice - especially on how to work with what I've got - which REALLY helps. So, hopefully within a few weeks I'll find out what sort of colour eggs my girls produce.

<-- that they will be nice dark ones and I can start engineering a second generation!

 

[snowbird]

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I have a man that buys all the males that are freezer age for the oriental people. This year when I cut back a lot on all my chickens I sold a lot of Pullets to new Marans people just starting out.

I raised over 400 BC Marans chicks from one male this year that were junk, gave all the pullets to a friend for egg layers.

I have sandy ground here am not against burying the culls to keep some one from using them in a breeding programs. If a bird leaves here I make sure they know the good and bad.

I do not normally sell chickens, but thought the Marans were too good to just dispose of. When I breed chickens I breed for my self as I do not normally sell eggs in any of the breeds I have ever had. I have no problems with people selling stock and eggs thought as long as they are true to the buyers.