Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Zanna]

OK.........I have been lurking......... I love this thread and you all have convinced me to focus my breeding efforts on this beautifull dual breed. I have been trying to decide between the welsumers, penedesencas or the FBCM for a breeding project aside from my main laying flock. I have decided!!! I am just getting started with my flock and any help would be appreciated. It is gorgeous today in beautiful Oregon and I am about to go out and take pictures and begin my journal/journey. I will tell you about the birds and let me know which you would like me to post pictures of for the greatest benefit of everyone. I have one 6 1/2 month old hen, lays a nice dark egg but has almost no copper colouring and lots of the beatle green, a 5 month old roo, he doesn't look as beefy as I would like, does not have as much coppering as I would like and does not have feathered legs, 3, 5 month old hens, 2 have nice coppering around the neck, not much feathering on the legs, one looks extremely small, has some white around her face and has a slightly deformed foot. All of these are from Gabbard farms and are supposed to be from the Bev Davis/Wade Jeanne lines. I have 8 more that are about 12 weeks old, not completely sure who are roos/hens. They were a craigslist special, all 8 for $20.00 at 4 weeks old! The guy who sold them to me was convinced they were all roos (they are not), but I wanted another roo or two to choose from anyways. He said they were bred by a friend in Seattle, WA and are supposed to be of the Bev Davis lines. They are quite large youngsters and I think will be much chunkier than my previous birds. They all have heavily feathered legs and look to have nice coppering so far. Off to the great chicken roundup............Wish me luck!!!

 

[sunflowerenvy]

Quote:
the hens lays reese butter cup wow i want one to oops i read it wrong

boy those eggs are dark chocolate.

 

[6littlechickies]

Quote:
oh no, not at ALL, please critique, we all have so much to learn!

In fact, I'd love to hear some thoughts on him. I'm sure some better pics are in order to really give proper thoughts. Was planning on doing that today but some friends stopped by unexpectedly so I didn't get a chance. I'll try to bring the camera out tomorrow. Any specific shots, aside from a profile, that anyone wants to see?

 

[math ace]

Quote:
If it was me - - - I would be watching these. It sounds like your oldest hen and roo are too dark and therefore won't complement each other. However, odds are good that there is a love connection in these 12 week olds. If you are already more impressed with their size than the 5 month old roo, then that is another reason to watch this group. I got a feeling you will be making a final selection from this group. Start Journaling with photos.

You want to compare apples to apples. So, Take a picture of the oldest roo.

Then take two pictures of the 5 month old roo - - -one set now and one set he is the same age as the oldest one is now.

Then take pictures of the youngest group of roos. Take another set of pictures at 5 months and then another at the age of the oldest roo - - 6 1/2 month.

 

[sewandgrow]

Well finally............... I got my first BCM pullet egg today. Yipee!!!!!! I think it is about a 6 & it is on the small size so I am assuming it is a pullet egg & not from one of my hens. I have temporarily misplaced my egg color chart so I am guessing. I just had my son separate out all the mossy gals the day before yesterday. They all went to the layer pen so I know this egg is from a somewhat decent colored pullet that is in with the rooster in the open pen.
I went to the San Joaquin Fairgrounds for the Stockton show this week end. Not much to see in Marans. I left thinking maybe I should have shown something......LOL. It was my very first show & I had a blast. A friend's sister did a CD of pictures I am going to see if I can offer to buy a copy or maybe she can post pictures.
I tell you going to a show can really give you chicken fever. I came home with 2 new Wheatens that I bought from Harris 5 (we met up at the show) that I am happy with. There were over 2600 birds there but still several breeds not represented at all to my surprise, but oh what an experience 2 days of looking & learning.
My grand daughter got her first Australorp egg today too & I set my first batch of eggs in my new incubator. It is going to be a long 20 something days. Even my husband is into it......LOL. I need to start designing a new custom brooder or get to work revamping my 2 old ones.
Karen in California

 

[Zanna]

Thanks Mathace! Here are some pics of the roo, he is 20 weeks old. I would love a critique.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Love him!!

Good, strong, prominent chest, long back, broad body, long neck, good, small tail at a nice angle, strong legs, - He's a little behind in the coppering but otherwise very nice in body.

 

[Zanna]

Thank you Illia! I did not expect such a positive critique but I am just learning.......... For a breeding, if he does not end up with more coppering I need to pick hens with more copper colour and heavily feathered legs as he is clean legged? I have several other young roos that I will compare when they get older and try to match some pairings with my young hens. My only current breeding age hen has very little copper, she would not be a good choice to pair with him, right? Here are some pic. of her, not great ones........

 

[geebs]

Zanna.... Welcome Nieghbor... OMGosh has pink "seen" you yet?? Welcome welcome welcome.. Washn't today "off the hook"? We deserved this didn't we... Geebs is in Woodburn... Nice to meet you... can't wait to get to know ya... there is a meet and greet in canby on the 23rd... Pink has some nice Blues in the line you are working and also some up and coming BC's... She is a really good steward and a sharp mind... You may get some nice tradin stock with her.. There is a chummie outside of Lebanon that I will be trading stock with this spring in the Wade line and I believe he also has some Davis as well.. I am glad to see you chose this breed.. Oh and Pink has some Wellies also.. They lay real nice.. my chummie has some of the nicest Barnies I hear tell.. At any rate.. Oregonian.. So nice to see you.. this place is really shaping up... We have a person from France on here and another Oregonian!! Sheeesh.... kinda neet..not to discount any of the rest of ya all.. It is just a bleak part of the country... not as Bleak as AKA's though...

I am going to be sparse on the critques this week as I have focus in the world off this screen... I have kids in their competition for the week and it is a HUGE undertaking that does not afford me a bed to sleep in let alone computer time....So MathAce.. I am counting on you to hold up the fort and the rest of you... jump in there.... And get some learning!!!!! Let's get this place hopping...

Nice pictures.. haven't had time to put a critical eye on anything.. Just wanted to drop a note quickly...

Love the Recess pieces picture... made me hungry... Nice pix of the flock of Bl coppers.. thanks for posting and Welcome!!! I will have to read and catch up!!! Been washing horses and making costumes all day...

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Rooster:

Head: Not seeing any issues

comb and wattles: Comb and wattle look to be in proportional size. Comb - - 5 point comb is the goal.
1/2 point penality for each additional or missing point.

Eye color is : on the Light side , but still good.

Ear coverts: brown/ copper (perfect)

Beak horn: Dark - fine

Shape of rooster: Nice shape. This boy has a lot of growing still to do. He has plenty of potential.
Watch the backside of this boy. He looks wide in the chest and wide from the top,
but it just feels like he is narrowing to the back. He should be wide from the backside view too.
BABY SHOULD HAVE BUTT, too

Check the rear view - - - If there is junk in the trunk You are great. If not, he may still grow into it.
If he never grows into it - - - - it is still good, not a dq, not a fault, just something to be aware of


Color balance in saddle to hackle area - - Too dark or missing. . .
At 12 weeks, my roos are showing all kinds of color in the hackle and saddle area.
I don't know if other lines are slower in developing color in this area.
His Wing Bow indicates that he should have some nice coloring when it finally arrives . . .


Tail: Tail has a great angle and is short like it is suppose to be.


Feathering:

Feet/ shank coloring: Shanks are on the light side of gray / slate. Proposed standard is calling for darker gray / slate.
Where is the feathering? American and French standard need leg feathering.
This is an EASY fix. So, do not cull for this reason.


Back (slope and width) The slope looks good. The width looks good too.

In short, exactly want Illia posted in two lines - - - Very nice Roo. He needs additional color in the hackle and saddle areas. So, wait and see if they develope.
When you make the love connection for him, pair him with a hen with nice leg feathering and you should have some nice chicks