Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[snowbird]

This is just my opinion and will be my breeding practice on the red on the breast. Since the SOP ALLOWS it to some degree (amount determined by someone but not mentioned in the SOP) and it is not a fault or a DQ I will not cull for it in small amounts. Now after saying that, if I have 2 roos to pick from and ALL THINGS are EQUAL but one has red on the breast and the other does not I will pick the one with the BLACK BREAST.

Others are entitled to their own opinions, this is mine.... to each his own.

Seriously considering GIVING these birds up! The negativity of these birds ever being WORTHY of a regular person breeding them is so off putting, why would you? I need the pens more than I need the headache of getting them PERFECT.

Donna, Now you know as well as I do that you will run into all the problems in any other breed that you will In Marans, Once you get a good decent line going it will be much easier to keep them going just like any other breed. I agree that there are very few good Marans to be had and then you will have to go through all the culling . This is true with any breed.

 

[johnderosa1]

Hi Don,

When I was selecting from my 14 cockerals these were the only two that had copper eartufts.... All the black breasted birds had black eartufts. Is this a common problem or something that my particular birds expressed? ( I got my chicks directly from the person that claimed to have the original line of wade jeanne BCMs)?

Thanks,

John

 

[mstricer]

So how much cooper is acceptable? Any pictures would be helpful.
Michele

 

[snowbird]

So how much cooper is acceptable? Any pictures would be helpful.
Michele

This would be a question best asked to Walt or Bill. In the SOP it state a few Copper spots is acceptable. I would not want any spots on the breasts of BC Marans Males.

 

[snowbird]

Hi Don,

When I was selecting from my 14 cockerals these were the only two that had copper eartufts.... All the black breasted birds had black eartufts. Is this a common problem or something that my particular birds expressed? ( I got my chicks directly from the person that claimed to have the original line of wade jeanne BCMs)?

Thanks,

John

John, I would of culled more for the brown breast, than the ear tufts.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I liked the birds from the day they arrived. A pretty decent group IMO. Something to work with anyway. THanks for the encouragement.

 

[Arielle]

I have one rooster waiting to be culled--he molted and put on almost all spotting on the breast where he should be black. All the way under his legs and wings. Didn't have to guess about him. But he didn't become so until around a year old. Go figure.

 

[NYREDS]

As stated, the Standard for the Black Copper Marans calls for the breast to be "solid black or with a few copper spots". This is one of those instances where I wish the Standard description was more precise. What looks like a few to one person my seem to be a lot by another. Personally, since the description is for "black or" I'd say the fewer the better. If I were looking at 2 birds that were otherwise equal & one had a pure black breast while the other had a number of copper spots I'd place the black breast first. Following that logic, everything else being equal, the less copper spots the better. Having not bred these birds I can only assume that it's easy for the copper spots to get out of control so I'd be careful about using birds with copper in their breast as breeders.
Wish I was able to add more clarity but it all comes down to the individual determining what a few means to them.

ETA: I find the description of the Wheaten Marans even more incomprehensible. What does "washed off back colours" mean?

 

[Arielle]

THanks NYREDS for weighing in. This leads me to ask how many black breasted males actually exist? ANd if I don't have one, and can't get one, how do I breed to get it?

Maybe Don you have some ideas on this as you have bred the BC marans.

 

[picanins]

THanks NYREDS for weighing in. This leads me to ask how many black breasted males actually exist? ANd if I don't have one, and can't get one, how do I breed to get it? 

Maybe Don you have some ideas on this as you have bred the BC marans.

What age (generally, as I know there are always exceptions to the "rules") do the copper spots reveal themselves?