Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[gilavina]

Evenin Lisa!

 

[bwalden]

 

[ashandvine]

Michigan

Oh yes, a little too far to go chasing your wolverines or chickens!

Although, I do have a little Favorelle trio here out of Arkansas. THEY started out as eggs. I will post pics again. This wheaten issue is of interest to me. I finally have most of the standards for Marans in my head but must now face the Genetic Dragon. Not a fair fight really. I have a sharp tongue and eye but not so much the mind for codes. I will post pics again. The first ones were terrible. Its raining here and dark, but I'll try after I bring home the new turkeys.

 

[maryhysong]

It is SLOWER, way SLOWER, to start with eggs. However, there is a large amount of learning that occurs when you raise the chicks yourself.
If you have a really good hatch and produce enough chicks to compare each other to, you will quickly learn how to identify the good traits from bad traits.
I think buying a Mature Trio is GREAT as long as you know what to look for. Otherwise, you will just end up buying junk.

Or if there are any in existence for sale in your area that don't have major DQs like white feathers. That has been my experience. I've been looking for BCM all summer and in AZ at least I"m only finding major culls.... and I am not knowledgeable on every nuance of the SOP and could likely miss some of the finer points.

 

[math ace]

Evenin Lisa!

OMG, I must seem rude. . . . I am sorry Vicki. I went to bed right after I posted my comment.

Right back at you!

 

[math ace]

Or if there are any in existence for sale in your area that don't have major DQs like white feathers. That has been my experience. I've been looking for BCM all summer and in AZ at least I"m only finding major culls.... and I am not knowledgeable on every nuance of the SOP and could likely miss some of the finer points.

Here is my take on buying mature trios....
They are usually CULLS. The breeder is going to keep his BEST and sell the rest. In a breed that has been perfected, in a breed that has been APA approved for a long time, in a breed that is COMMON, it is possible to buy someone's culls and still be a decent spot to start working with that breed.

HOWEVER, with Marans, the standard is new, the breed is new to the USA, and the breed as a whole is full of issues. Finding a breeder who has it going on is like finding a needle in a hay stack.

 

[math ace]

Or if there are any in existence for sale in your area that don't have major DQs like white feathers. That has been my experience. I've been looking for BCM all summer and in AZ at least I"m only finding major culls.... and I am not knowledgeable on every nuance of the SOP and could likely miss some of the finer points.

Here is another BONUS to ordering eggs.... If you want to KNOW what could be hiding in a breeders stock, HATCH EGGS....

Let me run some real life scenarios by you....

1.) Breeder has Marans. I saw parents and said - yeah, I can work with this. I ordered eggs and hatched a yellow legged chick and some normal leg colored chick. REAL QUICK, I knew what could be hiding in those normal leg colored chicks. It I had BOUGHT the parents, I wouldn't of suspected an issue until I hatched chicks.

2.) Breeder has another line of birds. Breeder is showing and winning with his birds. I ordered eggs and hatched chicks with leg issues - knocked knee, crocked toes ect. I contact breeder and he confirms that he deals with these issues in his line.

3.) Breeder has Marans. Breeder is showing and winning with them. I order eggs and am severely disappointed with the egg color. Now, you are not talking about 1 hen's eggs. You are talking about a breeder pen of hens' eggs.

I could go on, put I think you will see my point.... EGGS give you an insight into the line's current issues and potential issues.

 

[gilavina]

OMG, I must seem rude. . . . I am sorry Vicki. I went to bed right after I posted my comment.

Right back at you!

haha don't give it a second thought lady. I was busy dispatching another possum. Grrrrrrr, 3 in 5 days.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Here is another BONUS to ordering eggs.... If you want to KNOW what could be hiding in a breeders stock, HATCH EGGS....

Let me run some real life scenarios by you....

1.) Breeder has Marans. I saw parents and said - yeah, I can work with this. I ordered eggs and hatched a yellow legged chick and some normal leg colored chick. REAL QUICK, I knew what could be hiding in those normal leg colored chicks. It I had BOUGHT the parents, I wouldn't of suspected an issue until I hatched chicks.

2.) Breeder has another line of birds. Breeder is showing and winning with his birds. I ordered eggs and hatched chicks with leg issues - knocked knee, crocked toes ect. I contact breeder and he confirms that he deals with these issues in his line.

3.) Breeder has Marans. Breeder is showing and winning with them. I order eggs and am severely disappointed with the egg color. Now, you are not talking about 1 hen's eggs. You are talking about a breeder pen of hens' eggs.

I could go on, put I think you will see my point.... EGGS give you an insight into the line's current issues and potential issues.

Very useful thoughts, thank you. I am hatching out a batch from someone locally that the parents LOOK good. Hatching as we speak! Only some of the eggs are close to good color, those are going to be my keepers. Crossing my fingers chicks are good!

 

[snowbird]

It is SLOWER, way SLOWER, to start with eggs. However, there is a large amount of learning that occurs when you raise the chicks yourself.
If you have a really good hatch and produce enough chicks to compare each other to, you will quickly learn how to identify the good traits from bad traits.
I think buying a Mature Trio is GREAT as long as you know what to look for. Otherwise, you will just end up buying junk.

Lisa, When buying eggs what do you look for when buying the eggs. I get what you are saying about the adults being culls, just do not buy culls.. Over the years I have bought adult trios and even small flocks out of poultry Press. I think it matters where you buy the fowl from.