Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Wynette]

Wynette, I read with interest your post on not breeding pullets for flock replacement. Until I got involved with the Marans I never ever use a pullet for breeding purposes. I have always like for the young female to go through at least one winter before using in the breeding pen. This way I could check the liveability of my fowl before adding the chicks to my program. This way we would end up carrying over a few extra birds to be used later. I always thought it was still a good policy.

This is not to say I've never done it, but I definitely never hatch until, at the very least, a month has passed. My practice in general, though, is to do like you say above, Don.

 

[Kaitie09]

Hi everyone, I;m looking for some advise. I have a trio of FBCM from the Bev Davis and Wade Jeane line. The rooster is probably close to 7-8 lbs now at 4months old, and the one hen is typical of the breed and has a fairly good amount of feathers on her feet. The other hen is questionable. She has no copper on her neck and her feet are barely feathered. I'm trying to better my linage in the future and I'm wondering if I should put her into the layer pen and pick up a couple better looking girls. I'm mainly going to be breeding for a darker egg color, but I do want my line to look their best too. I'm hoping to start hatching in the spring. I've attached some pictures.

Here is the rooster:


The questionable hen's feet. She has maybe 2 little feathers on each side, but they are barely visable:



Another shot of the rooster:



The more common looking hen:


The questionable hen:

 

[Wynette]

Kaitie - I would personally not use that male. He has far too much copper color on his chest. It also appears that his legs may be too light, but it's difficult to tell from the pictures. It's really difficult to find a good male, that's for sure, but all that copper on his chest...I believe you may be in for trouble if you use him.

That said, if those 3 were all I had and I could absolutley not get more, I would use the solid black female with this male. With her being so dark (overmelanised), the offspring may end up having the appropriate amount of copper. Are they all from the same hatch? Many do not believe in "brother/sister" mating.

Also, the pictures do not show us enough to be able to give really good feedback; they need to be taken from the level of the chicken, sideways, so we can see their conformation (shape). You might try putting them up on a hay bale or something to raise them up a bit to get better pictures from the side.

ETA: it also appears, in the 2nd photo of the male, that he has white feathers at the base of his tail...if so, I would most definitely not use him.

 

[snowbird]

Wynette, I looked at this male and agree with you. I also believe he has wheaten blood mixed in also. Look at the leg color and hackle.

 

[Kaitie09]

Thanks for the reply. If I replace the rooster with a better one, should I still use the all black hen? I'll try to get better photos, but they were all moving around when I tried to get these.

 

[Wynette]

Thanks for the reply. If I replace the rooster with a better one, should I still use the all black hen? I'll try to get better photos, but they were all moving around when I tried to get these.

If you can find an unrelated male, that would be best. The solid black hen is not desireable for a few reasons, lack of copper in hackles, lack of shank feathering....but, again, without better conformation pictures, we honestly cannot help with detailed feedback.

 

[Keara]

Do you Wynette, see what I think I see on back of the roosters comb in this picture?
-Keara

Another shot of the rooster:

 

[Kaitie09]

Again, thank you all for the help. I may have jumped the gun getting these guys. I had previously ordered 12 hatching eggs and because of an unfortunate temperature problem, none hatched. A week later I saw these guy some up for sale and I jumped on it. The white feathers was just a glare from the sun. I've attached better photographs. I'll definitely get a different rooster and he'll go into the layer flock, I just have to find a breeder close by.

Just showing his tail feathers with-ought the glare. This is taken from a cell phone though, so sorry about the poor quality.


Pullet #1 on alert. The white specks on her check are splatters of dried mud.



Pullet #1 more relaxed


Pullet #1 feet



Pullet #2 on alert



Pullet #2 relaxed. you can she some of her shank feathers If you click on the photo.



The two side by side to show color differences

 

[snowbird]

Keara, I saw that also , so pulled the mag light out and you are correct. Good eye.

 

[Keara]

Keara, I saw that also , so pulled the mag light out and you are correct. Good eye.

Only because you (and others) have taught me to look.