Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[snowbird]

The ear tufts appear to be a blend of copper and Black due to the Mahogany color. I like the males to appear more Mahogany .

 

[snowbird]

The female BC to breed to the BC male would be one that has good Marans type. Could be one that is overmelinized of one with good hackle . Make sure to look at the female comb for any DQs. I would single mate him and see what you would get.

 

[Wynette]

Thanks for the feedback, Don - glad you posted on the best type female to use for this male. I am not completely sure, but I believe this male came from Tannis. I sent a note asking but haven't heard back yet.

Any other opinions?

 

[flgardengirl]

I'd mate him to a good sized girl with good shank/toe feathering and a low tail. Also with good hackle coppering. Oh yeah, and she has to lay dark too Where can we order some of those? I'll have a double lol!

 

[snowbird]

If this male is from Tannis and he looks like one of her BC marans, he also would produce real well with a female of the same line without color. I have a three year old male here that looks like this male.

 

[Wynette]

If this male is from Tannis and he looks like one of her BC marans, he also would produce real well with a female of the same line without color. I have a three year old male here that looks like this male.

I don't know if Tannis kept records on who was what, but I know she had quite a few from me at one time. I only have one left from that line of a few years ago. She's a large (my largest) female and produces very nice eggs; quite large, good sheen, nice & dark. But, she's older now, I'm not sure whether she'll produce this year or not. I hatched off a bundle from a single mating last year, and plan to do the same this year if she gives me fertile eggs.

 

[ashandvine]

Dick, I didn't think you were being negative at all. I like the hard truth from experienced folks. I agree with you (sorry Wynette) about a lot of people being into their chickens as pets or just not being up to the task of breeding for breeding rather than just making more pretty birds and not wanting to let little so and so go to the freezer. I am not a fan of culling chicks. I don't. I want to eat anything that isn't worth breeding. I have a family here and I hate the idea of eating all those crosses out of the grocery store when my birds are here. I do hate the moment of death for them coming from my hand, but no one else is going to do it. My son cried when I processed his turkey. So, if I am going to be serious here and try to be known a respectable breeder then I have to get the dirt and like it. Well... maybe not LIKE it but I have to be willing to make decisions. I will admit I am disappointed that neither of the pullets shown are worth the time. I really liked their color and their type was alright. Their ears and legs and chests were all good color. Their temperament is good. Still, not a comment on the males. Both supposedly came out of Davis and Wade lines. The pullets are from Taylor Hobby Farms and DM Ripey. Not the unseen white eared girl. She came with the cockerels.

Is a pinched tale something that carries forward? I was trying to get the right stock to work with to build a small flock here. I know none will be perfect but I didn't want to work with total crap either (to be blunt.) These are all I have, these six birds. Three males, three females. The last male has terrible comb issues from the severe cold we have had here so I can't post without shame. I have shown pics of him before.

Now what?

 

[Runawaylobster]

Here is my strange litte bird, she came with a batch of 10 black copper chicks. What can have happened with
the genetics to make her look like that. I guess she has some recessive gene that doesnt normally show up,
I'd love to learn more about that. I don't know what the parents were like but they are supposed to be C1 Line.
They were hatched on Dec 21st

OK Mystery solved... I talked to the breeder and he said... Oopps looks like you got one of our Dark Brahamas or Silver Birchens got mixed up in the hatcher.. Well I have Dark Brahmas so I'm pretty sure that is not what she is but maybe she is a silver birchen. I have had this trouble before in my hatches, they all hop around and keeping on top of who is what isn't easy. I tried putting up little fences inside but they just hopped over them ....

 

[marquisella]

Quote: I would say she is not a silver birchen either. Just for information, they are called Black Birchen, not silver. If she did come from the breeders black birchen pen, she is not correct anyhow. My guess would be more cuckoo than anything else.
The club has decided to call Birchens, which denotes Silver without saying silver, Black or Blue Birchen, according to the body color.
Sue

 

[Wynette]

Dick, I didn't think you were being negative at all. I like the hard truth from experienced folks. I agree with you (sorry Wynette) about a lot of people being into their chickens as pets or just not being up to the task of breeding for breeding rather than just making more pretty birds and not wanting to let little so and so go to the freezer. I am not a fan of culling chicks. I don't. I want to eat anything that isn't worth breeding. I have a family here and I hate the idea of eating all those crosses out of the grocery store when my birds are here. I do hate the moment of death for them coming from my hand, but no one else is going to do it. My son cried when I processed his turkey. So, if I am going to be serious here and try to be known a respectable breeder then I have to get the dirt and like it. Well... maybe not LIKE it but I have to be willing to make decisions. I will admit I am disappointed that neither of the pullets shown are worth the time. I really liked their color and their type was alright. Their ears and legs and chests were all good color. Their temperament is good. Still, not a comment on the males. Both supposedly came out of Davis and Wade lines. The pullets are from Taylor Hobby Farms and DM Ripey. Not the unseen white eared girl. She came with the cockerels.

Is a pinched tale something that carries forward? I was trying to get the right stock to work with to build a small flock here. I know none will be perfect but I didn't want to work with total crap either (to be blunt.) These are all I have, these six birds. Three males, three females. The last male has terrible comb issues from the severe cold we have had here so I can't post without shame. I have shown pics of him before.

Now what?

Ash, why are you apologizing to me? No need to! I have no issue with what DON said, just in how he said it. I'm a firm believer in the hard truth, to be sure. And I, too, cull very heavily (by ANYONE'S standards).

You are being quite open to hearing the feedback foks are giving...that's the first step, so KUDOS to you! When we close our ears, that's when we get in trouble. Each time you visit BYC or the Marans forums, or other places in reagard to learning about chickens (I speak of myself as well, and everyone else for that matter) you have an opportunity to learn - it's easy to be frustrated with this breed, as so many are so far from SOP. To be able to recognize good quality is tough, and especially so when we're mostly relying on pictures, as they never tell the whole story of the bird. My suggestion is keep looking...keep hearing...keep posting...we're all here to help each other!