Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[DMRippy]

Here is a link to the book you can download it

http://openlibrary.org/books/OL7166403M/Principles_and_practice_of_poultry_culture

 

[snowbird]

Referring to the black bars in the hackle feathers. Anyone else remember this discussion?

Yes, the back flame is acceptable in BC and wheaten also. we have discussed this several times on BYC and went into why some have a wider stripe.

 

[Runawaylobster]

Zanna, Some of this goes against what I have always bred for in Marans.
"Black stock that has not been very carefully bred for color is usually a brown Black. Breeding from the blackest from of such Brown-Black birds develops the Standard Jet black with the green surface,sheen, and Brown casts eliminated. After this stage of development has been reached it becomes necessary to check the intensification of Black by breeding with a Standard bird of one sex a mate of the other in which the Black is dull yet free from pronounced rustiness. If two jet Black birds are mated, further intensification of the Black seems to bring it to Disintegration, and brings out the Purple Barring, which is a most objectionable character"

There is also something on the White tail Coverts and the white hackle undercolor, will post later if anyone would like.

Out of my 10 BCM chicks purchased 7 were boys (plus the 2 that i hatched, so now i am at 9 boys!!

, great to choose from but they sure do eat alot while they are growing)

.. one has this purple sheen and he is the blackest of them, super dark black. He also isn't showing any copper at all yet but i loved the black and he has nice other features. he is only 11 weeks. Is there any suggested pairing that could make use of the super black color rather than just to check the black?

 

[ashandvine]

Yes, the back flame is acceptable in BC and wheaten also. we have discussed this several times on BYC and went into why some have a wider stripe.

I know its irritating to restate for the incoming class every year. Thank you for doing it on a teacher's salary too

 

[Wynette]

I know its irritating to restate for the incoming class every year. Thank you for doing it on a teacher's salary too

I was actually trying to find that discussion link a few weeks ago and couldn't find it.

 

[snowbird]

I know its irritating to restate for the incoming class every year. Thank you for doing it on a teacher's salary too

I can tell you in short order that the width of the Flame has something to do with the actual color of the hackle, for instance the Mahogany hackle will have a very thin stripe and the blended hackle will have a wider stripe, everything else would fall in between, also the ear tuft color will have a bearing. None of these topics are just cut and dried topics.

 

[Wynette]

Okay, I "think" this is where we first began discussing the black stripe (or "flame") in the male hackles:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444381/black-copper-marans-discussion-thread/1890#post_6207444

 

[Zanna]

Okay, I "think" this is where we first began discussing the black stripe (or "flame") in the male hackles:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444381/black-copper-marans-discussion-thread/1890#post_6207444

So glad you posted where it was, I could not find it........ I have followed this thread since the first post but the last few days have brought up some great reminders, lots of forgotten, valuable information and discussions . Time to read the thread from the beginning again!

 

[snowbird]

A comment on the male size of the Hackle and saddle black stripe. 1 1/2 year ago my last big hatch of BC female with excellent Copper necks were from a Male with wide Flame in the hackle and also the Saddle over females that were mostly Black with no color.

If you use the more Mahogany male with narrow stripe you will get less color in the female necks.

If you are luchy and have female with good neck color I believe you would want to use a male with a medium stripe to smaller stripe.

 

[Ray from PA]

I will see if the sheens will show up with a flash while the birds are on the roost tonight...... I have a youngster with strictly purple sheen right now and one with both green and purple. Don says do not cull for this until the juvie molt, the purple may go away, time will tell.

Zanna,,, thanks for taking the time to take and post the photos,,, I have noticed the green/purple in a few pullets also,,,,, another "head-scratcher"

The pics turned out ok in the dark, the green and purple sheen are brilliant in the sunshine but I think the pics show it well enough. These are both young pullets, first pic. pullet one has no green sheen, only the purple (compare to the green sheen on the cockeral next to her), second and third pic are of the same pullet, she has purple and green.

Quoted from the SOP: "Black Birds, Plumage: Surface -- lustrous greenish black. Undercolour--(except where otherwise specified) dull black in dark-legged varieties, slate in yellow legged varieties." BCM's are not in the current SOP and I do not know whether they are listed under the Black Varieties or not but I would guess so, anyone???

I have found some interesting info on the Purple barring and the green feathers. If anyone has the Principles and practice of Poultry Culture by JOHN H. ROBINSON look on page #529 It also talks about the White Tail Coverts and the white in Hackle undercolor. It is not breed specific, and is a very old book. If anyone is interested I can write out what it says for all.

Thanks again Don,,,, was hoping you would add your words of experience on this one too !
Would love to hear all that you have on the white coverts and under the hackle,,,, definitely one of the deamons I am dealing with,,,, cockerals I decided to grow out seem to have it now,,, I'd love to post photos, but no camera available to get anything uploaded to the thread.
Thanks in advance !

A comment on the male size of the Hackle and saddle black stripe. 1 1/2 year ago my last big hatch of BC female with excellent Copper necks were from a Male with wide Flame in the hackle and also the Saddle over females that were mostly Black with no color.

If you use the more Mahogany male with narrow stripe you will get less color in the female necks.

If you are luchy and have female with good neck color I believe you would want to use a male with a medium stripe to smaller stripe.

More good stuff,,, thanks again ! When does your BCM breeders book with illustrations come out ???