Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[marquisella]

Quote: You shouldn't get a splash, I was just saying, from the photo, it looks like maybe a splash chick...dunno

 

[flgardengirl]

I've got 11 Blue Coppers and 11 Blue Birchens growing out right now. They are just two weeks old. Many with some SERIOUS street sweepers. Just one clean legged Blue Birchen and only a couple more with sparse feathering. LOADS of black. Just 1 splash in the whole lot and very few blue. I haven't got a clue what to expect from the Blue Birchens but I am curious to grow them out. Definitely some chunky little monkeys in the brooder this time around. Southern birds, it seems, are full of beans!!

You must post pics of your blue birchens when they start coloring up I loved mine (eggs that I purchased) but gave up on them due to the male showing mahogany in the wing. I am starting a new birchen project with the black birchen female I have and pure blue males or perhaps lavender marans (for lav birchens).

 

[Zanna]

yes that is my thought, but then I thought that bullseyes meant it was fertile AND viable (until I read marquisella's comments below). He does mate with them; he is probably 1 1/2 years old (person I got them from said he was a year old then). I wouldn't have a clue how to do AI LOL! I'd rather get another rooster and have been looking around with no success so far. His diet is FF, 18% and 25% waterfowl and turkey grower, ACV, sprouted wheat and barley grains, scraps, & mealworms and free ranging. He is shiny and healthy and full of energy.
thank you for this; I am definitely going to have to get another rooster to check this out if the next lot of eggs don't hatch either! He is such a good roo, it's a shame; lovely with the hens, finding them food, watching out for danger, etc. He seems very healthy - so you are saying that the sperm count in roosters can go down if they get too hot or cold?? Like in humans? I'll need to get him to stop wearing those tight underpants...

And make sure to keep him out of the hot tub

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:Originally Posted by snowbird

"Barb, I just use what has been around for years with the Gamefowl people. The first 18 days 40-45 and day 18 60-65 I look for the 65 as that is what I think is best. Most are their own worst enemy. I do not use the gravity system they sell as I get too much humidity. I use the original pan they used to give with the sportsman and the last three days just ad a second.

I run the temp. right at 100 and leave it there during the hatch. I like to use a seperate incubator the last three days. I have had better hatches using a seperate hatcher. If they are hatching a little slow turn up the temp. 1/2 deg"



I always run my bators right about 100 F. I hatch all my chicks at the same time that way, a day early for most of them, whether they are Marans, silkies, ameraucanas, or orpingtons. I first started doing that when I was using the LGs for incubators (with fans) because they were hard to keep at a stable 99.5 so I either had to run at 99 or run at 100. If I ran them at 99 they were a day late. 100 they were a day early. Now I always do it at 100F because it works the best for me no matter which incubator or hatcher I am using here. I have no problems with chicks drowning or dying during hatching. If they pip, they hatch...even if I do have to open the incubator for some reason. (I have a little trick for that situation as well that really seems to work).






Incubators can be so diverse, I think people just kinda have to do a lot of hatching with their particular incubator to see what works for them in their environment.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: I have the opposite problem, have a roo without any copper, but can't get hens with correct hackles..no color.
But, have 1 week old chick and 3 more in the hatcher, with a couple more incubating...I've got my fingers crossed these chicks will have correct color. Yes, he lost a foot, but still manages to breed the hens.

 

[flgardengirl]

I hope you get good coloring on your next batch. Okay now I am intrigued about your one footed roo. Do you mean he is crippled or actually lost his foot?
Reason I ask is (this is a little OT) because I have this half grown roo chick that apparently something happened to one of his legs cuz he wasn't born that way but I think it got dislocated and now one of his legs is longer than the other. He isn't a Marans but a key west so a little on the wild side lol. He kinda hops around on the good leg and swipes the bad one outwards without touching the ground like he is riding a skateboard or scooter. It is kinda funny but I am wondering if I should just cull him or if he would have a somewhat normal life. I know I can't keep him with the other roos for sure. Right now, he has 2 silkie baby mommas for company and their 7 little chicks that they are sharing. He thinks he is the baby daddy and is glad for the company.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I have two boys that are black black... no copper showing although they are black coppers. What should i expect if i put them with a properly coppered female? would the chicks be black? normal? and should i expect chicks with black eyes? They are quite nice except for the coloring, big and beefy with nice combs and nice leg feathers. They are still only 13 weeks but definitely strutting about, sparring and crowing so i'm not sure how much their color will change yet? I was expecting to just cull them but thought i'd ask just in case there was something to do with them?


I don't have to keep them i have about 9 bcm boys coming up but having trouble figuring out a good plan based on what i have.. my current plan is to keep 1 BCM, 1 blue copper and one Black Tailed Buff rooster. I have wheatens also but i can't handle so many different ones at the same time... (although i'm having trouble parting with the wheatens tho ... )

 

[HenryandSally]

Hello everyone,

I live in upstate New York, near Binghamton. I am looking for some Black Copper Marans fertile hatching eggs. I was hoping to find some within a reasonable travel distance so they don't have to be shipped. Thanks for your help!

 

[flgardengirl]

I have two boys that are black black... no copper showing although they are black coppers. What should i expect if i put them with a properly coppered female? would the chicks be black? normal? and should i expect chicks with black eyes? They are quite nice except for the coloring, big and beefy with nice combs and nice leg feathers. They are still only 13 weeks but definitely strutting about, sparring and crowing so i'm not sure how much their color will change yet? I was expecting to just cull them but thought i'd ask just in case there was something to do with them?


I don't have to keep them i have about 9 bcm boys coming up but having trouble figuring out a good plan based on what i have.. my current plan is to keep 1 BCM, 1 blue copper and one Black Tailed Buff rooster. I have wheatens also but i can't handle so many different ones at the same time... (although i'm having trouble parting with the wheatens tho ... )

Sounds like they are still a little young. Roos that age still have a ton of growing and filling out to do and hormones will be kicking in even more.
Their eyes should be turning normal color by around 5 mos at least. I have had some that took quite a while for all their coppering to come in, especially saddle feathers on the roos. In my lines, I consider it a good thing when they are late getting the coppering vs early lol. However, if they are over melanized by say 6 mos with mahogany coloring instead of copper and the eyes stay dark then you will want to adjust your breeding plans. I wouldn't use any that are really over melanized.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote: I have the opposite problem, have a roo without any copper, but can't get hens with correct hackles..no color.
But, have 1 week old chick and 3 more in the hatcher, with a couple more incubating...I've got my fingers crossed these chicks will have correct color. Yes, he lost a foot, but still manages to breed the hens.

That's a GORGEOUS cock bird! I like him. I think I'm going to enjoy the Birchens. I just noticed the first bit of white on shoulders/wings today. They are just 2 weeks old. Is it safe to assume, those are boys?