Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[SIMZ]

Mahalo. I've been reading for what seems like hours and now I'm more worried than ever. I think I will just relax, set the eggs next week, and see what happens. With initial humidity 35-40%, candling/weighing/drawing air sacs on shells at days 7,14, and 18, and up the humidity to I'm not sure what yet but I'll know when I get there. BTW, did you get my photos of the blue coppers in PM?

I hatched several hatches of chicks last spring in an older Sportsman cabinet incubator. It didn't occur to me that the higher humidity would affect the younger batches until the end of my hatching season. I had very good hatches all the way through, even though I was raising the humidity about every week or so for hatches. So, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you start having poor hatch rates.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

I hatched several hatches of chicks last spring in an older Sportsman cabinet incubator. It didn't occur to me that the higher humidity would affect the younger batches until the end of my hatching season. I had very good hatches all the way through, even though I was raising the humidity about every week or so for hatches. So, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you start having poor hatch rates.

Mahalo (thank you), that is great information. At this point I have NO hatches, this is my first try. I just don't want to unnecessarily kill any chicks because I didn't study enough. There seem to be a lot of followers of the dry incubation method. Right now, the old 1266 is running steady at 99.5 dry and 73 wet temps, which I believe is approx. 27% RH. I experimented yesterday some with putting some water in the pan and covering/uncovering parts of it with foil and was able to get it up around 50%. Now I understand the need for pads/sponges to increase surface area for higher RH at hatch. I will weigh the eggs at 7, 14, & 18 days just to be sure. I plan to set on Wed. or Thurs. next week. Spooky chicks!

 

[DMRippy]

[COLOR=0000FF]Thanks for the replys, I've got some better pics… Top pic is pretty obviously 2 Cockerels. Not a bad thing as my son really wants to replace our current alpha. He has too much gold in his hackles, I'm not to keen on the idea as he is the best Roo I can ever remember having…nice to the ladies AND the chicks, never, ever takes a run at me… I like him.[/COLOR] [COLOR=0000FF]The BCMs in the background I'm thinking Cockerel…any guesses on the OEs in the foreground? Not really the thread for it, but I know a lot of you have OEs as well as Marans.[/COLOR] [COLOR=0000FF]I'm not completely certain that the next 2 pictures are of the same chick…It's in the exact same spot, white feathers at top of neck seem to be in the same spot…but the comb looks different to me. I'm feeling like Pullet in the first pic, then cockerel in the next?? [/COLOR] [COLOR=0000FF]This one I feel certain is a Pullet, shame she's got such a dark eye. [/COLOR]

bottom 3 look like pullets and the top ones look like roos.

 

[desertmarcy]

Just wondering what this color is called in Marans. I would guess both of the males are from the same hatch. Take a look at the white legs.

It looks mahogany to me.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Yes, you are right. The Mahogany color will have very little in the way of a flame in the hackle.

 

[lizgarf]

Hi folks,
I've trolled a bit here and I'm ready to ask my first questions. My two broodies hatched two marans chicks 11 and 12 days ago (the other eggs didn't make it, for a number of reasons, including that the eggs were shipped). I chose marans for their dark eggs. I can't keep a roo and won't be breeding, and I would actually prefer to have more copper and varied coloring than the show-quality hens I'm reading about here in this thread. I don't know much about the breeder's stock, but he's relatively new, and doesn't specialize in marans. The eggs were sold as BBS Copper.

I would like to hear from you what you think these two chicks may become in terms of sex and coloring. They look black to me, with some bluish tones, and with a yellowish tint to their white areas, especially the rump. Also, I wing-feather-checked them at about 2 days old, and one (#2) looked convincingly like a girl, based on the different length feathers, and the other one (who was one day older, so #1) was harder for me to tell either way, but looked more like the feathers were even in length. Other than that, the only differences between them that I can see are that #1 has a very slightly more obvious comb, mostly because it's yellower, but it's also slightly taller, and it has some white in its wings, and it's smaller. Otherwise, they seem identical in shape and stature, which looks more pullet to me than roo, but I realize they're young. They both started getting tail feathers at about 6 or 7 days, and they're quite pronounced now.

Here are some shots:
#1 in the foreground, #2 in the back:


#1:


#2, #1 (you can see #2's yellowish rump, which may be getting less yellow):


Here is the most extreme angle emphasizing #1's brighter comb (the different lighting and blue walls, makes the chick look bluer):


Here they look so similar, I can't tell them apart:


Thanks! Hope I didn't over due it! I'm just slightly in love!

 

[dvoice]

Mahalo. I've been reading for what seems like hours and now I'm more worried than ever. I think I will just relax, set the eggs next week, and see what happens. With initial humidity 35-40%, candling/weighing/drawing air sacs on shells at days 7,14, and 18, and up the humidity to I'm not sure what yet but I'll know when I get there. BTW, did you get my photos of the blue coppers in PM?

I'm just finishing off a hatch. I had my hum. at 36-38% then upped it to 64-65 Day 19 although i'm only doing single batch and all 70 were BCM. Homebuilt cabinet should be pretty close.

 

[GreenAcresChick]

I tried to get better side shots of my BCM. The legs look slate from the front view. Unfortunately the Blue in the first pictures mysteriously died yesterday. He was in an enclosed breeding pen in an enclosed barn, so no predator. The only thing different was a new scratch I bought because the brand I usually buy was not there. My mother-in-law told me that the Phillips Scratch has molasses in it and that she had several chickens die after feeding it to them. Total bummer because I really liked him. Now I have to find another blue rooster.

 

[Broad St Farm]

Hi folks,
I've trolled a bit here and I'm ready to ask my first questions. My two broodies hatched two marans chicks 11 and 12 days ago (the other eggs didn't make it, for a number of reasons, including that the eggs were shipped). I chose marans for their dark eggs. I can't keep a roo and won't be breeding, and I would actually prefer to have more copper and varied coloring than the show-quality hens I'm reading about here in this thread. I don't know much about the breeder's stock, but he's relatively new, and doesn't specialize in marans. The eggs were sold as BBS Copper.

I would like to hear from you what you think these two chicks may become in terms of sex and coloring. They look black to me, with some bluish tones, and with a yellowish tint to their white areas, especially the rump. Also, I wing-feather-checked them at about 2 days old, and one (#2) looked convincingly like a girl, based on the different length feathers, and the other one (who was one day older, so #1) was harder for me to tell either way, but looked more like the feathers were even in length. Other than that, the only differences between them that I can see are that #1 has a very slightly more obvious comb, mostly because it's yellower, but it's also slightly taller, and it has some white in its wings, and it's smaller. Otherwise, they seem identical in shape and stature, which looks more pullet to me than roo, but I realize they're young. They both started getting tail feathers at about 6 or 7 days, and they're quite pronounced now.

Here are some shots:
#1 in the foreground, #2 in the back:


#1:


#2, #1 (you can see #2's yellowish rump, which may be getting less yellow):


Here is the most extreme angle emphasizing #1's brighter comb (the different lighting and blue walls, makes the chick look bluer):


Here they look so similar, I can't tell them apart:


Thanks! Hope I didn't over due it! I'm just slightly in love!

Really to early to tell on sexes right now. Give it a few weeks. Did you buy eggs and hatch them under a broody? Reason I asked is the Blue that looks like the mom. She has a pea comb (Which Marans are not Suppose to have) and to much copper or yellow in the chest. Again not suppose to have.

 

[Ray from PA]

Yes, you are right. The Mahogany color will have very little in the way of a flame in the hackle.

Is there a benefit in keeping a Mahogany colored Rooster in a breeding program to correct or improve color ???