Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[SIMZ]

I was wrong - it's my better male that is missing the toes. I am so, so disappointed by this. Is there any chance this is something that isn't genetic? He hatched from shipped hatching eggs. Maybe it's common that shipping damages the "3rd toe gene" or something?

HOW did I miss this?

Can anyone give me any hope that I could still use him as my breeding male?

 

[snowbird]

I was wrong - it's my better male that is missing the toes. I am so, so disappointed by this. Is there any chance this is something that isn't genetic? He hatched from shipped hatching eggs. Maybe it's common that shipping damages the "3rd toe gene" or something?

HOW did I miss this?

Can anyone give me any hope that I could still use him as my breeding male?

In feather Shank chicken the Rudimentary Toe is not a fault or DQ. This is in the first 40 pages of the SOP

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

I was wrong - it's my better male that is missing the toes. I am so, so disappointed by this. Is there any chance this is something that isn't genetic? He hatched from shipped hatching eggs. Maybe it's common that shipping damages the "3rd toe gene" or something?

HOW did I miss this?

Can anyone give me any hope that I could still use him as my breeding male?

Could you please post a photo for us newbies?

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

My marans usually quit laying for about two weeks when I move them to the breeder pens. I need 3 weeks for clean-out anyways as when free-ranging they are with several Cocks. The Delawares on the other hand just keep laying!

I have read this about the hens getting so upset and not laying. Some people have pens of hens and rotate cocks. I only have 12 BBS Marans total. We have built two breeder pen/runs by splitting our very large chicken house and outside yard into three: two for the breeder groups and one for the layer flock. I can rotate cocks if I choose to change matings. I figure if I want to change the hens' groups I can do that when they molt. Do they really adapt to being put into individual cages to lay for setting eggs? I know so little...but I'll just keep reading and talking to people.

 

[Zanna]

I have read this about the hens getting so upset and not laying. Some people have pens of hens and rotate cocks. I only have 12 BBS Marans total. We have built two breeder pen/runs by splitting our very large chicken house and outside yard into three: two for the breeder groups and one for the layer flock. I can rotate cocks if I choose to change matings. I figure if I want to change the hens' groups I can do that when they molt. Do they really adapt to being put into individual cages to lay for setting eggs? I know so little...but I'll just keep reading and talking to people.

They amazingly adapt to almost anything! I only single mate at this point. If I can for sure tell the hens eggs apart I will house 2 - 3 in with the cock. If not, only one hen per pen. Don't have the time to trap nest at this point, working full time kind of gets in the way

 

[SIMZ]

Pictures of his feet:

 

[Nikki816]

This is very normal for chicks... as they molt the new feathers should come in black...

This is the chick I was talking about. I could understand a little white, but its almost every feather on its chest and back. My blue and splash coppers from a different breeder didn't have any white on them and this was the only one that hatched from this breeder, so I have nothing to compare it to.

 

[SIMZ]

Rudimentary Toe is also discussed in this thread starting on page 650 for any newbies interested.

Is that the correct term for what is going on with the male's feet that I posted above?

Thanks!

 

[snowbird]

Rudimentary Toe is also discussed in this thread starting on page 650 for any newbies interested.

Is that the correct term for what is going on with the male's feet that I posted above?

Thanks!

Yes

 

[Runawaylobster]

My marans usually quit laying for about two weeks when I move them to the breeder pens. I need 3 weeks for clean-out anyways as when free-ranging they are with several Cocks. The Delawares on the other hand just keep laying!

Ditto.... it is a big problem if you want to isolate one to collect the eggs.. ...