Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[SoManyHats]

It will show early. Can you see it on her feathers?

Is mossiness when the feathers have a sort of rust color? That's what I see in your picture? Here's mine. I need to examine him more carefully.

 

[Chad Cool]

Is mossiness when the feathers have a sort of rust color? That's what I see in your picture? Here's mine. I need to examine him more carefully.

Yes please explain a little more. thanks

 

[Runawaylobster]

Yes please explain a little more. thanks

sometimes you have to put them in full sunlight to see it, so it's hard to see from a picture but I really don't see any mossiness in these last 3 chick pictures. that little guy looks black to me. The one DMrippy showed is an extreme case and easy to spot. If you see a little brown on the edges of the feathers that is mossiness, but remember you will see the brown coming through in the places it is supposed to be ie: hackles, not on the breast. I will try to post some pics of my mossies if i can get to them before it gets dark today.

I have had chicks that had very slight mossiness that disappeared as they got older, but not if they are really mossy.

 

[SoManyHats]

Thank you. I looked more closely yesterday and he does have some rust color on his wings. Also copper feathers coming in on his neck, but I guess that's normal for this age?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
Mine have always molted out the mossiness. I have only culled a few with copper on the breast.

 

[DMRippy]

Thank you. I looked more closely yesterday and he does have some rust color on his wings. Also copper feathers coming in on his neck, but I guess that's normal for this age?

For a roo that is normal.

 

[flgardengirl]

Mine almost never molt out mossiness. In my lines if they are mossy as a chick they are almost always mossy as an adult and its cull city lol. Important to keep records of your flocks/the traits of the birds you are working with and keep that flock closed for several years so you have a better idea what to expect. My best BCMs as adults are the ones that look little black and white penguins as chicks.

 

[Betty1]

I have 3 8 week old chicks at the moment who I think are 2 boys and a girl but not sure! One which I think is a boy has loads more copper colouring, and it goes all down his back, not just his neck. does this show he's a boy?

 

[chicken pickin]

I have 3 8 week old chicks at the moment who I think are 2 boys and a girl but not sure! One which I think is a boy has loads more copper colouring, and it goes all down his back, not just his neck. does this show he's a boy?

Posting pics will help. A boy will be obvious at 8weeks of age his comb will be very large and reddening and also he will have wattle development. A pullets comb will still be very tiny and pink and will have no wattle development. Also It sounds like your one you described has much too much copper on him, maybe he is mossy? Copper should only be coming in on the hackles at this age.

 

[maryhysong]

Chicken State University, the large fowl SOP thread is discussing Marans
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/732985/csu-chicken-state-university-large-fowl-sop/2110