Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[math ace]

Quote:
oooh good question!!!

I know! If it isn't Davis, Jean or Presley, then who else is there? Where's the diversity going to come from if everyone wants the same lines?

No Line is PERFECT. Each breeder is still trying to perfect their line. Each line has their own traits.

Some have that low rider look that I think Illia posted some pics of. Others all known to have hens that are mostly black with very little coppering, others are REALLY Big marans. . . . Some breeders are known to have issues with white feathers, some are known to have issues with squirell tails, etc. ..

There is not a "BEST" breeder. You will be DRAWN to a particular breeder because of what you think is "prettier".

Why go to these people if their line is not perfect? . . . .
answer: They have been around the longest and worked with the most. Once these lines get in other people's hands they get mixed - - - sometime improved upon MOST of the time - - not an improvement. Mixing the breeders lines can cause issues for a few generations. That is why it is important to know which line you have.

If you see a bird you like - - - ask which line it is. Keep doing this and you will find that you are drawn to a particular breeders line

JUST my opinion - - - so if you don't agree with me IT is OK

 

[math ace]

Quote:
There are only a few faults you can judge by REALLY early - - - leg color is one, side springs on comb

Some faults that appear can be fixed easily - - - lack of leg feathering.

Other faults take TIME to show up - - -- eye coloring

Some faults are to be expected and should not be the main reason for culling - - anything other than 5 point comb is a fault.

With Roosters, you are watching for the color developement on Breast, hackle and saddle area.

With hens, you are watching shape and mossiness. Final thing is at 5 - 6 months HOW DARK IS THAT EGG?

So, you see TIME is needed with these birds. Later on, you find that the bird you would of culled for bad coloring is JUST the one you need to fix a hen with the opposite amount of coloring.

 

[robnms]

No disagreements here!! I'm just starting out and want some rare breeds, I have Coronations, FBCM's and some Lav Orps on order. Is there a french standard that the U.S. breeders are trying to get to or are we trying to make up our own? I need to do some reading on the marans sites, Thanks for everyones info.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I don't understand the question - - - If you re-state it, I will try to answer it.

Do you want to know if they should look like the first chick photo?

I can not tell anything about the chicks in the second photo, other than they are black.


OR . . . . are you asking about the wheatens (chipmunk) looking chicks ? ?

 

[math ace]

Quote:
There is a porposed AMERICAN standard that is heavily based on the French standard for marans.

 

[robnms]

Quote:
I don't understand the question - - - If you re-state it, I will try to answer it.

Do you want to know if they should look like the first chick photo?

I can not tell anything about the chicks in the second photo, other than they are black.


OR . . . . are you asking about the wheatens (chipmunk) looking chicks ? ?

Yes, are all of the FBCM chicks suppose to look like the 1st pic. I think every pic I've seen looked like that but the bottom pic are the pullets I have. Are the pullets mostly black when hatched or is it from different lines? These are from Davis and Jeane lines breed together and some might be all Davis and the same for Jeane. I did notice that the pullet legs were darker gray/black than the cockerals when hatched. I marked them just to see if I could sex them and it worked so far and they're 6 weeks old.

 

[PepsNick]

Very great thread- this is going to be a sucess! Can not wait for the day that they're accepted.

 

[robnms]

Quote:
I just noticed your from the Chicken Whisperer land, do you know a site that I can download his show? I tried a few sites but it wouldn't let me.

 

[newlyweds]

I am loving this thread and learning so much!!

I'd love some feed back on my BCM's
My rooster, he is about 5 months in these pictures, and has filled out some since then.

1 of my Pullet's she isn't laying yet, I have two that look very similar to eachother and one that has a larger body and no coopering so far.

Thanks for your input!

 

[geebs]

Newlyweds:

Rooster: First off lets just say thanks for posting!!!
Head: The skull could be longer… (love the crowing picture…nice camera work)
Nice color to the comb and wattles An improvement for comb would be 5 points but not an ugly comb like my boy!!! 
Eye color is dark: needs to be red orange…
Ear coverts: too dark (need to be copper)
Beak horn: good
Shape of rooster: great
Color balance is toward black
He appears to be young so he still may gain some color in the saddle and eyes
Tail: excellent It is still growing but does not have the extra long coverts that we see sometimes.
Shank color: good
Feathering; adequate, could have more.
Back: good slope and nice width

Now for pullet number one:
She is a little young for determining eye color
Horn is good
Good length of neck
I am suspicious of the feathering however
She seems to have an overabundance of undercoating that is more gray than I would expect.. could just be a maturity thing or she is from a blue line possibly
Shanks: excellent
Feet:… The bottom of them are optimal color
I would have a close look to see that she has feathers to only the outside toe.
She likely would lose copper in her hackle if crossed on the male.

Pullet two:
This hen is better for substance
Eye color good
Horn: good
Hackle color good
Back (topline) sloping the wrong direction
Tail is good from what I can tell
Shank color: acceptable
Shank feathering is good.


This hen of the two may produce the best result though offspring may still lack color from the cross.

Not bad for a starter flock!!!

All of this is moot if you are just enjoying backyard birds.
About the MR:
He would be useful on long skulled over red females. That would be the correction you are looking for
His sillouette is very good. I am particularly happy with the way the back marries with the tail. For conformation he is really pretty good… Now for the color balance… Use the too light hens and you will get some nice offspring.

P.S. Love the mottled D'Uccle!!!

I have one of those also...