Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Raven1]

That would be a god send for Silkies! I need more info on this. Silkies are so very hard to sex for a long time!

 

[Wynette]

I am a bit on the fence about keeping this cockerel or not. Input appreciated. hatched 1/27
Faults I see; his comb and wattles are a bit big, his shanks are feathered but it doesn't extend down the outside toe. He has some color on his chest but not as much as many of his younger brothers. I like the shade of red copper he has and it is pretty even. A lot of the other young cockerels have a yellower hackle with more black in it. So far his tail angle isn't bad; having an issue with squirrel tails on some. No white feathers





At the moment I'm comparing him to this cockerel, hatched last Nov from a completely different line of birds. He still has a big comb and wattles, but his chest is black and his legs and toes fully feathered, nice red copper color. This pic is from April I have noticed lately tho that his tail is coming up more and I"m afraid it may end up too high. No white feathers



I have several batches of younger cockerels that hatched in March and April growing out. So far no one of them is really catching my eye and quite a few will be culls due to pinched tails, squirrel tails, yellow hackle. So far these are the best two prospects I have for this year. Perhaps I should keep both and do some test hatches this fall.

The issue I've got with my pullets is not enough copper on them. Would using the first cockerel with that bit of color on his chest help with that?

I agree with most of what's been said on these two males. Each has issues and nice things about them, I guess if they were mine, I'd try them both, IF the first male is not roachbacked. I'm thinking it may just be the camera angle on that. The first male's wing carriage is actually too high; however, he may have just ruffeld himself up just priot to pic - not sure there. I actually like his head better than the second male's. The shank color is too light on the first male, but too dark on the second. The topline is nicer on the 2nd male, but he's hatched chested; he's young and it may fill in, but at this age, he should have much more breast on him. Color balance on both is nice. The underline is better on the first male. I can definitely see why you're having trouble making a choice if you need to choose between these two! BEST of luck, and keep up the good work!

 

[Wynette]

Hey, I was just thinking . . . A friend of mine offered this little treat- DNA testing of chicks to find out who is female/ male. I know for our BCM it is the longest time before we know and when we start to sell off non-sq pullets/ cockerels at 3 month, it would be a nice guarantee. I was reading up on it and it appears that you can test up to 9 birds by plucking chest feathers and sending them in for testing- supposed to be $10 plus postage. I think we are going to give it a try. Any thoughts or experience?

That's very interesting; I am usually about 95% sure by 8 weeks, but this would be interesting to try for sure. I know that DNA testing is done on larger birds such as Emu, that look the same as adults, but they use the dried membrane from the inside of the egg, post-hatch, for that. I've not heard of using feathers.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Bragging post. Cut me some slack as this is the first homebred BCM pullet to lay...

Lovely first egg from BCM of our breeding...egg photos are so difficult. Looking at this photo with the actual egg next to it makes the pullet egg look like a #5 on the Marans scale, but putting the egg behind the chart (hole punched in chart so you can see the egg) puts this beauty at a solid #7. Next to this pullet's egg is a #5 BCM egg (she's been laying since November) with a Barred Rock egg on the right for comparison.

 

[johnderosa1]

Bragging post. Cut me some slack as this is the first homebred BCM pullet to lay... [COLOR=333333]Lovely first egg from BCM of our breeding...egg photos are so difficult. Looking at this photo with the actual egg next to it makes the pullet egg look like a #5 on the Marans scale, but putting the egg behind the chart (hole punched in ch[/COLOR]art so you can see the egg) puts this beauty at a solid #7. Next to this pullet's egg is a #5 BCM egg (she's been laying since November) with a Barred Rock egg on the right for comparison.

Congratulations!!!!

 

[muddyfeathers]

Awesome! Can I ask where do you get a chart such as that?

 

[Wynette]

Awesome! Can I ask where do you get a chart such as that?

You can purchase through the Marans Chicken Club, USA: http://www.maranschickenclubusa.com/

 

[marnette]

Here are 2 pictures of my 12 week old Black Copper Marans. I know #1 is a rooster but I was being hopeful for #2 being a hen. I am thinking that #2 may also be a rooster The comb and wattles are a lot smaller and are more pink than red. What do you think ?





#1

#1

#2

#2

 

[Wynette]

both are cockerels.

 

[marnette]

That's what I was afraid of.