Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[ochochicas]

Thanks for all the info 3riverschick! I think I'm pretty good with genetics, but I just don't have much interest in hatching out eggs. I'd get too frustrated when they didn't hatch or when the best ones ended up being cockerels. LOL I'l leave all the hatching to you guys!

I've looked over many of your photos, and you all have gorgeous birds! Despite some minor flaws they may have, I think they are marvelous. If you ever have some roosters to cull you can send the my way - I'd love to look at them out in the yard everyday.

I took some pics of my Marans eggs yesterday. I don't think the lighting was good, but here they are.
Top left are Splash Marans, bottom are Black copper Marans (they have lots of dark spots), and top right are from Wheaten Marans - they are averaging 75 grams so they are jumbo. (they look smaller in the photo due to camera angle). The hens are just over a year old and are averaging 5 eggs each per week.

 

[miakauai]

I also have an adult hen that's going threw molting right now bit she's all black too maybe Alittle over a year

I don't think I have ever seen Copper improve in a pullet.... don't see a ton of pullets with it but I don't think it has ever gotten better..... strange.  Don't think I have seen it improve much in a cockerel either. 

I am not saying it can't improve just that I have not seen it.

 

[maryhysong]

I like him, a LOT. Exceptional width, nice back angle/tail angle, consistent copper color throughout, very nice balance to this bird. The bit of extra copper on the chest will likely become more prevalent, but still...he's got quite a bit to work with. I'd like to find one as nice in type!

Thank you; yes, this K and one other are the only contenders so far for keepers this year. The other one is a little older and from completely different lines of birds. All of the brothers and half brothers to this K that I hatched this year, most of them have some major issue, straw hackles, pinched tails, ect. There are one or maybe two in the grow out pens that *might* turn out decent but it's a big maybe at this point. I will probably try breeding him back to the pen he came out of as well as a couple half sisters and see what happens. His full sister has similar type, less leg feathering and is overmelanized. She is also holding her tail quite low so I'm waiting on her. I have noticed that the tails tend to pick up as they get older.

 

[Localheronow]

ONE NEST TWO HENS

 

[DMRippy]

I have broodies in nest boxes 4-6 deep sometimes. Strangely some eggs are still cold LOL.

 

[One Chick Two]

I have broodies in nest boxes 4-6 deep sometimes. Strangely some eggs are still cold LOL.

LOL

 

[Wickischickies]

This is my only hen I've been collecting eggs from this year to hatch. I hatched her last year. She lays the darkest eggs out of all my hens. Can anyone tell me if she is correct in color, and eye color? It isn't a great picture, I turned off the lights in the coop because she is broody.

 

[DMRippy]

This is my only hen I've been collecting eggs from this year to hatch. I hatched her last year. She lays the darkest eggs out of all my hens. Can anyone tell me if she is correct in color, and eye color? It isn't a great picture, I turned off the lights in the coop because she is broody.

It is hard to tell from the pic. Bay is the color the eyes should be, they look like they are on the green side but that might be my computer. The hackles are mahogany color but that is not a deal breaker. What color are the bottom of her feet?.... she is going to LOVE you looking if she is broody.

The picture is not good enough to really comment on type but she looks OK. the wing is looking a little off and the tail a little high, but she does not look happy in the picture and that may not be her normal LOOK.

 

[Wickischickies]

lol, it's not her normal look, her feathers are standing up, wings slighly out from the body and raised a bit, tail raised and head lowered, it's her attack stance because I pulled her from the nest.

I did just check her feet... she bites! Her feet are the same color as her legs. Her eyes are a yellow, I never noticed. Most of my flock as redish eyes except her (I don't know what you mean by bay). Her chicks that I hatched out has black eyes (its a month old) will that change and how did I get black? The rooster she is with has gray legs and gray feet but he is more black than copper and he has redish eyes. My other rooster has better color but he pulls out his leg feathers and has since he was a chick. I've tried putting oil on them so he'd quit pulling them out among other things I've tired, but nothing I do is helping. I'm at a loss on why he pulls out his feathers (on his legs and around his neck), I thought mites which everything I've tried should have killed them. I'm hoping next year his looks will improve and I can use him again. He is my favorite out of the two roosters. he was attacked by the neighbor's cat last fall and lost the tips of his comb in the attack. They are slowly coming back, darn cat.

Thank you for the tips DMRippy

 

[huntseat]

Bay is a combined set of colors, not a color per-se.

Bay is usually a red body with black points. Even this is not a good description because the shade of 'red' in the body can vary widely.

I think the word bay is used here to indicate a dark orange brown.