Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Ray from PA]

Ray, The MCCusa is the group promoting the Marans with the APA so should be the one you would want to support. They are writing up the different Standards for different varietys

Thanks Don,,, that didn't even come up in my google search

 

[gilavina]

if you are wanting to see the MCCusa's website, it is marans.org

 

[heath_elisha]

They also have a email group through Yahoo, which you can be apart of and receive emails from members of the group. Good place to learn.
http://groups.yahoo.com/ do a search for Marans_Chicken_Club I was just looking at photos of the Shawnee show and I have to say, it is very helpful to see birds that placed well.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Here is the hen I mentioned a few weeks ago, I'm not thrilled with her, leg feathering could be better, hackles only have a hint of copper, but body type seems OK and nothing major wrong that I can see. Those with more experience I welcome any comments or critique. She is young, not sure how young but I think about 7 months. Also I can tell she was underfed, since I got her she has really put on some weight and still gaining. My question: why is her eye two-toned in color? Is this a problem for breeding?

I got a second hen with her, better copper hackle and better leg feathering but she has quite a bit of white on her earlobe. Please confirm- that's a no-no for breeding, right?






Hen #2 with white on earlobe:


They do have decent eggs though! The flash is washing them out, they are about a 4 on my Maran scale. I think only one is laying so far, I get one egg every one to two days.


Is there a way to keep them from "scratching" up the color coating? Short of an egg drop system.

 

[ashandvine]

I'm going to sound snobby here and say I would want darker eggs. My Wellies lay about the color this photo is showing.

I'm still confused on the enameling or white face/ear lobes. There was quite a discussion going about it possibly being a wheaten expression and then it all died suddenly with the impending holiday. SO...

If your FCBM has white ears and legs and clearly has white nairs instead of the red.... ? ANYONE?

 

[Wynette]

I'm not seeing the white lobes - can you provide a close-up pic like you did with the first female?

I agree that I'd want darker eggs.

I'm not personally keen on hen #1's tail - #2 appears to have much better type, but that's really difficult to see from the pics. As far as #1 not having enough copper in her hackles, I think that could be remedied depending on what male you use with her.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I agree, I do want darker eggs. Definitely one of my goals. I am just at the usual impasse of WHERE to source good stock. My foundation pair hen lays eggs one number darker, she is the one I posted a lot about a few weeks ago. See her at the bottom. I think I am just going to have to work with what I have for this season. However I have to say as I stood in the garden and watched Hen #1 the more I thought her shape and gait were off... I think you are right her tail is more pinched, too. GRRRR. Do I breed from her or not? No comments about the strange bi-coloring of her eyes?

Female #2 from above doesn't have white lobes- more like white-streaked, almost chalky? Breedable or not?



Here's the egg color from Daisy, my first choice hen. Between a 4 and a 5 on the maran scale. Again I do want to work towards darker, but I feel given my choices it is a good start.



As a reminder, THIS is Daisy. Her biggest fault is her black eyes. But my rooster has nice orangey eyes so I am hopeful for their offspring. She is definitely a keeper.



I know there is no PERFECT choice. Every single thing I can find locally has some major flaw, and trust me I have looked. I am kicking myself that I almost went to the Shawnee show last weekend but with a 2 hour drive and 4 little kids and Christmas around the corner...

Can't be undone now. So now I am just looking at what I can live with given what I have...

 

[snowbird]

Rinda, Does your female in the last picture have brown in the wing triangle feathers, Could be the camera.

 

[snowbird]

I'm going to sound snobby here and say I would want darker eggs. My Wellies lay about the color this photo is showing.

I'm still confused on the enameling or white face/ear lobes. There was quite a discussion going about it possibly being a wheaten expression and then it all died suddenly with the impending holiday. SO...

If your FCBM has white ears and legs and clearly has white nairs instead of the red.... ? ANYONE?

The white ear lobe comes mostly from the PENNE blood that was added for the egg color. The only way to correct is to cull.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

No, she is a nice solid black, no brown triangle or brown fluff anywhere. I do not have the greatest camera and it was a blindingly bright day.