Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[pinkchick]

Comb growth differs a lot between lines.  I think sometimes when comb development outstrips the growth of the head and skull you get a slight wave that does go away when the head catches up.  But I have only seen this in my cuckoos.  Some of them have a really bad twist at initial development - part of the comb seems "stuck" down inside while the rest grows like gangbusters all around it.  Then it just pops out and everything eventually straightens out nicely.  I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen it myself.

I have to agree with this. I have noticed this on some of my blue copper male babies. Some of them start out with a little twist then straighten themselves out.

I also agree, I have had several cockerels with this little twist or wave in the front of the comb and by maturity it has straightened itself out.


Hi Flgarden!

 

[maryhysong]

In my flock, chicks with no white feathers have turned out to be solid black hens. Most of my hens are colored that way.

thank you for that! I have tagged them but I think there is at least one boy in the bunch; will know sexes better in another couple weeks, since some of them are only about 12 days old at the moment.

 

[ellymayRans]

Thanks so much for the responses on the "wavy" comb! I was a little concerned but as most things with them I will patiently wait to see how they all turn out!

 

[macgeoghagen]

Until now I was't aware that a wave in the comb was a major problem. The hen in the background right of this picture has it.

 

[jendodd79]

Jendodd - I love the shade of copper in your female's hackles!

Thank you!

She's beautiful! I can't wait until she's fully grown

 

[flgardengirl]

Sometimes in the adult females it might not always be technically a wave. Their combs sometimes flop over due to hormones when they laying heavily. I have a black marans hen and a blue marans hen that both get larger combs that turn deep red and flop over when they are laying heavily and go broody. If they aren't laying at all their combs go straight back up and turn paler pink. Those are the only two that do that but its not supposed to be a fault for the hens when that happens.

 

[jendodd79]

Here's another view with better colouring - 13 weeks! When do Marans typically start to lay?

 

[flgardengirl]

My BCM and bl coppers usually lay between 5 1/2 - 6 mos. If you watch them closely sometimes you will see signs: like the females will squat down when you go to pick them up. Also they will start getting redder in the face and comb and wattles will get a little larger and redder.

 

[bwalden]

My black coppers just started laying a few weeks ago. They were about 8 months old on their first egg. Their combs and wattles did get more red right before they started to lay. I also noticed them singing the egg song a lot about that time.

 

[blackbirds13]

Posted over on the Marans thread but hoping for a critique - everyone's probably as busy as can be so posting here to.



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