Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Wynette]

Yep, agree with Don - side sprig. Good eye, Keara!

Kaitie - do you see what we're talking about? That male, toward the back of his comb, on his right side, there is a side sprig. It's an "extra" point of the comb that's growing out sideways, not in line with the normal points of the comb. It's either that, or a partial carnation comb. This is most definitely a cull point. Sorry, but that male needs to go to the stew pot.

I hope someone who knew better didn't pawn him off on you. I see that so often. Then again, there are a whole lot of folks who simply don't know.

 

[Kaitie09]

Thank you. Now looking at it I do notice the one point out of place. This breed does not pop up often around here so I'm sure someone was just trying to get rid of them and I had no clue. He has a great personality so I'll put him in with my layer flock. They're all pretty much mutts and the rooster in with them will be turning 7 this year, so I'll need to replace him anyway.

 

[Wynette]

Thank you. Now looking at it I do notice the one point out of place. This breed does not pop up often around here so I'm sure someone was just trying to get rid of them and I had no clue. He has a great personality so I'll put him in with my layer flock. They're all pretty much mutts and the rooster in with them will be turning 7 this year, so I'll need to replace him anyway.

Wow - what a testament to your good care that you have a male bird turning 7 this year! You clearly take good care of your critters!

 

[Kaitie09]

Wow - what a testament to your good care that you have a male bird turning 7 this year! You clearly take good care of your critters!

Thank you, I try. He is the grandson of our original hen from 2004. She passed away in 2010. She was a RIR and was still laying an egg every couple weeks, so I think that she lasted pretty long too. His mother died in 2011 at 6yrs but his 2 hatch mate (hens) are still living. All our mutts seem to last the longest.

 

[xlboergoats]

Congrats on the show, what r the dates of the Fort Worth show

We will go into Ft Worth on January 25th, the show is on the 26th, and we are released on the 27th. The Southwestern Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the oldest shows in Texas. We always have a blast at this show. I think that one thing that makes it so much fun is the venue. There are lots of things to see and do. Because it is held at such a big show, there are tons of people who visit the Poultry Barn.

Regards,
Ernie Haire
Arp, Texas
www.Marans2XL.com

 

[marquisella]

He has a Penedesenca type comb.. if all the birds came from the same breeder, I would cull all 3 and start over. Obviously, there is a lot wrong with the breeding.

Do you Wynette, see what I think I see on back of the roosters comb in this picture?
-Keara

Quote:

 

[xlboergoats]

He has a Penedesenca type comb.. if all the birds came from the same breeder, I would cull all 3 and start over. Obviously, there is a lot wrong with the breeding.

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but you asked about breeding these birds. Again it is based on how difficult it would be to replace them. It would also depend on what your long term goals were. If you want to raise good Marans and possibly show birds, I would have to agree with selling them to someone for backyard layers. You can always start over with better genetics.

We were lucky and hatched good Black Copper Marans chicks from nice eggs before we knew anything about the breed. I remember when we decided to get serious about breeding Marans I thought that we would just get on the Internet and go buy a good set of pullets. Little did I know that they were not on every corner. I did not know how lucky we were and how nice our Marans were until I started studying the Proposed Standards and we went our first Poultry Show. Attending Poultry Shows whether you are showing or not is a great place to compare birds and learn about the breed.

I think that we all have issues that we are working with within our flocks. I know that we have criteria that we breed for and issues that we breed against. If these birds are out of the same genetics, you know that you have issues in two of them that you need to work with. The thrid one doesn't seem to show any of these issues, but you can feel pretty sure that she has the genes.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I know that culling birds is a tough thing to deal with.

JMO,
Ernie Haire
Arp, Texas
www.Marans2XL.com

 

[Kaitie09]

I don't get my feelings hurt very easily and I'm just trying to learn. I'm not planning on showing them at all, or even breeding for other people besides myself, except for maybe a few family members down the line. They will only ever be backyard chickens. I really just want to create a darker egg color through the lines and try to get that #9 color on the scale. The reason I wanted them in the first place is for their dark eggs, and I knew I probably would not get the darkest right away, I'd have to breed them for that. At the same time, I would like them to look like the breed, which was why I was originally concerned about the all black hen with little feathering.

 

[Zanna]

Posted on the Marans thread but thought I would post here as well.......... two of 6 BCM cockerals from a single mating last fall have one full white feather on their outside toe among lots of black feathers. At 16 weeks old is this a definite cull point or are they too young yet? Hate to cull a promising young cockeral due to my inexperience. I don't need these guys and have no problem with sending them to the auction or the freezer. I also do not mind letting them grow out to see but with the cost of rising feed.... If they are too young to make a decision yet, typically how old should they be?

 

[snowbird]

Posted on the Marans thread but thought I would post here as well.......... two of 6 BCM cockerals from a single mating last fall have one full white feather on their outside toe among lots of black feathers. At 16 weeks old is this a definite cull point or are they too young yet? Hate to cull a promising young cockeral due to my inexperience. I don't need these guys and have no problem with sending them to the auction or the freezer. I also do not mind letting them grow out to see but with the cost of rising feed.... If they are too young to make a decision yet, typically how old should they be?

I always wait for the Juve molt and this varies as to age. I would wait a while longer until they do molt.