For anyone that has gotten bcm from a hatchery what hatchery did you get them from?
Black Copper Marans discussion thread
- Thread starter geebs
- Start date
Good morning!hi all! I am pretty new to this site and to hatching BCs. I had a dozen BC eggs shipped to Maine from TN at the end of December and on Friday (day 23! in the incubator) we had a little one hatch. This is the only baby that hatched, humidity and temp were all monitored daily with two different thermometers and were always fine! I know it is very hard to tell but any guesses on if we have a hen or roo? Any pointers on keeping a single chick healthy and happy? Do their legs typically darken as they grow or did I get a mutt? It doesn't matter to me either way except for when we start hatching eggs to sell chicks we just wouldn't sell babies from "her" eggs as true BC's. We will be setting more eggs this week from our BC girls this time, no more shipped eggs! So hopefully in a few weeks we will have some playmates for this little one!
It's difficult to tell so young, but my guess would be male, based on the width of the comb area and the thickness of the legs. Cute little bugger!
Thanks, Don & all - I was thrilled to hear it. I'm actually more excited that they took 2nd overall. I need to work on getting the sheen onto them, as the eggs were matte finish.
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Ok, here are better pics of my bc marans. I have shown them and got Champ Continental, BB, BV, RB, RV, Res. Champ and one judge just wrote ? on the coop tag. He said hhe had never seen any. My hens usually lay number 6 or 7 color eggs. Please let me know what you think.
I am just learning the standard so can't really comment other than they look to have good size; hopefully the more experienced folks will come along and educate us both.
Congratulations Wynette!
- Jan 30, 2009
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Ok everyone a little help
I'm throwing in the towel for my search of mature hens or close to it BCMs Now my question is...where should I get my chicks from? They don't carry locally so which hatchery? Thanks
I'm throwing in the towel for my search of mature hens or close to it BCMs Now my question is...where should I get my chicks from? They don't carry locally so which hatchery? Thanks
- Jan 4, 2009
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Maryhysong,
I think your birds look awesome, and I am fascinated following this thread and keep reading with great interest Ernie's knowledgeable contributions. I had Marans years back, and my favorites were two bantam cuckoo hens, one of which laid a gorgeously dark egg. Since then I gone through birds from various sources and currently have BCMs from 3 different sources. They do not have outstanding show characteristics, so I keep them simply for their beautiful looking eggs. I do not have the space to start a breeding program for them in the pursuit of conformation excellence along with maintaining their productivity and eggshell color, for I am concentrating on keeping several flocks of Welsummers going in that regard.
Ernie's report from the judge who stated that type comes first in a breed should be heeded by everybody. It takes a lot of work (and not to mention -- space) to work on type, color, production points etc. all at once, which is why, I believe, all white or all black birds especially appear to hold an advantage over others, although I personally tend to be more impressed by other varieties such as a light brown Leghorn or a columbian Rock or the like if they have superior color/markings along with reasonable conformation. This advantage/disadvantage is somewhat covered in the points distribution layout of the APA with a 10 point difference between whites and others. Colored birds present us with some challenges that are difficult (correct undercolor, white in the flights or tails, etc.), and the Marans is a relatively new breed for us, which means that we will have to deal with these things (although some breeders, such as Ernie, have started working on the white variety).
My experience with showing the Welsummers has been a bit of an eye opener to me. When a new breed is introduced, it may take quite some time for it to be a familiar sight at shows, and judges are not always in agreement on how to interpret the standard or assess the quality of a bird, including its type. While this is very frustrating for the exhibitor, it is totally understandable, and I don't really know how to get around it other than hoping that over time, as judges become more familiar with the breed, things become more settled. That said, however, I still see Welsummers totally misplaced on occasion although a couple of the shows I visited also had prominent birds placed up front. (I myself rarely show any longer.) One thing does bother me, though, when it comes to newly admitted breeds. While normally not openly admitting it, certain judges don't want to be bothered with new breeds and give them short shrift, not even bothering to look them up in the APA standard. Actually, I overheard comments from two that were pretty outrageous once. I guess such personal attitudes can never be totally overcome, but it is pretty sad.
In my personal opinion, fanciers of new breeds need to organize early on and encourage or arrange "educational seminars" for judges, and also there should be common agreement among breeders on what constitutes correct type, color, etc. in more details, perhaps, than what comes out in the Standard of Perfection. Over time, new breeds should find more understanding and acceptance with both the general fancier circles as well as judges.
Again, I think Marans breeders are doing an outstanding, fabulous job and wish I were younger, stronger, and resourceful enough to join your steady work to improve the breed.
I think your birds look awesome, and I am fascinated following this thread and keep reading with great interest Ernie's knowledgeable contributions. I had Marans years back, and my favorites were two bantam cuckoo hens, one of which laid a gorgeously dark egg. Since then I gone through birds from various sources and currently have BCMs from 3 different sources. They do not have outstanding show characteristics, so I keep them simply for their beautiful looking eggs. I do not have the space to start a breeding program for them in the pursuit of conformation excellence along with maintaining their productivity and eggshell color, for I am concentrating on keeping several flocks of Welsummers going in that regard.
Ernie's report from the judge who stated that type comes first in a breed should be heeded by everybody. It takes a lot of work (and not to mention -- space) to work on type, color, production points etc. all at once, which is why, I believe, all white or all black birds especially appear to hold an advantage over others, although I personally tend to be more impressed by other varieties such as a light brown Leghorn or a columbian Rock or the like if they have superior color/markings along with reasonable conformation. This advantage/disadvantage is somewhat covered in the points distribution layout of the APA with a 10 point difference between whites and others. Colored birds present us with some challenges that are difficult (correct undercolor, white in the flights or tails, etc.), and the Marans is a relatively new breed for us, which means that we will have to deal with these things (although some breeders, such as Ernie, have started working on the white variety).
My experience with showing the Welsummers has been a bit of an eye opener to me. When a new breed is introduced, it may take quite some time for it to be a familiar sight at shows, and judges are not always in agreement on how to interpret the standard or assess the quality of a bird, including its type. While this is very frustrating for the exhibitor, it is totally understandable, and I don't really know how to get around it other than hoping that over time, as judges become more familiar with the breed, things become more settled. That said, however, I still see Welsummers totally misplaced on occasion although a couple of the shows I visited also had prominent birds placed up front. (I myself rarely show any longer.) One thing does bother me, though, when it comes to newly admitted breeds. While normally not openly admitting it, certain judges don't want to be bothered with new breeds and give them short shrift, not even bothering to look them up in the APA standard. Actually, I overheard comments from two that were pretty outrageous once. I guess such personal attitudes can never be totally overcome, but it is pretty sad.
In my personal opinion, fanciers of new breeds need to organize early on and encourage or arrange "educational seminars" for judges, and also there should be common agreement among breeders on what constitutes correct type, color, etc. in more details, perhaps, than what comes out in the Standard of Perfection. Over time, new breeds should find more understanding and acceptance with both the general fancier circles as well as judges.
Again, I think Marans breeders are doing an outstanding, fabulous job and wish I were younger, stronger, and resourceful enough to join your steady work to improve the breed.
Bjorn - I enjoyed reading your post - many thanks!
I've been working with the Marans (Black Copper variety) for close to six years now. They have been an exercise in frustration and patience for me!
It's most definitely true that one needs to breed to type first & foremost. The old saying, "build the barn, then paint it" surely applies here!
The solid colors are one thing, though; then, add a pattern variety; all this, added to egg color! If you don't have birds that lay at least a "4" on the Egg Colour Scale, they are not considered Marans. I am unsure whether Welsummers and Penedesenca, etc., are graded in the same way that Marans are regardign egg color, but that's just one more thing for us all to work on.
I've been working with the Marans (Black Copper variety) for close to six years now. They have been an exercise in frustration and patience for me!
It's most definitely true that one needs to breed to type first & foremost. The old saying, "build the barn, then paint it" surely applies here!
The solid colors are one thing, though; then, add a pattern variety; all this, added to egg color! If you don't have birds that lay at least a "4" on the Egg Colour Scale, they are not considered Marans. I am unsure whether Welsummers and Penedesenca, etc., are graded in the same way that Marans are regardign egg color, but that's just one more thing for us all to work on.
Just wanted to make a small correction; those were not my birds, but ResQsue12 birds that I was commenting on. I just hope mine grow up to look as good!
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