Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[ashandvine]

OK Mystery solved... I talked to the breeder and he said... Oopps looks like you got one of our Dark Brahamas or Silver Birchens got mixed up in the hatcher.. Well I have Dark Brahmas so I'm pretty sure that is not what she is but maybe she is a silver birchen. I have had this trouble before in my hatches, they all hop around and keeping on top of who is what isn't easy. I tried putting up little fences inside but they just hopped over them ....

Well, now I get to be the bad guy. This is not a Brahma either. Clean shanks, wrong color. I lean back on the Birchen. Keep in mind that Marans also go through a funny stage of developing colors they don't have and having colors they are going to lose. Just be patient. You can always call it dinner or egger.

Ash, why are you apologizing to me? No need to! I have no issue with what DON said, just in how he said it. I'm a firm believer in the hard truth, to be sure. And I, too, cull very heavily (by ANYONE'S standards).

You are being quite open to hearing the feedback foks are giving...that's the first step, so KUDOS to you! When we close our ears, that's when we get in trouble. Each time you visit BYC or the Marans forums, or other places in reagard to learning about chickens (I speak of myself as well, and everyone else for that matter) you have an opportunity to learn - it's easy to be frustrated with this breed, as so many are so far from SOP. To be able to recognize good quality is tough, and especially so when we're mostly relying on pictures, as they never tell the whole story of the bird. My suggestion is keep looking...keep hearing...keep posting...we're all here to help each other!

OOPs, my apologies. I also talk to Dick Boulanger in the Favs thread. So sorry.
I was just apologizing because I didn't take it the way you did and I hate to disagree so blatantly with people who are kind to me.
Thank you Wynette. I don't want to alienate anyone willing to help me learn who actually knows what they are talking about. Like I said, I am disappointed. I had hoped there was enough good about these girls that most of the issues would be small. Still waiting to read about how the Wheaten does or not breed out. I have a slim hope here that it does but Don did say it takes time which he doesn't waste. I do have some eggs or chicks coming from some Marans I have met. They are nice for type (wide and deep) but they hens are melenized. I didn't see them long enough to get all the details. The cock had good color but it wasn't even in the hackle. No browns or gold/straw though so at least there's a slim chance of wheaten being in there. That's something.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: If you want to hear more Marans talk, join, if you have't already the Marans Chicken Club, USA. There they are usually talking about problems, etc. so you will hear some good advice. Dues are $10 a year, $11 if you paypal to: [email protected]

 

[Wynette]

I think the very best thing is to DO YOUR RESEARCH. Look at the parent stock in person if you can (and even get some pics), at the VERY LEAST get oodles of pics from the seller. A good start may be costly, but in reality, it's priceless, know what I mean?

Start with really good stock - the best you can find - and you're setting yourself up to have the BEST chances possible of moving forward more quickly!

 

[snowbird]

Ashandvine, If you would like I can go over the Pinched tail problem and how to breed away from it entirely. Just let me know.

Wynette, If you would like we could do this on the Pinched tail and possibly move it over to the Marans thread. I can ad a few things I have not seen in print before.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I would say she is not a silver birchen either. Just for information, they are called Black Birchen, not silver. If she did come from the breeders black birchen pen, she is not correct anyhow. My guess would be more cuckoo than anything else.
The club has decided to call Birchens, which denotes Silver without saying silver, Black or Blue Birchen, according to the body color.
Sue

OK Duly noted. He did offer to give me another BCM as a replacement. I have never seen birchens so i'm lost there. In this case then maybe it was one of the Roosters that took a little midnight visit to a different pen LOL!!! In any case I can always use egg layers so let's hope she's a girl.... I have 10 BCM babies and the four 11 wk olds I posted earlier so hoping i have at least a couple of nice ones to choose from to get going.

 

[snowbird]

Some advice for all. In the beginning we will raise and hatch more chicks that are culls than we will the good ones.You may use a good type and really good conformation bird to only hatch junk. Once you have your line set up and stick with it for a while you will notice that you will get more of the better birds than the junk. Any of these Marans can be used for breeders if there is really a need. It will just take more years than most are willing to wait to get a majority of good birds.

I think at this point in time it would be good to go over how to breed the Marans with type and conformation in mind. I have no interest in egg shows so I am not interested in egg color as long as it is a #6 on the scale.

This would be better served on the Marans thread also as some only go there.

 

[Zanna]

Ashandvine, If you would like I can go over the Pinched tail problem and how to breed away from it entirely. Just let me know.

Wynette, If you would like we could do this on the Pinched tail and possibly move it over to the Marans thread. I can ad a few things I have not seen in print before.

This would be great!!!

 

[ashandvine]

I agree. I do go to the other thread but not much in there lately.
Is there a thread that goes over "breeding well" period? Better for Marans
Snowbird... pm or thread??

 

[snowbird]

I agree. I do go to the other thread but not much in there lately.
Is there a thread that goes over "breeding well" period? Better for Marans
Snowbird... pm or thread??

I think we can start up later today and see where it goes. it will require Questions and help if it is to be of any use.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I think we can start up later today and see where it goes. it will require Questions and help if it is to be of any use.

I will be reading it for sure