Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[snowbird]

I always think of the males as being more like 75-90% of any breeding program, because as you said, they are half of every chick you hatch and so spread their genes around a lot more than a hen does. That's one of the reason I bought so many birds to start off with, so I would have lots of boys to choose from.

I also think you are right on the blue mixed into black; but also when other varieties are mixed in. Look at the mess we have with wheaton cropping up everywhere and I have something that might resemble black tail buff (posted those boys on the general marans thread last week). One of the reasons when I started out I tried to find folks working with just the BCM and not mixing in blues. I know there are things several generations back in most lines, but at least I could avoid things crossed in recently.

For generations according to the French site the BC were mixed with the Wheaten Marans, I do not know if we will ever get rid of the Wheaten influence involved with the BC. I can say one thing that I have done and that is not use the light colored leg BC, also the white feathered Males and the blended Hackle Males. I have eggs hatching next week and will start posting pictures on my profile page once or twice a month for a while to see how they grow off.

 

[maryhysong]

For generations according to the French site the BC were mixed with the Wheaten Marans, I do not know if we will ever get rid of the Wheaten influence involved with the BC. I can say one thing that I have done and that is not use the light colored leg BC, also the white feathered Males and the blended Hackle Males. I have eggs hatching next week and will start posting pictures on my profile page once or twice a month for a while to see how they grow off.

I am watching a bunch of boys grow out now. There are a couple with nearly white legs, just a little slate on top and then there are some that have really black legs. Blended hackles galore. Hatched Nov/Dec so it will be June or so before I can make decisions on white feathers. Currently watching out for these other things you have been bringing up, like too light of leg, and the hackles. Also watching for things like side sprigs. Slowly whittling down the list of possibilities.

 

[Turkeytruff]

I can not say anything good about these two BC males so will be very short with my critique. The backs are very short on both males. The underside feathers are brown on both.The first male has the blended Hackle. Both males are lacking in Saddle color. These males are not very good type wise and I would not want to ad one to a breeding program.

I always think of the males as being more like 75-90% of any breeding program, because as you said, they are half of every chick you hatch and so spread their genes around a lot more than a hen does. That's one of the reason I bought so many birds to start off with, so I would have lots of boys to choose from.

I also think you are right on the blue mixed into black; but also when other varieties are mixed in. Look at the mess we have with wheaton cropping up everywhere and I have something that might resemble black tail buff (posted those boys on the general marans thread last week). One of the reasons when I started out I tried to find folks working with just the BCM and not mixing in blues. I know there are things several generations back in most lines, but at least I could avoid things crossed in recently.

Neither of these males have any traits that you would want to pass on. Please don't get either one.

thank you so much for all these replies! As a newbie I thought the backs were short and the brown underfeathers weren\t a good sign - but wouldn't have got to the rest. I will not buy either of them and will keep on looking. A bit like the holy grail at the moment.....when I hear how you experts have been breeding them for years and years to get to the best ones.

 

[Little Wing]

The only thing I can say for sure on the purple sheen to the black feathers is that it is not wanted in a breeding program and should be culled out. At present I do not think it would be possible to figure out the gene for the different colors because of all the mix and match breeding, not saying it is good or bad just hatit is what it is. The genetics people have said in the past that the Marans would not follow trend like most other breeds because of the crossing with other breeds.
Myself I just keep the Green sheen and cull the Purple.

I'm a newbie to BCM and have been trying to get good breeding stock to start with. Last fall I got Bev Davis BCM from a breeder in Austin that turned out to be projects that had gotten mixed into the hatch.. I understand things happen. They were replaced by the breeder. After reading about the purple sheen, I noticed it in all of the new chicks.
I have a nice trio from Ernie Haire that has the green but no purple. If the BD birds have good body type and are nice except for the purple sheen, can they still be used. I wanted to keep the two lines separate, but if I breed back to the EH birds will they start losing the purple sheen or is my second round a bust too?

 

[Chickengirl1304]

I have my BCM rooster in with my barred rocks, rirs and nhrs. I hatched chicks from this cross. Will the chicks lay a bit darker egg since the dad is a BCM?

 

[Sahwithchicks]

Thanks for explaining blended hackles. I just noticed my backup cockerel had this, so I won't be using him for anything except for OEs and meat!

 

[heirloomorps]

My Marans hens have started laying!!!!! One is laying a color I am not so happy about but I am hoping it darkens a little. It already has darkened since her first egg.

We also found a nice looking Blue Copper Roo so one hen is in with him at the moment too.

 

[DMRippy]

My Marans hens have started laying!!!!! One is laying a color I am not so happy about but I am hoping it darkens a little. It already has darkened since her first egg.

We also found a nice looking Blue Copper Roo so one hen is in with him at the moment too.

Yeah! Mine are taking a break a little. I was getting about 12-13 eggs a day, but now I am only getting 6 at most. BUT I have anywhere from 2-4 wantabe broodies and I think they run the others off

 

[flgardengirl]

The only broodies I have left right now are ducks, key west, and one silkie who already has been sitting for 24 days so I took her eggs. She went and gathered up some more as soon as the other hens laid theirs and sat back down again grrr. I am letting my darkest laying bcms get accustomed to their new larger pen for a few weeks, then will start setting some bcm eggs.

*I think of the blended hackles as the Ombre Look lol

 

[ellymayRans]

My Marans hens have started laying!!!!! One is laying a color I am not so happy about but I am hoping it darkens a little. It already has darkened since her first egg.

We also found a nice looking Blue Copper Roo so one hen is in with him at the moment too.

What age? I keep driving myself crazy not knowing when to really expect mine to start! My oldest is reddening in the face, she's blue. Her and my Golden Cuckoo are the only 2 I have from Hatchery, but they are about 5 mos old. The others are about 4 mos. old. I've read soo many posts stating they are late maturing and read where some folks BCM's are laying til around 6-8 mos of age! That's such a long wait! lol
O... Congrats BTW!