Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[maryhysong]

I have a FBCM chick that has very feathery legs. Is this a good trait or should I strive for less feathering?

They should be feathered along the outside of the leg all the way down the outside toe. They should not have feathers on the middle toes, the inside of the leg or anywhere else on the leg, just down the outside and along the outside toe. A picture would help us see if it has too much or is just right

 

[BCMaraniac]

French black copper marans are supposed to have feathered legs, it's part of the french standard. The feathered leg gene is dominate, so the chicks should have feathered legs, just not as much of it.

I know that the French black copper marans are supposed to be feathered according to the French Standard, but did not think a Marans/Orpington cross could have feathers as well.....

 

[snowbird]

They should be feathered along the outside of the leg all the way down the outside toe. They should not have feathers on the middle toes, the inside of the leg or anywhere else on the leg, just down the outside and along the outside toe. A picture would help us see if it has too much or is just right

What you are describing is a SOP type Marans. To get the proper amount of feathers on the shank and feet we sometimes will need to use a more heavy feathered male on the females that are laking in feathering. We just can't breed SOP type Marans together and expect to get all Sop Type Marans young fowl. It will always boil down down to averages.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Here are photos of my young FBCM roosters....they are approximately 18 weeks old. I am a backyard chicken person, but would like to have pretty chicks if I breed them to my hens. I just wondered what you eggsperts out there think about them....

 

[snowbird]

Here are photos of my young FBCM roosters....they are approximately 18 weeks old. I am a backyard chicken person, but would like to have pretty chicks if I breed them to my hens. I just wondered what you eggsperts out there think about them....

Will give you a small critique.

From what I can see the shanks could use a little more feathers but this is not a problem.

The Hackles seem a little light and might even have a white undercolor.

The soft feathering on the lower half of the body appears to be brownish color and not black.

Comb and Wattles appear to be ok.

I would prefer the Shanks and feet be a darker slate rather than mostly white.

If you are breeding for mostly yourself and not the SOP these would produce some good looking Marans .

If you plan on breeding to sell the eggs for SOP type chicks I would not recommend that.

Will ad that the back and Saddle feathers are just too dark.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Will give you a small critique.

From what I can see the shanks could use a little more feathers but this is not a problem.

The Hackles seem a little light and might even have a white undercolor.

The soft feathering on the lower half of the body appears to be brownish color and not black.

Comb and Wattles appear to be ok.

I would prefer the Shanks and feet be a darker slate rather than mostly white.

If you are breeding for mostly yourself and not the SOP these would produce some good looking Marans .

If you plan on breeding to sell the eggs for SOP type chicks I would not recommend that.

Will ad that the back and Saddle feathers are just too dark.

Thanks for the critique. I would never sell fertilized eggs from them. I am just considering breeding for myself, to get a good fairly heavy bodied bird to eat as capons, and for eggs. I am anticipating they are going to be large birds, since they are only 18 weeks old now.

 

[salt and pepper]

Here are more pics of my rooster, he is now 8 1/2 Ibs, gained 2 Ibs in two months!


Pullets

 

[cmitchell]

Here are a couple of pictures of my black copper marans chick. I know he/she has too much feathering on the legs. Would be worth it to hold on to him/her to breed with ones that have sparse feathering?

 

[salt and pepper]

Here are a couple of pictures of my black copper marans chick. I know he/she has too much feathering on the legs. Would be worth it to hold on to him/her to breed with ones that have sparse feathering?

Oh my goodness!!! I would keep it just because it looks like a cochin!! lol

 

[Ripster]

Oh my goodness!!! I would keep it just because it looks like a cochin!! lol

With the yellow feet I suspect it is a Cochin. It has the right body type for Cochin but not Marans.