Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[SIMZ]

I'm guessing pullet! By 6 weeks my boys are usually pretty obvious.

 

[salt and pepper]

Six week old BCM. He/she doesn't have much comb to speak of but a bit of a wattle is coming in and he/she sure does walk upright. Hen/roo thoughts?

pullet

 

[banjomoon]

I have 5 2-week-old BC Maran chicks and 3 have big tails and 2 don't. Is this an early roo sign? Or is there no commection?

 

[marquisella]

I have 5 2-week-old BC Maran chicks and 3 have big tails and 2 don't. Is this an early roo sign? Or is there no commection?

No, it is not an indicator of sex.. Look for quick developing combs & wattles. Pullets combs stay dark & small for several months. Roos combs start growing right a way.

 

[maryhysong]

I have another boy up for comment. Hatched between Dec 6-10 and purchased as about a week old chick with a lot of others. This is the last boy I have from the same line as the flaming orange fellows I posted awhile back. Today he weighed 6 pounds. I just call him HC after the place I got him from. No white I noticed; any in the pics is sun or flash reflections








Ignore the nosey Ameraucauna girl



HC Pros; He' ok looking, nice beetle green sheen. No white (any you see is flash or sun reflections and his underfluff is darker in life than that last pic) At 6 pounds he's a little lighter than 49 & 50 but he seems taller, like his legs are longer. fairly wide but does not have the 'heft' of Mr 50 or even of 49er. eye color ok, still some dark in it, but might turn all the way Breast is black; no actual color or shafting but in some lights you can see the feather shafts are a tad lighter or reflect light more than the feather itself.

Cons: ugly comb, ear color could be more copper, shading in hackles. Am I right in thinking his tail is too big? What about the angle of it? Feet and legs not well feathered, even when not molting. not much in the breast dept. WHAT have I missed?

I do have pullets from the same breeder; some are all black and / or very mossy. A couple have nice copper necks but are pretty small.

If you were picking from this boy, Mr 50 & 49er, which two would you keep? That is the decision I'm trying to make right now. I have 2 more boys to show you, probably tomorrow.

 

[Wynette]

I have another boy up for comment. Hatched between Dec 6-10 and purchased as about a week old chick with a lot of others. This is the last boy I have from the same line as the flaming orange fellows I posted awhile back. Today he weighed 6 pounds. I just call him HC after the place I got him from. No white I noticed; any in the pics is sun or flash reflections








Ignore the nosey Ameraucauna girl



HC Pros; He' ok looking, nice beetle green sheen. No white (any you see is flash or sun reflections and his underfluff is darker in life than that last pic) At 6 pounds he's a little lighter than 49 & 50 but he seems taller, like his legs are longer. fairly wide but does not have the 'heft' of Mr 50 or even of 49er. eye color ok, still some dark in it, but might turn all the way Breast is black; no actual color or shafting but in some lights you can see the feather shafts are a tad lighter or reflect light more than the feather itself.

Cons: ugly comb, ear color could be more copper, shading in hackles. Am I right in thinking his tail is too big? What about the angle of it? Feet and legs not well feathered, even when not molting. not much in the breast dept. WHAT have I missed?

I do have pullets from the same breeder; some are all black and / or very mossy. A couple have nice copper necks but are pretty small.

If you were picking from this boy, Mr 50 & 49er, which two would you keep? That is the decision I'm trying to make right now. I have 2 more boys to show you, probably tomorrow.

Shank color is incorrect; you should be able to see the pink on the inside of his legs, and they are overall too dark. Do you see that "halo effect" in his hackles in the last picture? That's not something I would keep unless I absolutely had to. His tail is quite long, and angle is a bit high, from what I can tell in the pics, but I would still consider using him if he had other REALLY GOOD traits; this male, I'm afraid, does not. At least not from what I can see in the pics. The legs, for me, would be a cull point most definitely. Just my opinion, and I am no expert. I still like 49 better.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: I agree, to much color variation. Plus, hardly any foot/leg feathering...just not something I would use.

 

[maryhysong]

I agree, to much color variation. Plus, hardly any foot/leg feathering...just not something I would use.

Shank color is incorrect; you should be able to see the pink on the inside of his legs, and they are overall too dark. Do you see that "halo effect" in his hackles in the last picture? That's not something I would keep unless I absolutely had to. His tail is quite long, and angle is a bit high, from what I can tell in the pics, but I would still consider using him if he had other REALLY GOOD traits; this male, I'm afraid, does not. At least not from what I can see in the pics. The legs, for me, would be a cull point most definitely. Just my opinion, and I am no expert. I still like 49 better.

Thank you ladies. You have confirmed my own feelings about him. I just wanted more opinions before I sent him to freezer camp. Actually I have been saving the best for last and I think you are really going to like one the last two boys I have to show you. Will try and get good pics of them this evening or tomorrow morning.

 

[math ace]

I have another boy up for comment. Hatched between Dec 6-10 and purchased as about a week old chick with a lot of others. This is the last boy I have from the same line as the flaming orange fellows I posted awhile back. Today he weighed 6 pounds. I just call him HC after the place I got him from. No white I noticed; any in the pics is sun or flash reflections








HC Pros; He' ok looking, nice beetle green sheen. No white (any you see is flash or sun reflections and his underfluff is darker in life than that last pic) At 6 pounds he's a little lighter than 49 & 50 but he seems taller, like his legs are longer. fairly wide but does not have the 'heft' of Mr 50 or even of 49er. eye color ok, still some dark in it, but might turn all the way Breast is black; no actual color or shafting but in some lights you can see the feather shafts are a tad lighter or reflect light more than the feather itself.

Cons: ugly comb, ear color could be more copper, shading in hackles. Am I right in thinking his tail is too big? What about the angle of it? Feet and legs not well feathered, even when not molting. not much in the breast dept. WHAT have I missed?

What concerns me about this guy is that he doesn't seem to be very wide between the legs. That could be a result of him being young. You would need to compare it to the other guys you have. Below you will see picks of my Delaware cockerel that is almost the same age to the day as your guy above. His stance is wider than your guy.

 

[maryhysong]

What concerns me about this guy is that he doesn't seem to be very wide between the legs. That could be a result of him being young. You would need to compare it to the other guys you have. Below you will see picks of my Delaware cockerel that is almost the same age to the day as your guy above. His stance is wider than your guy.

Most of the birds from that breeder seemed a little narrow and the flaming orange boys were very pinched in the tail also. I haven't looked at the girls from them lately (well I see them everyday, but focused on the boys right now, so I don't really *look* at them) In the morning I will take pics of the last two boys, then as soon as I can sort out the girls and tell who is laying what egg, I'll start posting them for critique also. Would like to do some test hatches towards the end of July or so.