Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[chicken pickin]

A pic of todays eggs Not super dark but I love them!

 

[lonnyandrinda]

At what age do BCM's get their copper? I'm fairly confident I have two roos, and right now all their plumage is black. They are around 6 weeks old.

On my boys I start seeing copper creep in on their neck usually about 6-8 weeks. I did have one oddball boy that never did get any copper on him, sold him at 5 months old. He went with a batch of roos to grow out for someone's dinner.

What is the approximate age that BCMs start laying? I'm not impatient just curios. Thanks

I'd say around 25 weeks, sometimes as late as 30 weeks. I have heard of some taking even longer but I would say that is not typical.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: Hmm... they came from very good lines so.. hm. How about the hens?

 

[DeltaBluezTess]

Mine started to get copper around 7-8 weeks...I find out if they get copper earlier than that, then they end up with too much copper.....your mileage may vary with different lines though....

 

[GardienneWings]

As an example of how it can vary, I had a chick hatch late-summer last year that started getting copper early and at swaps people kept passing it over as a roo, by 12+ weeks (Swaps were now done for the year) I noticed the copper was not increasing very fast and by Spring she was a gorgeous pullet.

Val

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Saw your comment about "stupid barley" and wanted to know more about that...sprouted barley? I've been supplementing with it and grew out some awesome meat birds. Have not noticed any stunting in my layer pullets but would love to hear your experience. Just getting started with BCM and don't want to compromise my young stock. Thanks! Also, do you have any blue copper marans? I'm going to the swap and looking for a working age rooster.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Saw your comment about "stupid barley" and wanted to know more about that...sprouted barley? I've been supplementing with it and grew out some awesome meat birds. Have not noticed any stunting in my layer pullets but would love to hear your experience. Just getting started with BCM and don't want to compromise my young stock. Thanks! Also, do you have any blue copper marans? I'm going to the swap and looking for a working age rooster.

Welcome to BYC! It's helpful if you quote the post you are replying to.... Hope you find yer blue Roo.

A pic of todays eggs Not super dark but I love them!

Gorgeous!

 

[TimsHens]

 

[collaire]

I don't get around much, but I was told yesterday that the APA was was judging BCM with both the "American" and "French" standards. When the APA accepted the BCM Standard I printed out the standard as finalized by the Marans club and have been breeding my birds accordingly. Are there now two Standards???

 

[DMRippy]

I don't get around much, but I was told yesterday that the APA was was judging BCM with both the "American" and "French" standards. When the APA accepted the BCM  Standard I printed out the standard as finalized by the Marans club and have been breeding my birds accordingly.  Are there now two Standards??? 

no just the one standard. clean legs are a DQ. if I was at a show and a clean legged Marans won I would protest.