Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Wynette]

hoss, those definitely shouldn't be used for breeding for the reasons you have noticed & noted. The male appears to have a side sprig as well, and it sounds like the hen does, too. Side sprigs, or "bumps" coming out of the comb sideways are called sprigs, and are a DQ.

Holy heck...you're sure right on that ginormous comb on the male!

If you're just wanting pretty, eggs though - it really doens't matter if they are "show quality" birds. There is far more about poultry to love than a bird that can be shown. (some of the breeders on here will disagree with me, but we each have our own opinions.)

Enjoy your birds!

 

[hosspak]

Where did you purchase your birds?

I rescued these two from a women in town, she didn't remember much about when or where she got them. This hen is are first and only layer so far, started about 3 weeks ago. They also came with this three girls;


We had never had chickens before and my sister gave us a cool little coop, so we bought these little guys;




The day after we brought home our first flock (these five above) we got the rescue call about the top five.
Everything is good, except for the question of the barred (whatever it is), seller said it was a sex linked and didn't know if it was hen or roo but it looks just like Barred rock hen... I don't know. It hasn't started crowing yet....

 

[marquisella]

Quote: Does that black hen have a rose comb? Its blurry but doesn't look like a single comb. I don't think its a Marans

 

[MIKEBD2]

I just hatched out my first Marans. Out of 16 eggs, I got 13 chicks! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

 

[SIMZ]

The mossy females do tend to lay very dark eggs; but, that mossiness...seriously, you do NOT want it in your flock. I have one that lays a gorgeous egg; I crossed her this year to two different males, both mahogany colored (too dark) to see if the melanizers that made the males too dark would "cover" the mossiness in the offspring, and neither male worked. That's just my experience...for me, it was enough to confirm my belief that she shouldn't be used in my breeding pen; but, you might have a different experience.

ETA - are you the one with Fitzgerald birds? If so, Beth & Dave breed lovely stock, but they do tend to be mossy. That's where the female I mention above comes from, and I purchased hatching eggs from them this spring - the offspring was all over the map, either way too dark or mossy. I had zero keepers, though I would happily try again with eggs from them, as they are nice & dark. I keep hoping that there is a keeper for me...and it only takes one really nice bird to build a flock!

Thank, Wynette! That's what I didn't want to hear, but I definitely will listen to your experience.

(That's not me with the Fitzgerald birds.)

What do you think about this option? Another girl lays a nice, dark egg (still darker than my others, but not AWESOMELY dark like Miss Mossy. lol) She has a much better comb, doesn't seem to be mossy, but is severely lacking in shank feathering. I found one feather at the top and one feather on a toe. Would that be workable? My male has nice shank feathering.

Thanks!

 

[Broad St Farm]

Thank, Wynette! That's what I didn't want to hear, but I definitely will listen to your experience.

(That's not me with the Fitzgerald birds.)

What do you think about this option? Another girl lays a nice, dark egg (still darker than my others, but not AWESOMELY dark like Miss Mossy. lol) She has a much better comb, doesn't seem to be mossy, but is severely lacking in shank feathering. I found one feather at the top and one feather on a toe. Would that be workable? My male has nice shank feathering.

Thanks!

Yes she would work if her type is as you said. Leg feathers all things considered are easy to improve. Just mate her with a male that has ample to balance the leg feather gene out. Only time I would consider culling because of leg feathers is if you were very far into your breeding program that you didnt want to deal with. Just remember you have to take an honest eval of your birds and try to find the one with the best type. Im at that point Im there with my Birchens. Overall as Birchens go Im told that they are really nice. However each have issues and Im having a hard time choosing which one I want to keep. I guess for me its how hard do want to work depending who I choose.

 

[SIMZ]

Yes she would work if her type is as you said. Leg feathers all things considered are easy to improve. Just mate her with a male that has ample to balance the leg feather gene out. Only time I would consider culling because of leg feathers is if you were very far into your breeding program that you didnt want to deal with. Just remember you have to take an honest eval of your birds and try to find the one with the best type. Im at that point Im there with my Birchens. Overall as Birchens go Im told that they are really nice. However each have issues and Im having a hard time choosing which one I want to keep. I guess for me its how hard do want to work depending who I choose.

Thank you!! With my massive downsizing I'm only keeping 3, so they have to count. Fortunately, I hatched quite a few this year, so I have lots to choose from. Of course, they're not all sold yet.

 

[Broad St Farm]

Thank you!!  With my massive downsizing I'm only keeping 3, so they have to count.  Fortunately, I hatched quite a few this year, so I have lots to choose from.  Of course, they're not all sold yet.

You'll do fine, just keep learning doest happen overnight.

 

[hosspak]

Does that black hen have a rose comb? Its blurry but doesn't look like a single comb. I don't think its a Marans

Yes it is a rose.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I just hatched out my first Marans. Out of 16 eggs, I got 13 chicks! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

Super hatch rate! Congrats. e