Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[SIMZ]

Can we talk boys now?

I already weeded out the boys with some color on their chests. Is that correct, even though one of them has the best beautiful, wide stance?

After weeding for colored chests, I have 2 good looking, big boys that are about 14 weeks. One has some "halo" going on, but a beautiful green sheen. The other has nicer color balance, but seems to have a significant blue/purple sheen in places.

Which would be more important?

Am I correct that final type would trump the coloring with these more minor issues anyway? I'm thrilled to have 5 boys to choose from!

 

[math ace]

Am I correct that final type would trump the coloring with these more minor issues anyway? I'm thrilled to have 5 boys to choose from!

Perhaps you should post some pics.
Type over color is not as simple as you think.
Some "Type" issues are minor and can be fixed with the right pairing.
Some "Color" issues are SERIOUS and indicate some issues you can not fix.

 

[SIMZ]

Perhaps you should post some pics.
Type over color is not as simple as you think.
Some "Type" issues are minor and can be fixed with the right pairing.
Some "Color" issues are SERIOUS and indicate some issues you can not fix.

Ok! I'll do that! Thank you.

 

[marquisella]

Can we talk boys now?

I already weeded out the boys with some color on their chests. Is that correct, even though one of them has the best beautiful, wide stance?

After weeding for colored chests, I have 2 good looking, big boys that are about 14 weeks. One has some "halo" going on, but a beautiful green sheen. The other has nicer color balance, but seems to have a significant blue/purple sheen in places.

Which would be more important?

Am I correct that final type would trump the coloring with these more minor issues anyway? I'm thrilled to have 5 boys to choose from!

If one goes to the French Club site & reads the notes on the black color in the black copper standard, they specifically state that there should be no green sheen on the feathers as that indicated too much melanization. People here, don't want to hear that because they have been bred here using birds that are way over melanized & the green comes out, and more & more I read people are going on about the "green" sheen & how beautiful it is. It is incorrect, but our standard does not mention it, so the green sheen has been propagated and now its practically everywhere.

Purple sheen is even more of a no-no.

What color are the ears? They must stay brown. Black ears are a fault and usually, but not always, black ears appear in birds that are over melanized.

Also, I noticed inn a few photos the black copper hens, especially, feathers appear to be laced with darker black...that is also incorrect.

 

[maryhysong]

If one goes to the French Club site & reads the notes on the black color in the black copper standard, they specifically state that there should be no green sheen on the feathers as that indicated too much melanization. People here, don't want to hear that because they have been bred here using birds that are way over melanized & the green comes out, and more & more I read people are going on about the "green" sheen & how beautiful it is. It is incorrect, but our standard does not mention it, so the green sheen has been propagated and now its practically everywhere.

Purple sheen is even more of a no-no.

What color are the ears? They must stay brown. Black ears are a fault and usually, but not always, black ears appear in birds that are over melanized.

Also, I noticed inn a few photos the black copper hens, especially, feathers appear to be laced with darker black...that is also incorrect.

That may be because in many black breeds here the green sheen is desirable, while the purple is not in most breeds I've read about. Are you saying then that the French require a flat black without any other color sheen to it? I was always under the impression that it is the purple sheen that indicates too many melanizers

 

[SIMZ]

Wow - very interesting! What about blue? I notice my boys have pretty blue on their wings? Is that more of the same?

I'll check earlobes....

 

[Maggiesdad]

FWIW - The different sheens are not colors per se, but refractions resulting from the microscopic structure of the feathers.

( I think that's right...

)

 

[pinkchick]

 FWIW - The different sheens are not colors per se, but refractions resulting from the microscopic structure of the feathers.

( I think that's right...   )

Yes, that is right, the sheen/s are only visible to us because of how the feather reflects light.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
Yes, but for whatever the reason, I'm no scientist, the feathers should not look to be green, purple or blue.

Things change even for the French. When I first started with Marans in 2007, the French standard said the roos breast should be 100% black, with NO copper. Then, when they realized that Wheatens had been inadvertantly mixed into the black coppers, & the roos were showing up with copper in their breasts, they changed their standard to allow 10% copper in the breast...

So even they bowed to the inevitable. If you can't fix it, change it....

 

[Chad Cool]

Tell me what you think please.