Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[math ace]

Can black copper marans have white markings on them? The only hatching out of one of my eBay orders kinda looks like it is crossed with cuckoo. I'm trying to upload a picture, but its not cooperating today. Wings are black but chest and back have white marked feathers. Chick in question is about 3-4 weeks

This is very normal for chicks... as they molt the new feathers should come in black...

 

[gilavina]

Look forward to more pics, I read through the other thread and found you posts, you've got some tough culling ahead of you....LOL . I would be wanting to keep 'em, some really nice stock you've got again. I'd really be interested in Luella's offspring pics if you could mark their pics if you post any of them. I saw you posted one of hers to show edging on your blues.

I was fortunate enough to get 3 cockerals this season that very nice open tails, hoping to improve on next years pullets with their help ! I am very happy with 2 of them overall, each has room for improvement, but overall they are pretty nice structured birds.

indeed, I have to go back thru the breeding pens again, and cull out those that I have replacements for. They more than likely will go to either a friend's layer flock or the layer flock here to supplement some of the older girls there. I've decided I'm gonna go ahead and build some individual breeding pens to hold over a few extra cockerels I normally wouldn't have room for. I am hoping to get down to 8 to 10 males including those existing in the breeding pens.
Depending on how tomorrow pans out, I might be able to get some photos if things work in my favor.

 

[math ace]

I've decided I'm gonna go ahead and build some individual breeding pens to hold over a few extra cockerels I normally wouldn't have room for. I am hoping to get down to 8 to 10 males including those existing in the breeding pens. .

I've been playing around with this concept lately. I was never able to get DH to build me a contraption for catching hen and egg for identification purposes. The best I could do was let all the hens out to free range, except the hen I wanted to collect eggs from. Then I would have a flock of hens standing by the coop door with their legs crossed waiting to get inside to lay their eggs.

This upcoming year, I am making arrangements to isolate the hens that I want to collect from. The I can use the method that Don described before of rotating the male in each pen for a 24 hour period. I am concerned that the hens will freak out over their NEW "home" situation and will stop laying eggs when I move them... I am wondering if I should move them a few weeks before I plan on starting to collect eggs.

 

[gilavina]

I've been playing around with this concept lately. I was never able to get DH to build me a contraption for catching hen and egg for identification purposes. The best I could do was let all the hens out to free range, except the hen I wanted to collect eggs from. Then I would have a flock of hens standing by the coop door with their legs crossed waiting to get inside to lay their eggs.

This upcoming year, I am making arrangements to isolate the hens that I want to collect from. The I can use the method that Don described before of rotating the male in each pen for a 24 hour period. I am concerned that the hens will freak out over their NEW "home" situation and will stop laying eggs when I move them... I am wondering if I should move them a few weeks before I plan on starting to collect eggs.

To me, it sounds like a good idea to move them a few weeks before. Mostly, I'm just wondering where I'm gonna find the extra time to do some building. Should be interesting

 

[Zanna]

I've been playing around with this concept lately. I was never able to get DH to build me a contraption for catching hen and egg for identification purposes. The best I could do was let all the hens out to free range, except the hen I wanted to collect eggs from. Then I would have a flock of hens standing by the coop door with their legs crossed waiting to get inside to lay their eggs.

This upcoming year, I am making arrangements to isolate the hens that I want to collect from. The I can use the method that Don described before of rotating the male in each pen for a 24 hour period. I am concerned that the hens will freak out over their NEW "home" situation and will stop laying eggs when I move them... I am wondering if I should move them a few weeks before I plan on starting to collect eggs.

My marans usually quit laying for about two weeks when I move them to the breeder pens. I need 3 weeks for clean-out anyways as when free-ranging they are with several Cocks. The Delawares on the other hand just keep laying!

 

[Wynette]

My gals stop laying for 2-3 days when I move them, not any longer.

We built a "breeder cage" where I house the one I'm wanting to collect eggs from. It has a nest box and a roost, and is on wheels on one end with handles on the other so I can wheel it to wherever I want it.



I'll leave a hen in there for a couple of weeks to collect her eggs; they'll continue to be fertile for that long, so I can collect to hatch, but mostly I use these to record egg color and any variances I see during the time they're in there. My goal has been to keep the hens that lay the darkest the longest; I've had hens in the past that lay quite dark for a couple of weeks and then drastically lighten - those go to the layer pen. I keep only the hens that lay quite dark for a good, long time. This breeder cage has been priceless, and we'll be building several more over the winter.

 

[gilavina]

Here's the first makeshift clamp for winter filled with Mangels (Mangel Wurzels) that will be used in winter for the chickens and goats. They were from a late season crop, so am pleased with how they did. Will move to two crops a season I believe. Mangels used to be the staple in feed from about the 14-18th centuries I find the animals do really well on them in the winter as part of their diet.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: I always wondered why Marans get so freaky about moving...it is a problem I don't seem to have with other breeds so I try to keep them in the same area...

 

[Zanna]

Here's the first makeshift clamp for winter filled with Mangels (Mangel Wurzels) that will be used in winter for the chickens and goats. They were from a late season crop, so am pleased with how they did. Will move to two crops a season I believe. Mangels used to be the staple in feed from about the 14-18th centuries I find the animals do really well on them in the winter as part of their diet.

I hope you gave them the tops too or ate them yourself Supposed to be wonderfull in salads although I am not fond of regular beet tops unless the leaves are very small/young.

 

[gilavina]

I hope you gave them the tops too or ate them yourself Supposed to be wonderfull in salads although I am not fond of regular beet tops unless the leaves are very small/young.

Yup, the tops already have been fed. I try to grow things that can be completely used.