Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[blackbirds13]

This is my new BCM I am hoping to use this spring. He is from some nice dark eggs so I'd like to use him over some Splash and Black Copper hens. His comb has a slight wave in the front also. I like his attitude very much and he and the Splash boys are good together so far. I'd like to do a splash and bc pen.

 

[Wynette]

Blackbird, I very much like that male; I only wish he were wider across the front & across the back. Looking at this picture, this male has EXACTLY the slope to the back that he should have - running downhill slightly from the base of neck to the base of tail. His length of back is nice, as well. Appropriate amount of shank feathering, from what I see. Eye color good. He's got 2 extra points in his comb, but comb issues (other than sprigs) are such a low point deduction, I would not hesitate to use this male.

 

[blackbirds13]

Blackbird, I very much like that male; I only wish he were wider across the front & across the back. Looking at this picture, this male has EXACTLY the slope to the back that he should have - running downhill slightly from the base of neck to the base of tail. His length of back is nice, as well. Appropriate amount of shank feathering, from what I see. Eye color good. He's got 2 extra points in his comb, but comb issues (other than sprigs) are such a low point deduction, I would not hesitate to use this male.

Thanks Wynette... and ... He's from your eggs! I really like him a lot and he has a nice deep crow. He is only 5 months old and I have only been using Blue Seal feed but have thought I'd try something with a bit more umph once I cull down a bit. I have 11 boys (Marans and Legbars) in the pen and really don't want to feed them all something more expensive if I know I've got to cut down by at least half. I don't know if I could cull him but would hate to give him away... I've just been watching him and hoping. I have 2 of your girls and 3 from Fancy Chicks and 2 Splash pullets (lost one to the hawk) from another seller. I've just been waiting and watching the Marans so far. Cannot wait to really get into them this spring still thinking of doing 2 pens but we'll see.

 

[Wynette]

Thanks Wynette... and ... He's from your eggs! I really like him a lot and he has a nice deep crow. He is only 5 months old and I have only been using Blue Seal feed but have thought I'd try something with a bit more umph once I cull down a bit. I have 11 boys (Marans and Legbars) in the pen and really don't want to feed them all something more expensive if I know I've got to cut down by at least half. I don't know if I could cull him but would hate to give him away... I've just been watching him and hoping. I have 2 of your girls and 3 from Fancy Chicks and 2 Splash pullets (lost one to the hawk) from another seller. I've just been waiting and watching the Marans so far. Cannot wait to really get into them this spring still thinking of doing 2 pens but we'll see.

WHAT? Okay, I've completley forgotten who you are - I'M SO SORRY! PM me your name, please! Oh my word...my memory!

NEVER MIND - just looked you up! Hidey-ho!

I'd pair this male with a female of GOOD substance, and hopefully, that'll improve the underline a bit. Although he's young at 5 months and will fill out quite a bit more. I've been culling hard to remove the white tail feathers/underflull that some of my birds are producing - I don't see ANY of it in your male. Please check under his hackles and be sure he doens't have any white underneath, okay?

 

[chickencrossing]

Here are some of my black copper and blue copper marans. I wanted to see what you guys think. I think they are about 8 months old. I know that my blue copper rooster has white in the tail and in the one black copper rooster the tail set is to straight up and the other black copper rooster has frostbite on his comb

 

[blackbirds13]

Quote:

I will do that with my fingers crossed. I'm not ready to get too serious with them yet as I'm really going to concentrate on the Legbars this year as I have so many nice ones growing out. I did follow your advice on keeping to just 1 or 2 breeds. As a novice it makes the learning much more relevant and easier to decipher through. Also helps with pen space.... though I don't know if there is ever enough. I really want to hold on to him for the genes... those dark egg genes.

 

[Wynette]

Just be really, really careful with having more than one cockerel in the same pen. I don't know what your setup is like, but they'll act as if all is hunky dory & they're the best of buds until one day you come home to a bloodied cockerel...even if they are raised together. Once the hormones really start flowing, it often ends badly. Sorry to sound like a wet blanket, and I'm sure some folks are able to successfully keep more than one male per pen.

Well, you certainly picked two interesting breeds!

 

[Wynette]

chickencrossing, it's really difficult to be able to provide feedback from the pics you posted - do you have a way to separate them out, or at least get pics of them in a natural pose, and closer, so we can see things like eye color, comb detail, shank feathering, etc.? From what I can see, it appears that you have a black copper cockerel with a "halo" effect in his hackles; that would be a cull issue for me, personally, as it's an indicator that there is wheaten influence.

There is one male that is quite dark, bottom left pic and the one directly above it, but from what I can see, he appears to have a nice topline. Again, it's tough to see. I'd love to see more pics of what you've got!

 

[chickencrossing]

Ok I'll see what I can do and go get better pictures. Thanks for the feedback

 

[chickencrossing]

Here is the first rooster,the blue copper. He has white in the tail and I plan on replacing him when my next blue roo grows up.

here is the first black copper rooster. He is the dominate rooster and has the best leg feathering out of all three. I do not like how he has a big tail and it seems to be at about a 90 degree angle when it should be about 45. He can get aggressive at times also.

here is the second black rooster. He has a lot of frostbite in his comb which has been a problem. He does not have as much leg feathering as the first black rooster but he still has leg feathering.