Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[chickencrossing]

I was wondering what you guys cull for in bcm's as chicks?

 

[GaryDean26]

I was wondering what you guys cull for in bcm's as chicks?

I cull for physical defects and low vigor and grow everything else on.

.......Here is what the cock birds look like when grown out.




......Marans fanciers please comment on this cock. I need your evaluations.

Bumping this up.

This guy will be 2 years old this spring. I know that his hackle color doesn't match his saddle feathers and he has a high tail angle, but didn't know what other good or bad things people would see in him. Please comment.

 

[maryhysong]

I cull for physical defects and low vigor and grow everything else on.

Bumping this up.

This guy will be 2 years old this spring. I know that his hackle color doesn't match his saddle feathers and he has a high tail angle, but didn't know what other good or bad things people would see in him. Please comment.

I'm still pretty new at this but it looks like his back is a little short or maybe the tail angle just makes it look that way. I understand that birds with shorter backs are less productive than those with longer backs. He does look like he has a nice chest and his comb is better than some. If you have some longer backed hens with lower tails perhaps that would work out OK in the chicks.

 

[ve]

Hi GaryDean
He has nice leg feathering, good size and most important no white tail feathers. I think you can work out the tail angle and cooper coloring when choosing some of his sons to replace him.

 

[maryhysong]

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.

It is hard to tell from the picture angle, but the blue copper boy looks ok to me. That first black copper would be dinner here, he's all chest & no butt (and thanks Wynette & others for teaching me to look for balance!) From what I can see the second boy is much better looking; just try and mate him with hens with good leg feathering.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

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.

At this age I would DEFINITELY keep him! And remember it's good to have a backup cock/erel...stuff happens.

 

[maryhysong]

I was wondering what you guys cull for in bcm's as chicks?

I will be looking at health and vigor. Anybody can't make it on their own, looks weak or sickly, a quick dispatch. I'll also be watching leg feathering, a couple of my original hens have clean legs but were better in other respects than the rest so I'll be watching for that and will sell those to folks for layers or send them to freezer camp as soon as they are big enough.

I asked a similar question over on the Plymouth Rock thread a few months ago; can't find that post now but Fred's Hens did a real nice little photo show for me. What he was saying is that the ugly bird didn't get ugly over night and the really great bird didn't just get great overnight, they were hatched that way. Then showed with some photos how a stunning pullet was noteworthy even when she was a week old and how a cull cockerel was a cull when he was little also. Some of the things he watches for in his rocks are width of skull and width between the legs. I'll be watching those things in my Marans, too. I think a lot of that is getting to know your line of birds and watching them grow out each year, you start to pick up on those kinds of things

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

It is hard to tell from the picture angle, but the blue copper boy looks ok to me. That first black copper would be dinner here, he's all chest & no butt (and thanks Wynette & others for teaching me to look for balance!) From what I can see the second boy is much better looking; just try and mate him with hens with good leg feathering.

Agreed on all points. How old is the blue copper? If still young he could molt out those white tailfeathers.

 

[GaryDean26]

Hi GaryDean
He has nice leg feathering, good size and most important no white tail feathers. I think you can work out the tail angle and cooper coloring when choosing some of his sons to replace him.

Nope no white on his tail feathers and a grey undercoat. The tail is a concern. At this point I am not too worried about color. I think the back and tail are things I will work on first.

I'm still pretty new at this but it looks like his back is a little short or maybe the tail angle just makes it look that way. I understand that birds with shorter backs are less productive than those with longer backs. He does look like he has a nice chest and his comb is better than some. If you have some longer backed hens with lower tails perhaps that would work out OK in the chicks.

Thanks! His back is a little longer than his brother, but I didn't know what others would say about the length. I will look for a long backed hen to put with him.

 

[chickencrossing]

Agreed on all points.  How old is the blue copper?  If still young he could molt out those white tailfeathers.

They are all about eight months old. Here is a pic of the blue roo as a chick. It seemed like the white feathers in his tail just popped up about a month ago. I was kind of disappointed because he's the only one I got grown out.