Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[desertmarcy]

I tend to cull cockerels or sell pullets as layers that are completely black at 2-3 months of age. I have plenty that have good color at that age, so in my line, I do not think those birds are going to have enough copper color. It is one of the things I breed for. I what the color to show early and not have to guess or wonder if it will come in later since from my experience, it does not, or at least not enough. I don't want to have to feed them longer than necessary if they are not what I want in my breeding program. Same with excess color on the cockerels. That shows up early on as too much copper spotting on their breast and in my experience, they just get more with maturity.

 

[FVRM]

Pullet #2 (again, unnamed)

If you get a nice colored rooster, it will add more copper to the chicks.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

I tend to cull cockerels or sell pullets as layers that are completely black at 2-3 months of age. I have plenty that have good color at that age, so in my line, I do not think those birds are going to have enough copper color. It is one of the things I breed for. I what the color to show early and not have to guess or wonder if it will come in later since from my experience, it does not, or at least not enough. I don't want to have to feed them longer than necessary if they are not what I want in my breeding program. Same with excess color on the cockerels. That shows up early on as too much copper spotting on their breast and in my experience, they just get more with maturity.

That's good to know. Right now, my culls are going to end up being dinner so I don't mind feeding them until 20 weeks of age anyways. This is all just practice for me. Hatching chicks, learning how to identify good ones to improve the breed, etc.

Honestly, I don't have tons of time for this. I'm a busy homeschooling mom of four. Time is limited. But I'll learn a little as I go and someday, someday I can get serious with it.

 

[One Chick Two]

Ok...I ran out and took some pictures. I apologize for picture quality and overload, lol.

My cockerel, named Cluck Norris.

First...Cluck Norris, lol. That is great!

I'm new at this too, so, bear with me if I don't do this properly.

I like the shape, width and depth of his head- nice, clean face. Eyes are coloring in well. Comb should have 5 points, but not a big deal. Seems like he might feather in nicely in due time. The copper color on hackle is pretty, not light or red. Seems to have a nice, good length of back. Wing points to vent. Perhaps maybe keep an eye on his rear end width (can't really tell if he is wide there) as his tail feathers come in? Nicely feathered down shank and outer toe. Others can add or straighten out what I see. Do you have a photo of his sire or mother?

Pullet #1 (as of yet unnamed)

Pullet 1 seems to have nice, solid looking frame, and nice type. Good width of head. Pretty green in feathers. She may fill out very nicely. Does she have good shank/ toe feathers? Her tail may be a just tad long/ on the thin side?

Again, I may not be correct on this, but when I recently asked some experienced breeders about this subject, they explained that medium length tail feathers, but with good width at the tail base is best to select for when possible.

Pullet #2 (again, unnamed)

This girl is coloring in on her neck nicely. Again, her type seems nice to me. Solid looking. Long back. Filling in. Again, keep an eye on rear end width. Are her feathers more brown than green? (Could that be from sun?) (Photos can show all kinds of things not really existing.) Nice head and neck width- strong looking. Her face color- is it dark? Shanks seem nice.

 

[chicken pickin]

I thought I would post a few pictures of my young Marans that I am growing out. I have 2 males and 3 females roughly 13-14weeks old.

Male #1 So far I like this boys body type and color but I know his comb is horrible having side sprigs and at least one tip that curves backwards. His shank feathers are not as full as I would like and he is lacking toe feathers. Also He has a lot of copper on his chest. I was thinking because of his extra copper that may help when crossed to the pullets that are lacking copper






Male #2 His coloring also seems nice and lacks the copper on the breast that his brother shows. His comb seems a little nicer and his shank and toe feathering seem very good. His type seems off to me, almost hen like but he is still young so I don't know what to look for. Also his eyes seems a little more brownish.






And here are a few pictures of my pullets, all nicely feathered in the shank and toe.

From left-right pullet 2, 1, and 3


pullet #1

pullet #1

pullet #2

I think pullet 2 and 3

Male #2, pullet 2, 1 and 3, Male #1 in that order

pullet 1 and 3

pullet#2


I think I have the pullets numbered correctly, pullet 1 and 2 look quite similar. I would love to hear thoughts on them.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
Sorry to tell you, but Chuck, needs to be DINNER. His legs are yellow and that is a deal breaker for breeding. If any of the other marans you have are related to him you probably should not breed them either. Yellow legs are recessive and that means he got the genes for yellow skin from BOTH parents and even it the others don't express it they carry it.

Sorry. They are not properly breed Marans.

 

[desertmarcy]

I thought I would post a few pictures of my young Marans that I am growing out. I have 2 males and 3 females roughly 13-14weeks old.

Male #1 So far I like this boys body type and color but I know his comb is horrible having side sprigs and at least one tip that curves backwards. His shank feathers are not as full as I would like and he is lacking toe feathers. Also He has a lot of copper on his chest. I was thinking because of his extra copper that may help when crossed to the pullets that are lacking copper

I definitely would not use this male #1. As you already noted, he has side sprig on his comb which is a disqualifying fault and will breed forward and you will be having to cull more for that alone.
He is also likely to get a lot more, too much, color on his breast as he gets older.

 

[One Chick Two]

Sorry to tell you, but Chuck, needs to be DINNER. His legs are yellow and that is a deal breaker for breeding. If any of the other marans you have are related to him you probably should not breed them either. Yellow legs are recessive and that means he got the genes for yellow skin from BOTH parents and even it the others don't express it they carry it.

Sorry. They are not properly breed Marans.

Wow... On my monitor they seem slate--but, like the grass may be reflecting back. Sweetpea3829 Can you post a closeup of his legs, just to be positive...?

However, if they are yellow hued, then she's right. Yellow means mixed genes.

 

[Chick CJ]

Hello Everyone,
I hatched some BCM's March 29th and this guy is my most beautiful so far. He is 16 weeks old and I was hoping you could all comment on him as far as breed specifics go!

I am not personally planning to keep him for breeding but if someone else wanted too would he make a good candidate?
Thanks for your comments.
CJ

 

[Sweetpea3829]

Sorry to tell you, but Chuck, needs to be DINNER. His legs are yellow and that is a deal breaker for breeding. If any of the other marans you have are related to him you probably should not breed them either. Yellow legs are recessive and that means he got the genes for yellow skin from BOTH parents and even it the others don't express it they carry it.

Sorry. They are not properly breed Marans.

Rip,

The other two Marans I have are unrelated to Cluck. Can the yellow be bred out? He's the only rooster I have, lol. I'll have to run out later and take a closer look at his, and the pullets' legs.