Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Ebove06]

Hi,
I purchased a pair of black copper Marans. They were "supposed" to be a male and a female. But, to me, they both look like males!
1.

2.

They are about 2 and a half months old. Can you guys please give me your opinions on what sex they are?

 

[desertmarcy]

They are about 2 and a half months old. Can you guys please give me your opinions on what sex they are?

They do not look that old at all. The bottom one looks to have chick down still. It would be gone by 2-1/2 months. They look about 6 weeks old or so. I would say the top one looks female, bottom looks male.

 

[johnderosa1]

They are about 2 and a half months old. Can you guys please give me your opinions on what sex they are?

They look young for 2.5 months but the top is a pullet the bottom looks more like a pullet to me but could be a cockerel... Here are a few if mine at 2.5 months.

 

[Ebove06]

They do not look that old at all. The bottom one looks to have chick down still. It would be gone by 2-1/2 months. They look about 6 weeks old or so. I would say the top one looks female, bottom looks male.

I got them on January 10th, and the lady said that they were 1 week old.

 

[johnderosa1]

I got them on January 10th, and the lady said that they were 1 week old.

Amazing... Mine hatched on Dec 30-31 and look so much older. Heck one of my cockerels started trying to crow this morning

 

[ochochicas]

I agree with what everyone has said. The top one looks older than the bottom one. The bottom one definitely looks like a cockerel. The top one could go either way depending on age.

 

[Ebove06]

I agree with what everyone has said.  The top one looks older than the bottom one.  The bottom one definitely looks like a cockerel.  The top one could go either way depending on age.

They are both supposed to be the same age. But thanks for everybody's responses.

 

[scflock]

Ok, as promised, here are some pictures of a few of mine. This is my first shot at BCMs, and I think I have a good start. I bought them straight run, and I have 4 roosters. I have 2 that I have my eye on as potential keepers, but I want the honest opinions of people that know much more about these than I do:

Here is #1. Great personality, most compact of the 4, dark breast, lighter hackle feathers, saddle feathers not turning yet


This is the runt of the bunch, but also a great personality. My question on this one is how light his breast is. Is that too much, or would he be a good mix for my hens which have very little copper feathering?


Subject #3. This is the first of the two that I think are keepers, but for different reasons. This one is the second largest, but smaller than the big dark one in the next pic. This one has a beautiful shape, a lighter chest, and some very pretty saddle feathers starting to grow in


Subject #4. This is the other one that I think may be a keeper. He is a head taller than the others, and appears to be the Alpha. My question on him is about his breast feathering. So far it is almost totally black, but is that a good thing? Is it easier to start with a darker rooster and try to lighten them if need be, or start with a lighter rooster and darken them?

I'm a big boy, give me honest criticism. These won't be for show. My main goal is to have good looking chickens that lay very dark eggs. Opinions?

 

[RFR of CA]

Definitely NOT and expert, but It seems that there is lot's of wheaten in them. Should be coppery, not yellow in color. Also much too much color for age. Should be almost all black at this age. But if for eggs, just enjoy

Two of my adult roosters..... I thing one is too dark even though I love the deep red, and one has too much color so I am still trying. The three lower pics are of some past young birds of mine.

Overall, BCMs are frustrating!










PS the one on the feeder looks like a pullet

 

[DMRippy]

Ok, as promised, here are some pictures of a few of mine. This is my first shot at BCMs, and I think I have a good start. I bought them straight run, and I have 4 roosters. I have 2 that I have my eye on as potential keepers, but I want the honest opinions of people that know much more about these than I do:

Here is #1. Great personality, most compact of the 4, dark breast, lighter hackle feathers, saddle feathers not turning yet


This is the runt of the bunch, but also a great personality. My question on this one is how light his breast is. Is that too much, or would he be a good mix for my hens which have very little copper feathering?


Subject #3. This is the first of the two that I think are keepers, but for different reasons. This one is the second largest, but smaller than the big dark one in the next pic. This one has a beautiful shape, a lighter chest, and some very pretty saddle feathers starting to grow in


Subject #4. This is the other one that I think may be a keeper. He is a head taller than the others, and appears to be the Alpha. My question on him is about his breast feathering. So far it is almost totally black, but is that a good thing? Is it easier to start with a darker rooster and try to lighten them if need be, or start with a lighter rooster and darken them?

I'm a big boy, give me honest criticism. These won't be for show. My main goal is to have good looking chickens that lay very dark eggs. Opinions?

My first BIG concern is that 2 of the cockerels have green feet. That means their skin is yellow and that is a HUGE NO NO. If they came from the same breeder 100% of the others carry yellow skin genes. It is recessive and will not express without 2 copies and for sure where ever they came from the sire carried the gene and one hen did too. I would eat them and start over.

Sorry, I know you didn't expect to hear that but yellow skin is a gene that is very hard to remove and you also don't have any idea where the yellow came from, no telling what is in the gene pool.