Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Lucky KY Chicks]

Hello to you all I hatched a dozen copper morans exactly a month ago . These chicks are growing more rapidly than my leghorns of the same age is this normal for this breed to grow so quickly? Another question is some are feather footed and some are not all eggs where from the same source is this normal?

Different lines grow at different rates. Are the Black Copper Marans or Blue Copper Marans? Either way they should all be feather legged to conform with the French standard/APA standard.

 

[Alaskan]

The Marans standard was only recently passed... is it 5 years ago now?

Anyway, not everyone bred Marans to the French standard, some used the British standard (which is no feathers on the feet).

For Black Copper Marans breeders in the US more commonly followed the French standard.

Anyway, the result is that not all Copper Marans lines in the US have good leg feathering. In fact, leg feathering varies WIDELY.

If you have some Marans in your flock with feathered legs, and others with little to none, the chicks will hatch out with a variety of feathering amount.

 

[sugar ridge]

Thanks for the info so if I where to breed any of my chicks in the future I should only breed the feathered ones and a feathered mate to create a more dominant gene?

 

[DMRippy]

Thanks for the info so if I where to breed any of my chicks in the future I should only breed the feathered ones and a feathered mate to create a more dominant gene?

You can't create a dominate gene. There are several genes at work to make feathered legs. You just have to breed for feathered legs and you might get to were they breed true. My guess is you could always have some pop up without feathered legs.

 

[MARANMAN2011]

Actually the truest lines still come up here and there without feathered legs or sparse feathering.

 

[sugar ridge]

Well thanks for the info I was also curious if roosters are feathered more than hens

 

[MARANMAN2011]

They should be the same but some have more some have less.

 

[Lucky KY Chicks]

My pullets first egg!!!

 

[snaffle]

My pullets first egg!!!

Congratulations

 

[Nickie616]

We just incubated eggs for the first time and ended up with these 4 cuties

We are REALLY hoping we get at least 1 pullet! They are such beautiful chickens!