Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[desertmarcy]

Brian Parks is indeed a breeder with integrity and a nice set up. We hatched out some of Brian's LP eggs. All the cockerels had excessive copper on the breast (like 80+%) and were culled, but some of the pullets look good. We have one of Bev's cocks (from Brian who hatched him from her eggs) and some laying LP pullets now.

Maybe I shouldn't be upset that I didn't get any cockerels, then! However excessive breast copper seems to be a problem with this breed in general. How old are your LP pullets now? Are they getting any nice copper hackles? Of my Bev Davis chicks, I have 7 cockerels to choose from, only 3 pullets. From Brian's line, I ended up with 3 cockerels and 6 pullets. Unless there are some late bloomers, but I doubt it. Marans are easy to sex early and these are 6 weeks old now. I plan to grow them all out a little longer, not cull as early as I would if I hatched them myself. I have plenty of chicks from my own lines to work with this year as well.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
Really? I don't see that problem much in my marans..... never has been an issue with my cockerels. I might see it one in 20 but it is not a huge issue I have seen.

 

[Alaskan]

my rooster has perfect color (I think, or at least pretty good... his color isn't completely even from head to base of neck, but good), but as y'all noted.... his tail is too upright

 

[Alaskan]

oh, the other two that hatched with him, had close to the same not great tail angle, one has copper on the breast, and one had too little copper.

 

[desertmarcy]

Really? I don't see that problem much in my marans..... never has been an issue with my cockerels. I might see it one in 20 but it is not a huge issue I have seen.

That's great! I haven't kept track of % of mine I see it in, I cull heavily for that. But looking at photos of other's birds that are posted here and on FB, I see it a lot, that's why I said that.

 

[MARANMAN2011]

Take what every roos you have with too much copper on the chest and find someone with hens that have less copper the neck. Use that rooster for those hens.

 

[Deckgirls]

i am definitely almost 100% positive my chicken is a hen yippeee....after many weeks of worry her comb hasn't grown much at all and its still very small and so are her wattles. i'll get some new pics of her today

 

[One Chick Two]

Take what every roos you have with too much copper on the chest and find someone with hens that have less copper the neck. Use that rooster for those hens.

Good suggestion. Also would like to add... for flocks that throw many males with lots of overcoloring on chest, I just would suggest to test mate for Wheaten for any potential breeders... It's the best and surest way to be 100% certain there isn't Wheaten, or Recessive White that has accidentally made its way in, somewhere down the line.

 

[snowbird]

In my experiences with BC Marans with too much color on the breast it is from not knowing how to set up the breeding pens. Everything to do with the Copper color on the BC is to do with averages. If you try and breed SOP male and females together you will be disappointed in the off spring. We can go over the selection of the BC if anyone is interested. Don

 

[scflock]

In my experiences with BC Marans with too much color on the breast it is from not knowing how to set up the breeding pens. Everything to do with the Copper color on the BC is to do with averages. If you try and breed SOP male and females together you will be disappointed in the off spring. We can go over the selection of the BC if anyone is interested. Don

Actually, I am interested. I know you have been through this on this thread before, but I just haven't had the time to read it all. I'm still searching for a flock to take the place of the first I bought, but not having much success locally. I would like to see some pictures of SOP birds, if you have some available