Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[truword1]

Hi group, I just recently bought a black copper marans hen from reputational breeder that just turned 6 months. I was thinking that she may not be a true black copper marans. The reason I ask this is because she isn't showing the copper on the head and neck areas. Maybe she is a black marans?!?!

Thanks, your time and help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
JD

 

[desertmarcy]

Hi group, I just recently bought a black copper marans hen from reputational breeder that just turned 6 months. I was thinking that she may not be a true black copper marans. The reason I ask this is because she isn't showing the copper on the head and neck areas. Maybe she is a black marans?!?!

Thanks, your time and help is greatly appreciated. I tried to upload a photo but for some reason I cant! Can someone help me with uploading a picture?

Thanks,
JD

It is quite common for Black Copper Marans to throw females which are overmelanized, ie solid black, but they are still genetically Black Copper, not Black. If the breeder is working towards getting more color on his or her hens, that could be why the hen was sold.

 

[truword1]

Thanks, desertmarcy
From the photos how do you think she looks?

Thanks,
JD

 

[happyfrenchman]

We'd never keep a side sprig. If that's all you had to work with and type was otherwise good, one white feather would be acceptable. Type before color, always.

Thank you again for the good feedback Ihilani...... I culled the side sprig bird. If nothing else there will be less commotion with two roosters and the older bird that I kept was bigger and had better form. The culled bird definitely had two side sprigs.
I understand exactly what you are saying about finding someone. I do have a friend and he had some birds that he got somewhere that were Wade Jean. But I had nothing but issues with them. Green legs, Comb sprigs, One of the hens I did keep developed a pendulous crop. I didn't say anything to him because I know he was sincerely breeding what he had an he is a good fellow and I value his friendship. There is a guy who advertises, not too far from Macon Ga. that he has Wade Jean birds. He even has a picture of Mr. Jean on his site, but he has never come through with any deals we had made. I gave up on him..

I used to race homing pigeons with my father when I was young. I understand that people with good birds do not like to part with the good ones. And our fellow racers were the exact same way.My Uncle was a world class racer, and he gave my dad his birds, but my Dad knew never to give any away as my Uncle would not want that. And anyone we knew, if they were giving something away, it was because they felt it was less than primo. I am a little more outgoing than most. But I have a small flock and I don't keep extra roosters. I select the best looking from my hatch and make chicken and dumplings with the rest. I have given away many eggs to friends to incubate, but for myself, I only incubate the darkest ones.

I appreciate your inputs. I learn alot from all on this site and I do try to do my best by the breed. I will keep my eyes and ears open looking for a good bloodline outcross rooster.

 

[Zanna]

I appreciate your inputs. I learn alot from all on this site and I do try to do my best by the breed. I will keep my eyes and ears open looking for a good bloodline outcross rooster.

Why do you want to outcross? Believe me it can open a whole can of worms, you won't know till you start breeding F'2's, I have been down this road. If you have a relatively nice Cock (I realize he has white in the tail, does he have white underfluff as well, any other issues?) and some nice hens, get as many chicks on the ground as you can, let them grow out and make your own replacement. At least you will know what you have. Others may not agree but after 6 years of working with this breed I believe there is great value in this method. Too many hidden recessive genes out there...........

 

[happyfrenchman]

Why do you want to outcross? Believe me it can open a whole can of worms, you won't know till you start breeding F'2's, I have been down this road. If you have a relatively nice Cock (I realize he has white in the tail, does he have white underfluff as well, any other issues?) and some nice hens, get as many chicks on the ground as you can, let them grow out and make your own replacement. At least you will know what you have. Others may not agree but after 6 years of working with this breed I believe there is great value in this method. Too many hidden recessive genes out there...........

Zanna.... what you say is actually very close to the experience I have had thus far. The birds I got initially, through dumb luck really, have been better than any I have found since. I just assume that over three years of breeding them it is necessary to get some new blood in there. Perhaps not. As others have said as well, it is unlikely, unless I am personal friends with the person, that someone is going to give me a rooster that is any better than the ones I have had. The white feather seems to keep passing on down through the generations but the hens look good and other than the feather, my roosters are pretty good looking. (The ones I keep).Some Halo. A white feather. Otherwise good type overall. Of course, there have been plenty that were not even close that wound up as soup. But I am learning that this is pretty much the standard experience of all the more serious individuals. I take it that inbreeding is not the problem I imagine it to be? I have been able to significantly increase the darkness of the eggs I get, while the roosters have remained about the same. I will press on with my line. They are a good looking flock, with good feather and feather leg. Thank you very much for your input. I will do what you and others have suggested and keep working with what I have. I culled a rooster that was good looking except for a major fault in the comb. There will be others to follow and I will continue to cull to the SOP and incubate the darkest eggs.
What is your opinion on trying to hatch some of the lighter eggs. I imagine sometimes the hen you raise might lay a darker egg. Might tell me more about the rooster?
I know that I find the lighter eggs easier to incubate and hatch. Thank you very much for the input Zanna. It gives me hope to work with what I have and not feel like I necessarily need an outcross, when so many times that is indeed a can of worms. HF>

 

[Zanna]

Zanna.... what you say is actually very close to the experience I have had thus far. The birds I got initially, through dumb luck really, have been better than any I have found since. I just assume that over three years of breeding them it is necessary to get some new blood in there. Perhaps not. As others have said as well, it is unlikely, unless I am personal friends with the person, that someone is going to give me a rooster that is any better than the ones I have had. The white feather seems to keep passing on down through the generations but the hens look good and other than the feather, my roosters are pretty good looking. (The ones I keep).Some Halo. A white feather. Otherwise good type overall. Of course, there have been plenty that were not even close that wound up as soup. But I am learning that this is pretty much the standard experience of all the more serious individuals. I take it that inbreeding is not the problem I imagine it to be? I have been able to significantly increase the darkness of the eggs I get, while the roosters have remained about the same. I will press on with my line. They are a good looking flock, with good feather and feather leg. Thank you very much for your input. I will do what you and others have suggested and keep working with what I have. I culled a rooster that was good looking except for a major fault in the comb. There will be others to follow and I will continue to cull to the SOP and incubate the darkest eggs.
What is your opinion on trying to hatch some of the lighter eggs. I imagine sometimes the hen you raise might lay a darker egg. Might tell me more about the rooster?
I know that I find the lighter eggs easier to incubate and hatch. Thank you very much for the input Zanna. It gives me hope to work with what I have and not feel like I necessarily need an outcross, when so many times that is indeed a can of worms. HF>

As long as you are not breeding brothers to sisters IMO you are fine. I would hatch lighter eggs only if I felt the pullet/hen would improve the type in my line and would not hatch from a hen that was consistently laying a 4 or less regardless of her type but I am trying to work on SOP and egg colour at the same time. I have single mated and many times the offspring have produced a range of darkness but generally darker than the parents. Any that don't I do not breed forward. Take your best pullets/hens that lay the darkest eggs and breed to your chosen Cock/Cockeral that is a Grandpa/Dad/Son as long as you are not breeding forward any DQ's. Again, this is just how I do it. Have just finished up a little hiatus in progress getting rid of a hidden gene that I unknowingly introduced with an outcross two years ago but am moving forward again. Shall see what this season brings. Who knows, I may be re-thinking this all again in another year

 

[cafrhe]

We just hatched our 1st black copper marans, 4 chicks. While we have feathered feet, I am not sure we got what we expected. Yellow toes is a bad thing I take it? And they should have more white on their bellies? The parents all had black feet and seemed nicely colored to me. Can someone comment please? Over all we do want chocolate egg layers so will be happy to add dark laying hens to our flock. My dd is in 4h and would like to breed and show. The chickens are also a way to get her more involved in science and genetics. And is it normal for the feathered toe to be shorter than the others? Thanks

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
I'm seeking the name of the lady who was President of the Marans of Minnesota Club in 2012.
She has Black Copper Marans and once studied to be a vet.
Please, can anyone help?
Thanks,
Karen

 

[MARANMAN2011]

What do the bottom of the feet look like?