Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[blackbirds13]

Newly hatched BCM to add to my stock for growing out. The eggs were out of Arkansas from Little Peddler. They are cute, healthy but dark. So we'll see how they turn out. Package arrived damaged. Only 7 developed and then woke up to no electricity on day 21 with 2 chicks hatched and 1 pipping. Had to help #3 but had 2 more hatch out when electricty came back on. Love my new RCOM.

Congrats! I have heard of great hatch rates for eggs shipped from Little Peddler! Please keep us updated with pictures as they mature. I am very interested in this new line. I think we may have bred ourselves into a corner with the old lines. I am so looking forward to seeing what the LP's do to further the breed!!! Just my observation and opinion, and I mean no disrespect.

i am looking forward to seeing them grow out. I had a batch out of a Missippi breeder that were her line earlier this year and kept the only 3 pullets. They are all over melanized and never developed any mossiness while some of the boys grew out with a bit of color on their breast before I culled them but some were fine at that point but could have turned out too dark if they had grown out. i do have some GFF chicks coming next week so it will be interesting to see the difference. I have chicks from a 3rd breeder that are as old as my older LP pullets, one has a nice colored hackle. i promised the husband no roosters this summer so I hope to get a rooster from eiither the Peddler or Grenfire batches i will grow out this fall. i have 2 older hens of which I will only be keeping 1 for breeding purposes, they are both from different breeders. i wanted to try something different to get this set of breeders started.

 

[snowbird]

I'm not a breeder. I purchased hatching eggs and this is one of the chicks from the Black Copper Marans eggs. 2 of the 5 were light on the head, but this one has a very light beak. I figured the experts here could help me understand why this would happen.

The beak on this chick will most likely darker in a few days, Keep an eye on the feet and see what color they end up. Be nice to see a picture in about 30 days. Don

 

[countrygalut]

Hi there BCM lovers! I'm new to the breed, and just thought I'd get some opinions on my rooster. He is 14 weeks old, and he has such a mild mannered temperament. I know this will seem silly to most, but yes, he is on a leash. He is my favorite chicken in the flock and I often carry him around the yard while I play with the dogs. We recently decided to try leash training him so he could become 'part of the pack' and hang out in the yard all the time. Anyway, please forgive the leash and harness in the pics. I'm just curious how you all think he's feathering out? I personally think he's beautiful, but again, this is my first experience with this breed. He does have kind of a silly looking comb, not sure if that's an issue. In any case, it's just for my own interest in learning, I'm not a breeder. If I do hatch out any chicks from him they will be for my own personal use for eggs and meat, not to sell, so I'm not worried about any 'flaws' he might have. Just interested in learning more about the breed (I also have four pullets the same age, will post pictures of them another time).
Also, what is a typical size for a BCM rooster this age? He is twice the size of my Welsummer roo, and they were hatched the same day. Is my Welsummer just a little fella, or is this guy huge? (The last three pics show him in comparison to the little roo. They aren't great quality because of the harsh sunlight at the time, but it will give you an idea. The welsummer is the same size as all the pullets, and they are all the same age at 14 weeks.)

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you for that. Well, if the black ones start laying green eggs, I want my money back
I noticed yours is huge, too. Are they typically this large when they hatch? These are the biggest, fattest chicks I have ever had. I only had a 50% hatch rate with my own eggs, and that is really low for me. I will check the unhatched eggs tonight, but I'm wondering if the chicks were too big for the eggs. Most of them were eggs from pullets that were laying for six weeks. The eggs are about three quarters full size

They are giant chicks, super round and fat.

As to hatch rate... I dunno ... I clearly have some genetic issues in my flock that drive me crazy. One issue that I have is low fertility, and low hatch rate.

 

[scflock]

They are giant chicks, super round and fat.

As to hatch rate... I dunno ... I clearly have some genetic issues in my flock that drive me crazy. One issue that I have is low fertility, and low hatch rate.

Ravyn told me to talk to you about humidity. I went with the 42% that has always worked for me in the past, but she and Don both said I should be shooting for 30. I'm setting again Thursday and will probably try that. I had 22/24 fertile, but only 14 hatched, and two were culled. Hopefully I can get better with practice. I normally hatch 90% plus

 

[Alaskan]

I have found the Marans do better with lower humidity. Yes, I prefer 30% humidity, and my hatch rates are better when I can keep it that low. I usually can only keep it that low in winter/spring when the wood stove is still running, so my hatches in the beginning of the year are better.

 

[scflock]

I have found the Marans do better with lower humidity. Yes, I prefer 30% humidity, and my hatch rates are better when I can keep it that low. I usually can only keep it that low in winter/spring when the wood stove is still running, so my hatches in the beginning of the year are better.

My incubator will hold 28% dry with the vent fully open right now, so I'm going to give that a shot this time. I really appreciate everyone's comments and advice, negative or positive. This is a steep learning curve for me

 

[johnderosa1]

It has always been my mind set that these Black chicks will have a lot of Mossiness going on. I like them to have the Penguin look as chicks. Don

Don, i hatched out 8 little peddler chicks in December and have found NO mossiness whatsoever in any of them. The black is by far the blackest of ant BCMs I ve hatched including the fluff. The pullets all have some copper in the hackles except 1 which is totally black. One has real nice copper and the other 4 are more melanized. The two cockerels have excellent copper hackles and overall color balance. Shank color is very slate with little to no pink showing through. No white feathers on any. These birds are not perfect but for feather color and balance they are by far the best BCMs I've owned. Egg color.... For the most part a bit disappinting but do have a nice satin finish. Not sure all have layed yet but some are producing 4-5 on the scale. I have had a few in the 7-8 range but the best egg color I am seeing is 6-7 from 2 birds. Eye color is very good and shank feathering is variable within the range

 

[Alaskan]

Quote:
good update, thanks

what about combs?

 

[sideWing]

My incubator will hold 28% dry with the vent fully open right now, so I'm going to give that a shot this time. I really appreciate everyone's comments and advice, negative or positive. This is a steep learning curve for me

This will increase oxygen and decrease C02. I wonder if the better hatches with low humidity are improved because of oxygen? Just a thought.