Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[happyfrenchman]

I have 5 upcoming cockerels that look pretty good. One is very dark. (I have already culled 3 that were overcolored).... anyway, the most mature of the remaining has whitish ears lobes..... It looks almost like they are chapped. Or rough.... but white nonetheless. How serious a flaw is this or should I just be looking forward to more chicken and dumplings? I am thinking it is a showstopper. His father has regular red ears as do the other cockerels.... How serious a flaw is that.

I have answered my own question.... the earlobes were clearly white and getting whiter so I culled the rooster.
Has anyone had this happen to them? Thus far the ones I have left are still showing red ears (which is good). Is that white ear a trait that perhaps speaks to some foreign outcross? The bird looked good otherwise. And these are my own birds for three generations now. Early on I saw some straw color but this is the first white earlobe.

I

 

[NatureChica]

Following. My marans are about 5 weeks Old and I'm trying to absorb everything like a sponge.

 

[cyborg]

I have answered my own question.... the earlobes were clearly white and getting whiter so I culled the rooster.
Has anyone had this happen to them? Thus far the ones I have left are still showing red ears (which is good). Is that white ear a trait that perhaps speaks to some foreign outcross? The bird looked good otherwise. And these are my own birds for three generations now. Early on I saw some straw color but this is the first white earlobe.

I

White earlobes are typical of several of the Meditteranian breeds.

 

[snowbird]

The White ear Lobes are from some of the big name Marans breeders crossing in Penne blood looking for darker eggs. No names mentioned.

 

[cvamoca]

The White ear Lobes are from some of the big name Marans breeders crossing in Penne blood looking for darker eggs. No names mentioned.

I have this in 2 Welsummers. They are all male so I've just been growing them out, and was wondering where the white earlobes cropped up from. They also have a bit of feather stubble on their feet between toes, so I assumed they were derived from Marans...

 

[snowbird]

They are most likely mixed with something

 

[cvamoca]

Story of my life!
They weren't sexable at hatch- they looked like 4 females and 2 males but grew up to all be males. So I figured not pure Welsummer.

 

[happyfrenchman]

The White ear Lobes are from some of the big name Marans breeders crossing in Penne blood looking for darker eggs. No names mentioned.

Thank you all... Snowbird... that is a cull right? (he is in the fridge right now so it is really academic LOL).

 

[snowbird]

Yes, you made the right decision

 

[happyfrenchman]

The White ear Lobes are from some of the big name Marans breeders crossing in Penne blood looking for darker eggs. No names mentioned.

Well that figures... I don't know where my birds originated from (as far as from whose line). I don't understand how one could take it upon oneself to make outcrosses like that and still claim to be Marans... but I have seen green feet (which I take to mean yellow skin) , straw color hackles, black or broken eyes... now white ears..... I cull them or give them away. One thing I am noticing this summer/fall, is that some of my birds are hard molters...Some 'of my older hens look terrible... half naked... no tails....and the egg production is very low right now. I attribute this to the molt. Are Marans hard molters? They seem to molt much rougher than my old RIRs did. Thanks Snowbird.