Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[scflock]

Agreed but....... I bought a lovely $150/Cockeral from a show and unknowingly incorporated a recessive white gene into my flock which has taken 3 years to discover, single mate to get rid of and get started again. After working with this breed for over 7 years now, you learn to pick your battles. A judge that I was clerking for at a show recently said you can breed out just about anything but you have to breed numbers and cull hard. Not the first time I have heard this.......... After time you will find what you will accept and what you just won't and work into your own rhythm. No perfect bird out there.

That's a very good point, and I agree. I sell my roosters for $5-10, but I clearly explain to customers that these are not SOP and point out the show faults. Most people don't care, they just want the dark eggs, but it will take me a few years to get any SOP birds out of my current flock unless I start over. My rooster has several flaws. Besides the comb, he has the halo, the comb is way too big, his body tapers too quickly, too much color in the breast, he throws mossy chicks, etc...
He's a pretty bird, and I like him, but if I want to breed to SOP it will take a long time with him

 

[GaryDean26]

I don't know for how long bcm have been in greece. I noticed that at the breeder some marans hens have floppy combs. is that ok?

The American Poultry Association counts all the floppy comb on the cockerel as a defect that the bird can be disqualified for in exhibition, but on the hen they are not allowed to deduct points for floppy combs on pullet and hens in production. So...yes the floppy comb on the hen is okay if they are in production.

 

[scflock]

The American Poultry Association counts all the floppy comb on the cockerel as a defect that the bird can be disqualified for in exhibition, but on the hen they are not allowed to deduct points for floppy combs on pullet and hens in production.

My rooster's comb isn't floppy, it just looks like a Penedesenca comb on steroids. Here's a few progression pics of him, and those of you that know, feel free to pick out the faults to illustrate to anyone new to the breed. I wish I asked someone to do the same for me before I got started.

 

[scflock]

And here are a few of the chicks he is throwing

 

[happyfrenchman]

SCFlock

IMO.. I think his size is good. And his form and type are acceptable.
He has some major flaws though. His color is mixed and he has a pretty good halo. He is overcolored on the breast. His eye appears overdark... I don't know if that is just the picture. It should be gold. And his comb is I think overlarge. I don't see floppy but it is big.

If I were you and I had a better bird, I would cull him. but you might not have a better bird and you could work with this one if you have to. Select for type over color I have been told many times. I think his type is better than his color. HF

 

[snowbird]

Quote:

The American Poultry Association counts all the floppy comb on the cockerel as a defect that the bird can be disqualified for in exhibition, but on the hen they are not allowed to deduct points for floppy combs on pullet and hens in production. So...yes the floppy comb on the hen is okay if they are in production.

Gary, I suggest you go to the SOP general Disqualifications Under SHAPE down to Comb and read (D)#1 If the female is more than slightly lopped it is still a DQ.

 

[scflock]

SCFlock

IMO.. I think his size is good. And his form and type are acceptable.
He has some major flaws though. His color is mixed and he has a pretty good halo. He is overcolored on the breast. His eye appears overdark... I don't know if that is just the picture. It should be gold. And his comb is I think overlarge. I don't see floppy but it is big.

If I were you and I had a better bird, I would cull him. but you might not have a better bird and you could work with this one if you have to. Select for type over color I have been told many times. I think his type is better than his color. HF

I agree with you on all points, but I didn't know that until I joined this thread. His eye is more proper than it appears in the pics. He definitely has a halo, and his comb is massive and pene mixed. He was the least bad of my initial straight run batch, and I kept him to see what he threw. So far the color isn't improving and the combs are the same. I have learned a lot on this thread, and it's hard to know what is wrong without seeing it. People post pictures all the time, and people will tell them to cull, but they don't really explain why. I wanted to put up a picture of my faulty bird so the new people would be able to see what you are talking about

 

[snowbird]

SC, If you plan on still using this male as a breeder you will not live long enough to get good Marans on a regular basis from him. He has just about every fault that a marans could have. He has a terrible Comb, Stance is too close together, no width between the legs. He is mixed with Wheaten Marans, He has a wry tail. It looks like most of the young are real Mossy. Do yourself a favor and take a trip to the hardware.

 

[scflock]

SC, If you plan on still using this male as a breeder you will not live long enough to get good Marans on a regular basis from him. He has just about every fault that a marans could have. He has a terrible Comb, Stance is too close together, no width between the legs. He is mixed with Wheaten Marans, He has a wry tail. It looks like most of the young are real Mossy. Do yourself a favor and take a trip to the hardware.

I am going to do that, Don. Everything that you predicted about him as a chick has come true. It would be pointless to attempt to breed him to SOP. He will be getting some of my Am pullets for an olive egger pen as soon as I can find a good replacement.
The reason I posted the pics was someone else posted a picture of a similar rooster for sale with the same faults. I wanted to show what you get stuck with when you are impatient and buy the first birds you find, and I appreciate you noting the faults for the others. It's hard to hear the first time, but it's true.
People may find you abrasive, but I have learned a ton from you. I just wish I had met you before purchase, not after

 

[sideWing]

I agree with you on all points, but I didn't know that until I joined this thread. His eye is more proper than it appears in the pics. He definitely has a halo, and his comb is massive and pene mixed. He was the least bad of my initial straight run batch, and I kept him to see what he threw. So far the color isn't improving and the combs are the same. I have learned a lot on this thread, and it's hard to know what is wrong without seeing it. People post pictures all the time, and people will tell them to cull, but they don't really explain why. I wanted to put up a picture of my faulty bird so the new people would be able to see what you are talking about

Thank you for posting the pics SC. I know you have posted them before and you're just trying to give folks an educational example and I really appreciate it.