Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[snowbird]

Here are pics of my 2 girls. They have not started laying yet. Marans must mature late?? Anyway, what do you guys think of my hens?

Looks like you do not have any Copper Hackle on the female necks. They will still produce young with the right amount of Copper if bred to the right male.I like all the nice Black feathers with the green sheen. The type on these is better than what is available to most.

 

[Pipe Dreaming]

So crossing them to my roosters that have a little too much copper would be good? Weird, cause they all came from the same lady. I thought maybe the girls would get their copper in when they got older.. this boy would work ok with them though, right?

Overall I'm super excited. I didn't expect to get this lucky with my first birds. Can't wait until my hens start laying!

 

[snowbird]

So crossing them to my roosters that have a little too much copper would be good? Weird, cause they all came from the same lady. I thought maybe the girls would get their copper in when they got older.. this boy would work ok with them though, right?

Overall I'm super excited. I didn't expect to get this lucky with my first birds. Can't wait until my hens start laying!

First thing I would like to say going forward is keep both males this first year as it is possible you might lose one of them. If you breed these males to your females they would most likely be brother-sister mating and I do not like doing this. You could do this the first year and then the second year use a son over the hens and a cock bird over the pullets. If you do this make sure to cull real hard or they will be junk in two-three years.I am not far from you and would be able to help with them if you would like.

 

[FeelsRightFarm]

Hello, I am new to this thread and I have about 20 Black Copper Marans. I have from Greenfire Farms recently imported line and some from Little Peddler.

I would love input as we are going to be choosing what roos we keep and have about 11 to sort through. We are just really getting into this breed and don't know as much about how they should look as we probably should!

 

[snowbird]

Hello, I am new to this thread and I have about 20 Black Copper Marans. I have from Greenfire Farms recently imported line and some from Little Peddler.

I would love input as we are going to be choosing what roos we keep and have about 11 to sort through. We are just really getting into this breed and don't know as much about how they should look as we probably should!

Just post them one or two at a time and I am sure there will be plenty of opinions for you.

 

[Pipe Dreaming]

Thanks for the sound advice snowbird.
I have a winter to research, learn and figure out what I'll do in the spring.
I wouldn't mind finding a couple hens to out cross with, but for now I need to just get through winter. Maybe next spring I'll find something.

 

[chickengr]

my BCM pullet is about 6 months old. her comb is dark but she hasn't started to lay. is that normal?

 

[Zanna]

my BCM pullet is about 6 months old. her comb is dark but she hasn't started to lay. is that normal?

This time of year with the shortened daylight hours, Yes. She might get started soon but most likely will wait till the days start getting longer.

 

[chickengr]

This time of year with the shortened daylight hours, Yes. She might get started soon but most likely will wait till the days start getting longer.

I hope she will not wait so loooong! I usually don't have a winter laying issue. we don't have real winters where I live. they are still about 12 hours per day outside.

this is my first BCM pullet and I am still learning about this breed.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I hope she will not wait so loooong! I usually don't have a winter laying issue. we don't have real winters where I live. they are still about 12 hours per day outside.

this is my first BCM pullet and I am still learning about this breed.

I have one that hatched in February or March that still hasn't started to lay yet. All the ameraucanas that I hatched a couple of weeks after her have already started. Her comb and wattles have been red for weeks but no eggs. She hatched from a super dark egg though so I'm guessing I have to wait longer for the privilege to get any from her lol.