Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Sylvester017]

I would try giving them a higher protien feed and give oyster shell on the side. My flock ways about 22% protien at all times. Mostly so I can feed everyone the same thing (chicks, poults, turkeys, chickens). I haven't seen any feather picking in my group.

Higher protein is always a good start but once feather-picking starts w/a hen I hear it's hard to break them. I feed my flock well with higher protein organic mix, supplemental proteins in the form of canned/cooked meats, vitamins, fresh greens, free-ranging, etc etc. But my Cuckoo Marans was feather-picking our Silkie on the roost. I thought the Silkie was molting since I never had a Silkie before. But when we got another Silkie pullet and she started missing feathers (too young to molt yet) I figured what was happening and felt so bad not recognizing there was a culprit in the flock. We had to re-home the Marans. A 2-lb docile Silkie or any docile/timid breed is easy-pickin's for a 7-lb Marans. My friend took our Marans into her layer flock of large dual-purpose less-docile breeds and the Marans was no longer able to dominate others. I miss the brown eggs but couldn't keep the feather-picker.

This was our fluffy Silkie at 6 months old


This is what the Silkie started to look like after adding the Marans to the flock.


This is the ultimate damage done to the Silkie on the roost, including her comb chewed off which never regrew but she did get her feathers and crest back. Her body took a year to re-grow her full feathers again in which time she ceased laying eggs during that time.


It's always been tough for me losing chickens because of death, or having to remove feather-pickers, or re-home bullying hens, but in the interest of peace in the flock I had to make some tough choices. I don't have the luxury of space to separate out trouble makers in separate areas. Good luck with your feather-picker and if something works for you to stop it let the rest of know!!!

 

[Chooks man]

RedBank that is impressive you got your hand on some thing special. proper marans eggs .

I know the LP line and I know the lady ho sent them to the state . Monique Berte Great Lady one of the finest of pure marans breeder in the world . She wanted to send me eggs this year ( she does them for free) but I can import them . Shame. Here stock is well known in France and around the world .

I don t know much about Greenfire line.

Keep this line pure Don t mix them up They are special and pure Black copper Marans stock.

you are a lucky person .

 

[chickengr]

Higher protein is always a good start but once feather-picking starts w/a hen I hear it's hard to break them. I feed my flock well with higher protein organic mix, supplemental proteins in the form of canned/cooked meats, vitamins, fresh greens, free-ranging, etc etc. But my Cuckoo Marans was feather-picking our Silkie on the roost. I thought the Silkie was molting since I never had a Silkie before. But when we got another Silkie pullet and she started missing feathers (too young to molt yet) I figured what was happening and felt so bad not recognizing there was a culprit in the flock. We had to re-home the Marans. A 2-lb docile Silkie or any docile/timid breed is easy-pickin's for a 7-lb Marans. My friend took our Marans into her layer flock of large dual-purpose less-docile breeds and the Marans was no longer able to dominate others. I miss the brown eggs but couldn't keep the feather-picker.

This was our fluffy Silkie at 6 months old


This is what the Silkie started to look like after adding the Marans to the flock.


This is the ultimate damage done to the Silkie on the roost, including her comb chewed off which never regrew but she did get her feathers and crest back. Her body took a year to re-grow her full feathers again in which time she ceased laying eggs during that time.


It's always been tough for me losing chickens because of death, or having to remove feather-pickers, or re-home bullying hens, but in the interest of peace in the flock I had to make some tough choices. I don't have the luxury of space to separate out trouble makers in separate areas. Good luck with your feather-picker and if something works for you to stop it let the rest of know!!!

my brahma is a rescue. I first put her with a wyandotte and araucana rescues and they picked her feathers. then I moved her to my big coop where my red sex link hens picked her feathers. after that my NNs did the same. now she is in the last place where I can keep her and only from time to time my marans pullet picks her feathers. I added my araucana rescue there but she is not interested in feather picking any more. besides my marans pullet there is no other feather pickings (she does it to my brahma only). it must be because she is almost blind and doesn't move a lot.

 

[Red Banks]

my brahma is a rescue. I first put her with a wyandotte and araucana rescues and they picked her feathers. then I moved her to my big coop where my red sex link hens picked her feathers. after that my NNs did the same. now she is in the last place where I can keep her and only from time to time my marans pullet picks her feathers. I added my araucana rescue there but she is not interested in feather picking any more. besides my marans pullet there is no other feather pickings (she does it to my brahma only). it must be because she is almost blind and doesn't move a lot.

Perhaps they are culling the weak. Horses will do that. I suppose weak members of the herd/flock put them in danger.

 

[chickengr]

Perhaps they are culling the weak. Horses will do that. I suppose weak members of the herd/flock put them in danger.

I have never thought of that but it makes sense.

 

[Sylvester017]

my brahma is a rescue. I first put her with a wyandotte and araucana rescues and they picked her feathers. then I moved her to my big coop where my red sex link hens picked her feathers. after that my NNs did the same. now she is in the last place where I can keep her and only from time to time my marans pullet picks her feathers. I added my araucana rescue there but she is not interested in feather picking any more. besides my marans pullet there is no other feather pickings (she does it to my brahma only). it must be because she is almost blind and doesn't move a lot.

It's just me but since I had the feather-picking Marans that picked on both my Silkies, I chose not to keep her. Keeping her would just have meant she'd continue the bad habit since I was not going to re-home the gentle Silkies and she expanded her feather-picking from one Silkie to TWO Silkies so I made the choice to remove her completely. You may re-consider keeping your Marans around any of the docile timid or handicapped birds. It's commendable to rescue birds to a loving home but they are special needs chickens and sometimes can't be kept with other regular established birds.

Perhaps they are culling the weak. Horses will do that. I suppose weak members of the herd/flock put them in danger.

Agree.

I have never thought of that but it makes sense.

Special needs, injured, or handicapped chickens don't do well with normal chickens. As much as I love my chickens it pains me to see them not being nice to each other when they're all healthy. We always separate sick or injured chickens from the flock to prevent further injury.

 

[chickengr]

It's just me but since I had the feather-picking Marans that picked on both my Silkies, I chose not to keep her. Keeping her would just have meant she'd continue the bad habit since I was not going to re-home the gentle Silkies and she expanded her feather-picking from one Silkie to TWO Silkies so I made the choice to remove her completely. You may re-consider keeping your Marans around any of the docile timid or handicapped birds. It's commendable to rescue birds to a loving home but they are special needs chickens and sometimes can't be kept with other regular established birds.

Agree.

Special needs, injured, or handicapped chickens don't do well with normal chickens. As much as I love my chickens it pains me to see them not being nice to each other when they're all healthy. We always separate sick or injured chickens from the flock to prevent further injury.

I agree. luckily it is not my case. they live in the smallest run and get bored so I just open their gate and they go out so no time for feather picking. btw, my rescue brahma is fine with them. it is so nice to see her eating together with the others. I have a silkie/araucana cross (a tiny bird) that spends almost all they with her.

 

[scflock]

Is it just me?

I wouldn't ever think about keeping my marans with my silkies. They are so defenseless, handicapped by their vision. I recommend to all my silkie customers that they not be kept with LF

 

[Hennypenny15]

i have French black copper marans hatching. This is fi St chick to hatch. Came out of a very dark egg. Looks like a soft ginger or buff color with some dark maybe black pencil thin streaks. Shouldn't black copper hatch out black?

 

[chickengr]

Is it just me?

I wouldn't ever think about keeping my marans with my silkies. They are so defenseless, handicapped by their vision. I recommend to all my silkie customers that they not be kept with LF

I have seen silkies with andalusians, araucanas and some other LF. but they grew up together.