Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[jenniferlamar70]

Has anyone ever had experience with a nasty BCM hen?  I have four pullets and a cockerel, all hatched in April.  They are beautiful birds, but a couple of times now one pullet has waited until my back was turned and come racing toward me. She has never pecked at me because I always turn around and face her.  She just did it a moment ago and I stopped, turned, and yelled and clapped my hands at her.  Then I went and got my 'chicken sticks' (4 foot long bamboo poles I use to herd everyone into their coops after free ranging).  I walked very slowly past the flock again, inviting her to chase me and sure enough she did.  She got a none too gentle lesson with a chicken stick (to say it was a whack is too strong, a shove not strong enough lol).
I have trouble telling the pullets apart since they are all identical so I couldn't even point out the culprit when they are all together.  I've never had a hen behave like this though, and I don't like it.

Are you sure it's a pullet? Our rooster does this on occasion. We pick him up and pet him then carry him all around. After that he is good for the day. Won't start anything for a few days then we have to do it again lol. I would say maybe a late blooming rooster..

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a mean nasty bird. I thought it was a rooster because it would beat up my leg every chance it got. one day I told myself that is it, I will have to put this bird down. at the time I had this bird and 2 other roosters. well she laid an egg. The day I was going to put her down for being a rooster. I was so happy, I picked her up and hugged her. after that she stopped being mean, and would come for loving. It was like she wanted attention, and she wanted me to know she was a hen.

 

[ShanandGem]

Are you sure it's a pullet? Our rooster does this on occasion. We pick him up and pet him then carry him all around. After that he is good for the day. Won't start anything for a few days then we have to do it again lol. I would say maybe a late blooming rooster..

That's an interesting theory, but my rooster is so clearly a roo and has been for a long while and the others are so identical. I will have another look.
Afterward I thought what if she was being friendly and following me? I seemed too fast for that though. She was pursuing me. I'll have to keep an eye out. I have noticed one pullet hangs back at feeding time, so if she is bottom of the pecking order in the flock maybe she is looking for someone to be dominant over, and that someone is me.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

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That's an interesting theory, but my rooster is so clearly a roo and has been for a long while and the others are so identical.  I will have another look.
Afterward I thought what if she was being friendly and following me?  I seemed too fast for that though.  She was pursuing me.  I'll have to keep an eye out.  I have noticed one pullet hangs back at feeding time, so if she is bottom of the pecking order in the flock maybe she is looking for someone to be dominant over, and that someone is me.

I've never had a hen try to attack me before. If she is just following you then maybe she thinks you have treats. All my old hens and a few younger ones stalk me the second I walk out the door waiting for grapes or corn lol. Could the others be keeping her from the food maybe? If she knows you bring the food maybe it's a sign she is hungry or being bullied?
Also we have so many roosters. More then 10 now. Some develop much faster while others linger and then suprise you. My roosters are pretty sweet except for the one that chases the kids lol. Not sure if he is after them to protect his hens or because they bring him tteats lol

 

[Elemes]

I had a mean nasty bird. I thought it was a rooster because it would beat up my leg every chance it got. one day I told myself that is it, I will have to put this bird down. at the time I had this bird and 2 other roosters. well she laid an egg. The day I was going to put her down for being a rooster. I was so happy, I picked her up and hugged her. after that she stopped being mean, and would come for loving. It was like she wanted attention, and she wanted me to know she was a hen.

That is such a sweet story. Makes me wanna go hug my Penny hen right now.

 

[Sylvester017]

Has anyone ever had experience with a nasty BCM hen? I have four pullets and a cockerel, all hatched in April. They are beautiful birds, but a couple of times now one pullet has waited until my back was turned and come racing toward me. She has never pecked at me because I always turn around and face her. She just did it a moment ago and I stopped, turned, and yelled and clapped my hands at her. Then I went and got my 'chicken sticks' (4 foot long bamboo poles I use to herd everyone into their coops after free ranging). I walked very slowly past the flock again, inviting her to chase me and sure enough she did. She got a none too gentle lesson with a chicken stick (to say it was a whack is too strong, a shove not strong enough lol).
I have trouble telling the pullets apart since they are all identical so I couldn't even point out the culprit when they are all together. I've never had a hen behave like this though, and I don't like it.

Just me - but I don't keep bully hens. My nastiest hen was a Cuckoo Marans and she tried to usurp the alpha White Leghorn who promptly put her in her place so she decided to go after the easy-to-harass bantam Silkies. She cannibalized the Partridge Silkie in the coop at night before we realized the Silkie WAS NOT molting. She started pecking and outright attacking our 2nd Silkie when we realized what she was sneakily doing to the bantams at night. She was GONE the next day! I wanted her processed but my tenderheart DH found a re-home for her instead!
This is what the Marans did to our Partridge Silkie - even chewed off her comb!!!

This is the 7-lb Cuckoo Marans culprit we re-homed. I don't give bullies much time in the flock and re-home them fast before they upset the peace.

 

[ShanandGem]

Just me - but I don't keep bully hens. My nastiest hen was a Cuckoo Marans and she tried to usurp the alpha White Leghorn who promptly put her in her place so she decided to go after the easy-to-harass bantam Silkies. She cannibalized the Partridge Silkie in the coop at night before we realized the Silkie WAS NOT molting. She started pecking and outright attacking our 2nd Silkie when we realized what she was sneakily doing to the bantams at night. She was GONE the next day! I wanted her processed but my tenderheart DH found a re-home for her instead!
This is what the Marans did to our Partridge Silkie - even chewed off her comb!!!

This is the 7-lb Cuckoo Marans culprit we re-homed. I don't give bullies much time in the flock and re-home them fast before they upset the peace.

I have no patience for nasty birds either, but I am beginning to second guess myself and wondering if she was following me? Quickly? I had a good look at everyone tonight and am still convinced they are all pullets, but will post a picture tomorrow for opinions.
I also plan to spend a LOT of time around them tomorrow when they are free ranging, so I can get a better impression of the behavior. The rooster is beginning to be hormonal and I have slowly been moving their tractor faaaar away from the others, so they are kind of out in the back forty now and don't see me much in their meanderings.

 

[chickengr]

Has anyone ever had experience with a nasty BCM hen? I have four pullets and a cockerel, all hatched in April. They are beautiful birds, but a couple of times now one pullet has waited until my back was turned and come racing toward me. She has never pecked at me because I always turn around and face her. She just did it a moment ago and I stopped, turned, and yelled and clapped my hands at her. Then I went and got my 'chicken sticks' (4 foot long bamboo poles I use to herd everyone into their coops after free ranging). I walked very slowly past the flock again, inviting her to chase me and sure enough she did. She got a none too gentle lesson with a chicken stick (to say it was a whack is too strong, a shove not strong enough lol).
I have trouble telling the pullets apart since they are all identical so I couldn't even point out the culprit when they are all together. I've never had a hen behave like this though, and I don't like it.

I don't have a stick for chickens. I raise them with love and I get love in return. they all go to their coops in the evening by themselves. chickens don't like to stay out when it is dark.

 

[Elemes]

I'm impressed by how the chicks (9 weeks) will go up into their coop in the evening without prompting. They free range most of the daylight hours and I usually get them a treat to lead them back in before dusk so they are in a run. It's probably the easiest thing I do all day lol. Mealworms, fruit, veggies are a great lure and although they can be a little dim sometimes I think they've got the pattern down to follow me, often without treats. I wonder if they'll ever change their attitude and go rogue. . The BCM Cockerel is typically at the front always by my feet.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

First you want to look at type before you check color. His type is off. He is pretty lanky, with little body cavity width/depth. He is all chest, and has very little rear end, so his balance is off. (Legs too far back as in diagram.) Next look to color. Look at saddle feathers to determine the true coloring of the male. He is fairly overmelanized. He has very little (if any) saddle coloring, and should show the same color in saddle as hackle by this age. Tail is also high and a bit large. (Marans should have smallish, 45 degree angle tails.)

I am a newby at BCM and I can tell you he is not even close.

Thanks. I knew he was probably off by a long mark, but I knew it would help me learn a bit more by understanding the faults of my own bird. I knew he was lacking on the coloring, his sisters are still completely black. Is it a bad idea to learn as you go? At this point am I too new to purchase eggs from a good breeder and start up a breeding flock? I suppose I would just be contributing to the faults of the breed at this point.