Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Braxton Brigade]

Could somebody please tell me when copper maran boys get their copper necks and coloured feathers? I've just given away a cockerel because my council doesn't let us have them and the "chook guy" queried his colour. He just has a bit of a ring on his neck. He's only 10 weeks old. Is this normal development? Do they get their colouring later on? (I think he was wondering whether he really is pure bred, which I understood him to be from the fellow I got the eggs from).

He is most likely a purebred. Being a purebred does not necessarily mean that he will be up to standard as a Marans, but thats okay.

Collectively I would say my boys started developing copper on the neck when they were about 5-7 weeks old. Each week I notice more copper on them (it varies on each cockerel of course).
He seems pretty lacking in color for a 10 week old but he will definitely get more color as he gets older. They are not considered "fully developed" (color wise) until they are about 18 months old, but you can get a general idea of how he will be once he is 7 months old.

Your pullet is quite well developed in color, I wouldn't worry about your cockerel too much. He looks well healthy and happy, thats all that matters when it comes to caring for an animal.

 

[User395221]

He looks well healthy and happy, thats all that matters when it comes to caring for an animal.

It does to me, but unfortunately he couldn't stay with me and the "chook guy" was interested in his breeding potential rather than just his pet potential. He was lovely, I would have loved to have been able to keep him, but we're not allowed roosters at all.

 

[clancys coop]

So I have a question about this boy (the rooster, not my boyfriend lol). He's HUGE! The picture really doesn't do him justice. I know it's a large breed, but just look at his wattles (waddles?). Is this a normal thing, or not? I just got a whole flock of Marans that were given to me by my boyfriend's family after the passing of a loved one. Unfortunately, I know very little about the breed. I was told that the loved one once kept show quality birds, but like I said, I wouldn't really know. I am not planning on showing him, but it's jut nice to know.

Anyone else think Jersey X Maran seeing this guy? Especially with the hens in the background in the other photo. They look like they have pretty substantial combs as well.

 

[LocaConGallinas]

:/

I'm new at this....posting; chicken keeping; hatching and yes sexing....I've read enough that I think I'm relatively certain what I have here but am seeking expert consultation before any permanent decision as my hobby is becoming costly--these pics are of a 'mixed' Marans....a white rooster over an unknown Marans hen--may be wheaten; birchen; BC or other....the age old question.....is it a roo?:/

 

[Red Banks]

I'm new at this....posting; chicken keeping; hatching and yes sexing....I've read enough that I think I'm relatively certain what I have here but am seeking expert consultation before any permanent decision as my hobby is becoming costly--these pics are of a 'mixed' Marans....a white rooster over an unknown Marans hen--may be wheaten; birchen; BC or other....the age old question.....is it a roo?

Looks like a cockerel to me.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

It does to me, but unfortunately he couldn't stay with me and the "chook guy" was interested in his breeding potential rather than just his pet potential. He was lovely, I would have loved to have been able to keep him, but we're not allowed roosters at all.

Oh, okay. I must have misread your original post at first. I thought you were saying you had him as a pet and that you sold him as a pet too.

It would be hard to say how he will mature, I can't comment on his breeding potential at such a young age and not knowing what his parents looked like. The person who owns him now will just have to wait and see, that's the nature of breeding sometimes.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

I'm new at this....posting; chicken keeping; hatching and yes sexing....I've read enough that I think I'm relatively certain what I have here but am seeking expert consultation before any permanent decision as my hobby is becoming costly--these pics are of a 'mixed' Marans....a white rooster over an unknown Marans hen--may be wheaten; birchen; BC or other....the age old question.....is it a roo?

Cockerel.

 

[LocaConGallinas]

****!!This hatching business is not for the faint of heart!!!!!Arrgggg!!-Thanks so much for the prompt response-what an informational thread!!!

 

[User395221]

I haven't read up a lot on this breed. All I'd known about it when I got my fertile eggs which some marans included was that they lay really nice brown eggs and that some movie actor liked them (Johnny Depp? somebody like that).

I'm interested in their personalities. I've only got the one hen (pleeease don't turn into a boy LOL), so I'll never really have an opportunity to find out for myself by observation. One thing I noticed yesterday, and was a bit surprised by, was how shy my girl is amongst the others. I took some mealworms down, my older girls shoved in, and the other young ones did their best to get some. The maran seemed to hang back and not try to push in (she's big enough to lord it all over everyone, if she wanted to). My question is whether the breed tends to be "like that" or whether it's just her personality. Are they "pushy", vocal or shy and retiring, or does it just depend on the particular chook? (I'd call my australorps pushy and vocal, they don't seem to have any issue competing for food, and letting you know when they cleverly laid an egg) All of my other adults are "mongrels" or my ISA browns, I don't have any other purebred chooks (except for my new silkie chicks, and they are obviously different to "proper" chooks). Are these "nice" chooks? Is there a general personality type they could be described as?

(The hatching process is a bit stressful, but I'm so glad I gave it a try. It's so interesting and a real eye-opener to see how quickly the chicks become independent and capable)

 

[Braxton Brigade]

I haven't read up a lot on this breed. All I'd known about it when I got my fertile eggs which some marans included was that they lay really nice brown eggs and that some movie actor liked them (Johnny Depp? somebody like that).

I'm interested in their personalities. I've only got the one hen (pleeease don't turn into a boy LOL), so I'll never really have an opportunity to find out for myself by observation. One thing I noticed yesterday, and was a bit surprised by, was how shy my girl is amongst the others. I took some mealworms down, my older girls shoved in, and the other young ones did their best to get some. The maran seemed to hang back and not try to push in (she's big enough to lord it all over everyone, if she wanted to). My question is whether the breed tends to be "like that" or whether it's just her personality. Are they "pushy", vocal or shy and retiring, or does it just depend on the particular chook? (I'd call my australorps pushy and vocal, they don't seem to have any issue competing for food, and letting you know when they cleverly laid an egg) All of my other adults are "mongrels" or my ISA browns, I don't have any other purebred chooks (except for my new silkie chicks, and they are obviously different to "proper" chooks). Are these "nice" chooks? Is there a general personality type they could be described as?

(The hatching process is a bit stressful, but I'm so glad I gave it a try. It's so interesting and a real eye-opener to see how quickly the chicks become independent and capable)

James Bond preferred to eat Marans eggs btw.

Now on to the personality of my Marans, because I can't speak to the temperament of all of Marans.
The majority of mine are laid back, they go about their own business and don't cause many scuffles.
They seem to have some sort of wisdom about everything, almost like they have a sixth sense about what's going on.

Mine have been broody every now and then; not too much and not absent in the breed either (perfect as a homesteading breed). They have been wonderful mothers. A broody Marans has been a very successful mother, a great teacher to her babies. They seem to be one of the more determined brooding breeds that I have, after one goes broody I can't seem to break them from it haha.