Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[sewandgrow]

Heckel's Hens :

Quote:
Thanks, and my DREAM is to have all different egg colors like your avatar. My hudband thinks I'm nutso. LOL

Don't feel bad. Alot of our husband (family, friends etc....) think we're Nutso, but so what??? What fun we have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

 

[VillageChicken]

Hey Wynette,
How often does your 4 year old lay now?
Do you remember how her 2nd and 3rd years were?
Thanks!

 

[seabreeze]

Here is our boy. First pic is when he was about 6 months old and second pic he wasn't quite 12 months old (this pic taken in January 2011).

I need to get some pics of the hens and this is a WONDERFUL learning experience for me, thank you so much for starting this thread!!! I have learned so much in the first few pages and look forward to wearing my eyeballs out reading more, MORE, more!!

 

[seabreeze]

Pardon my ignorance (I'm new here and Wynette suggested this thread to me, thank you Wynette, I am learning a BUNCH!)....but what is a squirrel tail? Can someone post examples of the most desired tails (and other body parts if they want, i.e., combs, heads, beaks, body shape, back angle etc) and then post the undesirable of those same points?

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
VC, she JUST started to lay - this was only her 2nd egg of the season (I do not use lights on my hens). She's actually a very good layer, and laid 5-6 eggs a week in her first & 2nd year. She probably gave me 4-5 a week in her 3rd year. Guess I'll be lucky to get 3-4 a week from her this year, but she's just so nice in type and has laid so dark for so long....I need to keep her in the breed pen another year!

seabreeze - glad you found the thread! Squirrel tail is when they hold their tail STRAIGHT up in the air. The desired angle is 45 degrees. When you have time, go to the beginning of this thread and scroll through - stop when you find pics, and read the critiques that folks have done after them. That will give you a really good idea of what we're looking for as far as breeding to type. Also, some of our members better with genetics can help you decide what type of hen would "work best" with your current rooster, or vice versa. We're ALL about sharing information for the betterment of the breed!

 

[seabreeze]

Thanks Wynette!

Please, anyone, feel free to share your opinions of my rooster, it is the only way I'm going to learn. I think he's a handsome fellow and he sure does his job well! ROFL

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Take a look at the back of his comb and see if he has a side sprig.

 

[geebs]

Sebreeze.... WELCOME... I have been absent for some time and will be again absent but thought I would come on here and tell you Hi and nice to see ya...

A critique from one person:

First of all: Nice picture thanks for posting
As i look at the head (very small and round) a larger head with a longer skull is desired.
Lighter than desired eye color
The comb is small for his age but attractive however it appears in the picture like there is some sprigs.
The beak is good color
The wattles are nice and even
The ear coverts are darker than desired
The yellowing in the hackle is to be avoided
I see in the general impression a strong Brahma-type influence
The length for back appears to be short, however the tail angle is good even though the angle of the back
Slopes the wrong direction
He appears to have much melanisers that make the beetle green black appearance
This contrasts with the color of the leg so I see a contradiction here.. possible cross in color.
The tail itself is a fine looking structure (excusing the rogue feather)
The leg feathering appears to be there though is even down the leg instead of thicker on the toe..interesting…

He is a striking fellow though his shape does not fill in the frame of the acceptable for show standard, but if he was hatched out of a nice dark egg it may be possible with a couple of generation of the right hens to make some improvements I would test hatch to make sure I had dark egg laying hens from him as well as the proper color at hatch time.

 

[seabreeze]

Thanks Snowbird, he does have one sprig (none on the other side).

Thanks Geeb for the critique! I do not know the color of egg he was hatched from, I purchased him from a local lady who hatched him from Thom Dean's program. I will try and get some pics of his babies and of course, the hens.

 

[geebs]

In that Case Sebreeze... Reserve a second one... Just in case... He is a handsome boy however he is a little suspicious looking... I am in your area by the way!!!

Be glad to toss you a couple of hopefuls.

It is soo hard when you don't see the egg or the parent birds firsthand etc. We just do the best we can... Nothing I have is perfect either.. It would concern me that the bird wouldn't throw color forward on his eggs as he is quite upright looking... Makes me wonder... Could just be an awkward one... It happens.. just test breed and see... Aren't ya loving this weather!!! It just rocks!!!

Again thanks for lettin me "rip into" your bird.. He is lovely regardless of what standard he fits into.