Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Wynette]

Fog, I've had that same issue with other breeds, as well as some hatches of Marans. I use two roosts for awhile - one lower (about 18" from the floor) and one higher. Once they are roosting well on the lower one, they very quickly being using the higher one. Some folks pick their birds up & place them on the roost for a few nights. I've not done this, as I sorta want them to learn on their own. And there's really nothing "wrong" with them "roosting" on the floor. Some are just slower to catch on to roosting than others.

 

[VillageChicken]

Debbi,
Can't you combine your Black Copper and Blue Copper rooster rosters? Or do you not mix your black and blue coppers? You could use an over coppered BCM on your "too blue" blue copper hens to get good results. I just mean can't you avoid having 6 separate roosters in this case? For example an overdark black, a perfect blue and an overcoppered blue. Or any combination of overdark, correct and overcoppered? Or do you get better results when you cross blue to blue? Just curious why you want to keep a separate roster of blue roosters if you already have black coppers that fit the bill.

If I had a close to SOP BCM, I'd use him on my blue hens. I think there are way more "correct" BC's out there than blues. Just my opinion.

 

[VillageChicken]

Geebs,
Look at Peachicks Black roo here .
That boy's a BC with so much melanization he's solid black. Peachicks blues come from BC stock. His eyes and shanks are correct.

I think that shank and eye color can be independent of feather color.
Black leghorns have bright yellow shanks and are also based on the birchen allele. They don't have black eyes either like Australorps.

So it can be a common thing, actually characteristic of a breed, like Black Leghorns, for shank and eye color to be completely independent of feather melanization.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
Are they intimidated by the older birds? I find that all my young birds when put in the coop with older birds, stay on the floor for a long time, until they must be accepted on the roost by the elders? Don't know why, but it seems like that.
Sue

 

[sewandgrow]

Quote:
My Maran girls took alot longer too & I think since there can be such a color difference in the BCMs it is hard to tell from pictures. Wait for the dark egg. If it doesn't come in the next month I would rethink it....... Good Luck. It is very addictive you better watch yourselves.....LOL

 

[sewandgrow]

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I think I have too much color so half of my pullets were exiled to the layer pen for eggs only. You might know it,.... the mossy ones in the layer pen have a darker egg than the better colored ones in the breeding pen.........Dang, it's hard to get this right.....LOL

 

[flgardengirl]

Anyone else here going to the Newnan Show? I will be going on Saturday and taking a cr@apload of pics and probably spending way too much $

 

[geebs]

I am not going but I have some birdies there and some eggie... crappy one... dumb kid... (french toast feasco)

 

[Debbi]

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Hi VC,

I do plan on combining the BCMs and the Blue Coppers, if for no other reason right now, than to save space. The problem is, I don't have a "properly colored" BCM roo yet. The two Blue Coppers I have right now are just 7 weeks old. Then just got some eggs from Pink today for some more blue copper, black copper, and splash. Once I have the pullets sorted for breeding, I will run them with one roo at a time, and rotate to a different color or whatever I am trying to improve on at that point, then go with a different roo. If I get a good click with a pair, I'll try single mating them. By the time I get to that point, my new coop will be finished, and I will have the room. I was half joking about keeping 9 roos, but I could see where it could happen! Each roo I have now that is fit to attempt breeding, has a different thing I like about him. Too bad I can't get all the good stuff on one bird! Some day...

 

[Debbi]

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No, but sure do wish I was! Have fun, take LOTS of pics, and spend some money for me!