Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[pinkchick]

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You can usually start to see some copper coming in the hackles around 6 weeks and in some even earlier, but it can take some time to come in on the wing bow, back and saddle areas. They will change alot by age 6 mos. and even then they can still change and get more copper at a slightly more mature age. How old are they?

I'm not 100% sure. I was told 14 weeks, 10 weeks and also 6weeks. I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.

Forgot to tell you when I first responded that in some Marans the copper can take a very long time to come in and show. I have noticed that in my birds the ones that take the longest to show copper are usually the ones that are too dark and show very little copper to almost none.

I would think that you should see some copper of some sort on the 14 weekers and the 10 weekers by now, even if it is just a little bit. The younger ones could take a little more time. Oh and Congratulations on purchasing them......I bet they are going to be nice birds.

 

[pinkchick]

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Hi Lifesong!!!! Congratulations on the eggs coming! And yes...VISUALS are a must for me as well....reading the SOP and trying to figure it out in your head without a good old fashioned picture is for the birds.

I breed Blue Coppers and Splash Coppers, but I have a quite a waiting list that I am working on, you can send me PM or an email and we could see if maybe I can help you out, but I am afraid it wouldn't be as soon as you would like.
Where are you located? Maybe we can help you find someone that is pretty close to you for Blue Coppers?

 

[Lifesong Farm]

I am in NE Indiana. The BCM eggs that I will be getting (hopefully in the next month or two) are from Wade/Davis and ? lines. I can't remember what all names he rattled of right now. He said his girls are not laying that great right. I am having the same issue with my Faverolles. I swear I am gonna go squeeze some and see if it helps

. I wanted a dz eggs to set with the Mille Fleur Cochins. Oh well at least I am getting my yard candy and broody army going.

Question about egg color... the eggs from the local guy are about a 4. How hard is it to improve the color? Or could it be that they are getting older and the color is going down? Will the genetics be there for darker eggs in the young?

 

[math ace]

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So - - we are looking at three roos .. . . . . . .. 2 - 14 week old roos and an Older roo.

Is the older roo the sire of the younger ones? The older roo's coloring is not balance. From the front - - - he looks like is really dark from the front chest view, then the hackles are lighter and then really dark at the saddle area. If you look at the chest - you would expect to see leg shanks the color of the second roo on him. . . . The color just doesn't seem balance - IMHO

The younger ones - - I don't see the straw coloring on the first roo. I would like to see a chest view of him. IS there any coppering on his chest? How much?

The second roo looks like he may turn into a darker roo. If he turns out to be a dark roo then he will not help add coppering to your hens.

With all this said . . . REMEMBER , I am very green at this and would love to have the more experienced eyes join in with their opinions.

 

[pinkchick]

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I will do some digging and see who and what I can find for breeders of Blue Coppers nearer to you. Hopefully, someone who breeds them will see this post to and maybe contact you.

As far as egg color.....................................................
Egg color can be improved but it can take some time and improving egg color can be a little bit of a daunting task. I have found success improving egg color by backcrossing. I have a rooster that I know came from a dark egg and I know that he passes that egg gene color along, I found this out by crossing him to a Barred Rock hen and her offspring laid a nice egg probably about a 4+ on the scale. Now knowing that he throws the dark egg gene I put him over some pullets that lay a lighter colored Marans egg, those offspring from that cross lay a nice and darker egg than their mothers do. I am continuing on with backcrossing those birds back to the original dark egg gened rooster. We will see in a few months if egg color has increased again. Cross your fingers.

If a hen lays a dark egg and then lightens up.....the genetics that produced the dark eggs is still there, so, IMO, yes the dark egg genetics still pass on. BUT, if a hen starts out laying a light egg and never lays a dark one, she can pass along her lighter egg color genetics, but again, backcrossing may help with this. It's up to the individual breeder if they want to take the long road and try to increase egg color from a lighter laying hen.
Hope this helps and I know others will come along and give their opinions and advice and mention things that I have missed or forgotten.

 

[blackbirds13]

Just finished reading all 101 pages - took a few days - whew!

Great stuff - the information and pics are really wonderful and helpful. I love the journalling idea and think I will try it myself. Ordered birds to arrive in Arpil but won't be able to keep them all as the grow out so this will be a great forum to help decide what to keep. Bought my first birds last spring before I found BYC and got ripped off. I confess i am a lurker but I have learnt so, so, so, so much- please let there be more girls than boys in my bunch!

 

[math ace]

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If I had send you eggs, I could promise ALMOST 100% boys

 

[geebs]

Get ahold of Lensters for Blue coppers... PM him... He is likely putting lights on his chickens.. The females are from me... The coppering was very good on them.. Always room for improvement on anything... He doesn't have a waiting list yet as I don't think he was selling up to this point... I am sure he will make one now...

Thanks Pink.... I see your pattern is full... We will pitch this one down the pike to our buddie...

 

[pinkchick]

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Yes......let's get Lifesong in touch with Lensters!!!!!! Good Call!!!

 

[geebs]

He is da bomb.. I am going to get him on this thread.. I know economically he took a hit here.. This may well help him out... What a guy!!!