Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[math ace]

Quote:
Well did the best I could to capture the black comb.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/jeaucamom1/1300245228623.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/jeaucamom1/1300245250781.jpg

That is very interesting! Thanks for posting the close-ups. I've never noticed that with my chicks before, but then again I wasn't looking for it.

I've got some eggs due to hatch soon, I'll watch for it in the next group . . ..

 

[Debbi]

Hmm, I have yet to have a yellow comb in my 5 hatches. Now the black comb is closer to what I get, but if you look closely at it, it has a fleshy under tone to it as well. As for the yellow feet, I have heard the absorbtion of the yolk sac will show yellow in the legs and feet for a few days after birth, but at 3 weeks, they should be more of a pink/slate/gray color, depending on the color of the bird. Just going by what I've had here, and from what I've heard and seen. At 3 weeks, I'd be leery of yellow anything.

 

[jeaucamom]

Ok.. so my roo has a yellow toe on each foot.. so that is a fault correct? The rest of his legs/toes are dark. Is this something that breeds out? Will all his chicks have yellow toes?

 

[Zanna]

Hey guys, I agree that Zanna's 4th rooster looks the best overall, but isn't he more likely to produce overdark offspring, particularly hens? With the overabundance of dark hens out there, wouldn't it be wise to also keep a rooster on the lighter side? Seems like it's hard to nail down a rooster until you know what hens he will be paired with, and I don't see a lot of overcoppered hens out there.

Any more opinions on this out there??? I plan to keep two of my nine (could maybe even cope with 3) so I could keep a darker one and a lighter one. The lighter ones that I have look "straw" coloured though, some of the boys look very coppery and some look more red, so confusing............. I don't have any breedworthy hens yet but would be up for a few experiments over the years. What do you all think???

Still too much rain to get good pictures of the ones I like the best.............

Here is a pic. of two about 3 weeks ago for some colour comparison:

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
Any more opinions on this out there??? I plan to keep two of my nine (could maybe even cope with 3) so I could keep a darker one and a lighter one. The lighter ones that I have look "straw" coloured though, some of the boys look very coppery and some look more red, so confusing............. I don't have any breedworthy hens yet but would be up for a few experiments over the years. What do you all think???

Still too much rain to get good pictures of the ones I like the best.............

Here is a pic. of two about 3 weeks ago for some colour comparison:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/69791_2roos.jpg

Its someties confusing to know what to keep from your birds.

For me, the rule of thumb is, keep what you need. If your hens are lacking in color, then you need a rooster with more copper color, but careful not to get one with too much color. On the other hand, if your hens have too much color, then the darker rooster is what will compliment them. This is the same in any breeding, chickens, dogs, rabbits,, sheep, etc.

You need to always breed 2 animals together that have what the other needs. And look at what is most important. Combs on the scale of importance are not up there wih body type. As we say in Wyandottes, build the barn first, then paint it.

In other breeds, the old timers say use hens to improve on combs & size. Rooster for the color & type. Whether this applies to Marans, I don't know for sure.

 

[Zanna]

Thanks Marquisella, that is helpfull. If I had the hens right now, it certainly would be easier............ Also, a few less roos to choose from

I like parts of most of them but need to choose the ones with the "greatest" good! I agree that body type is the most important so I will make that the top priority in my choices. I think I will keep the four best for now, let them grow out and see where they end up. The other five will be visiting freezer camp this weekend along with a few other delinquents!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Sounds like a plan!

Where are your girls ? ? ? Did you hatch ONLY males like I do ? ? ?

 

[math ace]

Quote:
If we are talking BCM, then the standard is

LEGS AND TOES:
Lower Thighs -- Black.
Shanks and Toes -- Shanks and toes Dark Slate, Bottoms of feet pinkish white.
Shank and Toe Feathers -- Black.

I do have another copy of the proposed standard that says - - -

LEGS AND TOES:
Lower Thighs -- Black.
Shanks and Toes -- Shanks and toes light to mid-slate, showing pink between the scales. Bottoms of feet pinkish white.
Shank and Toe Feathers -- Black.

Somebody will have to post what the final decision was - -- Mid Slate or Dark Slate!

 

[Zanna]

From my first hatch, I ended up with one girl with a pinched tail and a carnation comb at the back, she is the generation of my older roo, (she lays a lovely dark egg though), my second batch mailed as chicks did not fair too well, some early deaths, one runt and one lovely girl but she had a deformed vent (culled them both), the 8, 16 week old roos were a craigslist special for $20.00 and I figured a few of the babes would be girls, but no

and 18 eggs in the incubator as we speak. I guess you could say I am getting a slow start............But not giving up!!!!

 

[ruth]

Quote:
If we are talking BCM, then the standard is

LEGS AND TOES:
Lower Thighs -- Black.
Shanks and Toes -- Shanks and toes Dark Slate, Bottoms of feet pinkish white.
Shank and Toe Feathers -- Black.

I do have another copy of the proposed standard that says - - -

LEGS AND TOES:
Lower Thighs -- Black.
Shanks and Toes -- Shanks and toes light to mid-slate, showing pink between the scales. Bottoms of feet pinkish white.
Shank and Toe Feathers -- Black.

Somebody will have to post what the final decision was - -- Mid Slate or Dark Slate!

This was the final description:

Shanks and Toes -- Shanks and toes light to mid-slate, showing pink between the scales. Bottoms of feet pinkish white.

You can read the entire BCM APA (preliminary approved) standards here:


http://www.maransusa.org/varieties/blackcopperstandard.html