Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[math ace]

Quote:
Ask for some pictures of her roo and hens. . . .

Are the hens all related ? ?
It is possible out of 15 eggs and 4 hens that all the wheatons are coming from one hen . . . .

Does this person have wheaton stock on the property? ? ?
It is possible that an opps happened when shipping the eggs. . . . I just received an order of BCM eggs and each egg was clearly marked. TWO eggs were marked BW - - - Blue wheaton. I contacted the seller and it was an opps. When packing the eggs - - - - he did not mean to ship those and accidently put them in my box

I ALWAYS believe it is BEST to contact the SELLER / BREEDER first and see what they say . .. . .

 

[Sphinx]

My poor chick has reached that awkward ugly stage.

I think it's 3 weeks old today.

Is it possible the other chicks are nibbling at the leg feathers? The legs were much more feathery when I first got it.

Still holding out hope that it's a pullet.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
There is a GOOD possibility that it is a PULLET. .. Three weeks old and not seeing wattles or pinkish comb. Keep the faith for one more week.

Leg feathers. . .. Normally others don't pick at them (if they are all the same age and raised together) AND they don't end up with less than they started with either.
So, the baby fuzz must be leaving and the feathers are coming in . . . . hence it looks like there is less NOW than THEN

Sometimes, they can lose some if they get their feet stuck or rubbed against something.

 

[Sphinx]

She (

) is being raised with 8 RIR, so she's the only one with any leg feathers at all. The other chicks are a few days younger (like maybe 2 or 3?).

Thanks for the boost on the gender identity.

 

[Zanna]

Are the hens all related ? ?
It is possible out of 15 eggs and 4 hens that all the wheatons are coming from one hen . . . .

Does this person have wheaton stock on the property? ? ?
It is possible that an opps happened when shipping the eggs. . . . I just received an order of BCM eggs and each egg was clearly marked. TWO eggs were marked BW - - - Blue wheaton. I contacted the seller and it was an opps. When packing the eggs - - - - he did not mean to ship those and accidently put them in my box

I ALWAYS believe it is BEST to contact the SELLER / BREEDER first and see what they say . .. . .

Mathace, thanks for your valuable thoughts as always. I had/have spoken to the breeder, she seems to be a great lady and has offered me a refund or more eggs which I declined.
She has 1 roo covering 8 hens, 3 of the hens are related to the roo. She believes her roo to have the wheaten gene as well as the three hens he is related to based on my hatch so far. The hatch is still in progress, these buggers take their sweet time (today is day 22)! So far from 18 eggs I have 6 wheatens and 8 bcm and I think two more pips, maybe three.

If one or more of the bcm babies end up being SOP hens (dream on!), knowing that their daddy had the wheaten gene but not the mommy, would it be worth taking the chance breeding or would I just be continuing to pass on that undesireable gene? These guys sure are tricky...............​

 

[VillageChicken]

Quote:
Mathace, thanks for your valuable thoughts as always. I had/have spoken to the breeder, she seems to be a great lady and has offered me a refund or more eggs which I declined.
She has 1 roo covering 8 hens, 3 of the hens are related to the roo. She believes her roo to have the wheaten gene as well as the three hens he is related to based on my hatch so far. The hatch is still in progress, these buggers take their sweet time (today is day 22)! So far from 18 eggs I have 6 wheatens and 8 bcm and I think two more pips, maybe three.

If one or more of the bcm babies end up being SOP hens (dream on!), knowing that their daddy had the wheaten gene but not the mommy, would it be worth taking the chance breeding or would I just be continuing to pass on that undesireable gene? These guys sure are tricky...............

You could test mate them to any wheaten rooster - Rhode Island, Wheaten Ameraucana, Delaware, New Hampshire and if any wheatens pop out they are carriers. If you hatch all black/black copper chicks, you're clear.

 

[Zanna]

You could test mate them to any wheaten rooster - Rhode Island, Wheaten Ameraucana, Delaware, New Hampshire and if any wheatens pop out they are carriers. If you hatch all black/black copper chicks, you're clear.

Wow, this is all so confusing to me..........I have a NH Roo and have some young Del roos. So, if I bred either one of them to one of the BCM hens I would possibly get some wheaten offspring if she is a carrier or I would get BCM offspring?? Not pure I would assume but the right colour? NH and Delawares are considered wheaten roos?? I thought NH were gold and Dels I have no idea. Remember, I am a complete newbie to all of this "stuff". Is there a source I can read to learn about this?​

 

[Illia]

Yes, New Hampshires and Delawares are Wheatens, just with Columbian and other genes to cover it up. It's like Marans being the same as Birchens, just with mahogany and the gold genes.

So yes, if you breed them to any wheaten based bird, you will indeed get Wheatens. It is a great idea to find out who's carrying the recessive wheaten.

 

[jarodw45]

Quote:
Thanks!

 

[Zanna]

Wow, cool!! Sounds like I may have a fun project ahead of me