Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[math ace]

Quote:
Post Number one has this link to the standard


http://www.maransusa.org/standards.html

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Post Number one has this link to the standard


http://www.maransusa.org/standards.html

Thank you, Lisa!

 

[Debbi]

Lisa, For what it's worth, I like the pink/white guy the best, but I think I'd be forced to keep both of them in the last pics. p/w and p/y/b. That's just me, but I see different things in both I like. I know, I know, that's a big help when trying to cut down on roos!

If you can only keep one, I'd go with the p/w boy, he's nice!

 

[Bravo]

Lisa, they are both very nice but I'm voting for the pink/yellow/blue boy. He's quite the looker!

 

[VillageChicken]

Hey Math,
Is this to be like THE roo for the next 3 years, or just the next phase of your breeding program? If it comes down to choosing between the two, let your hens help swing the pendulum in one direction or the other. Are your hens undercoppered? A vote for pink/white with copper on his chest. Do they have combs in need of improvement? Vote for PYB. Where are they for size? Do they weigh in at standard? Then no need to use a giant roo. Sometimes type is sacrificed for size. In UK there are some varieities of chicken that are known to be much larger than on the mainland, but they have sacrificed type in favor of the larger bird. Not every long and wide bird has good type, and you need to see the live bird in motion to determine that. Sometimes I just observe my bunch and let certain ones catch my eye. I have a white Marans roo who is undersized, but his profile constantly catches my eye because his type is really good. I have to decide between him and a larger roo that never catches my eye. I think I'm going to go with the smaller guy - I can match him up with a big typey hen more easily than fix the faults on the bigger guy.

 

[Wynette]

Lisa, in my opinion (for what THAT is worth!) they both have merit, as Don said. Without seeing your females, it's hard to know what to use as a tie breaker. It's also difficult, not knowing what YOU are wanting to breed for. For example, I like a wide chest, and an overall large bird. However, I have a couple of females that are very nice in type, but are small. For them, I'd pick the largers (I think p/w is largest). Then again, the other boy is not far behind, just looks like he needs to mature a bit to me. If my small hens had a hair too much copper in their hackles (bordering on "mossy" or leaking into the breast feathers), I would choose the boy with the solid chest. Neither has an ideal comb. Aesthetically, they are pleasing, but both have 6 points from what I can see, and they should have 5. However, combs are such a small point deduction, I would sure not use that as a deal breaker for either. I would keep both, personally.

 

[pfmerlin]

H

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:
Yes I know a few people besides myself who are.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I guess it is time to get some photos of the P1 and F1 generations. .. .

Mothers to sons. . . .so the P1 generation is important.
The F1 generation is looking better ( IMHO) MUCH better than the P1 generation. . . .

Then maybe we can break the tie. . . .


Village - Yes, this would be THE ROO for the next three years. .. . I have my main roo but he has issues with white feathers.
He is making me some nice looking pullets. . .. . but I would really like to address the white feather issue.

I think my hens NEED size. Looking at the pullets, I think he is helping with that. ..

Let me see what I can do about getting some more pictures.

 

[Bravo]

I wanted to share some photos of my next cockerel "hopeful." He is an F1 from my small flock. He's only 7 weeks old BUT I am seeing a lot of positive in him already.

I've been having a few issues getting correct shade coppering on the cockerels and I think I might nail it with him. I kept another older F1 boy and his coppering is darker than his father but still not where I want it to be.

Here's what I see in him:
*No white down anywhere on him (although, could this change with the juvenile molt?)
*His comb looks good. The blade is slightly elevated from the plane of his head, not clear by the photos
*Leg/toe feathering is good
*Leg color will be a light slate
*Nice color coppering coming in
*Tailset looks good
*His back looks a little short--I hope this changes as he grows up.

I am sure he will change a lot as he gets older but I am really crossing my fingers with him!! He came from one of my hens that only lays infrequently but when she does they are usually about a 7+

I know its early, but does anyone see any deal-breakers on him that I might have missed? Any feedback is appreciated.

My female parent stock also had that white lacing on the juvenile feathers and it completley disappeared when they went through juevnile molt so I am not too concerned with those.