Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[geebs]

as long as you can hold out... (culling depends on what you are looking for) Everyone has a different goal and a different strategy to get there... I recommend waiting until they are at least 5 months... even then it may be hard to decide. What are you doing with them??? Egg color or show???

 

[stonecottagefarm]

Quote:
Thanks for responding! They are only 6 weeks old and I don't mind keeping them longer. I'd really like to focus on traits they are known for in Europe, hardy dual-purpose meat birds that lay dark brown eggs. I have not gotten into showing birds yet but plan to sometime in the future. We still have so much work to do on our farm. Other traits I want are good foragers, free-rangers, cold-hardy, good egg-laying, etc. Right now, looks are low on the list because I want to focus on the above traits and cull out the weak birds before I get too caught up in physical traits and start keeping birds that are not hardy. That could be the wrong approach maybe? I am using this approach for all of our birds right now to get a good strong healthy stock going and it's worked so far. We also do ducks and geese.

I have a dozen more hatching out from Bethel right now. Different parent lines. So far, four have hatched. Waiting on 7 more. I guess the eggs are harder to hatch. Still have another 24 hours. Come on babies!

Back to the marans. Most of them are dark and mostly black. But I have one rooster that is very copper all over. Does this mean anything or is he just doing this sooner than the other roosters? All are 5-6 weeks old.

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:
Interesting. I have some chicks in with some turkey juvies as well. The turkeys seem to protect them from other birds and the cats. I also have a lavender orpington roo who tries to adopt all chicks and even has adopted a kitten!!

 

[BookWorm243]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone had some BCM pullets for sale. I am only looking for one or two pullets to go with my cockerel. He does have some gold specks so I need a darker girl to go with him.
Thanks!

 

[VillageChicken]

Quote:
Thanks for responding! They are only 6 weeks old and I don't mind keeping them longer. I'd really like to focus on traits they are known for in Europe, hardy dual-purpose meat birds that lay dark brown eggs. I have not gotten into showing birds yet but plan to sometime in the future. We still have so much work to do on our farm. Other traits I want are good foragers, free-rangers, cold-hardy, good egg-laying, etc. Right now, looks are low on the list because I want to focus on the above traits and cull out the weak birds before I get too caught up in physical traits and start keeping birds that are not hardy. That could be the wrong approach maybe? I am using this approach for all of our birds right now to get a good strong healthy stock going and it's worked so far. We also do ducks and geese.

I have a dozen more hatching out from Bethel right now. Different parent lines. So far, four have hatched. Waiting on 7 more. I guess the eggs are harder to hatch. Still have another 24 hours. Come on babies!

Back to the marans. Most of them are dark and mostly black. But I have one rooster that is very copper all over. Does this mean anything or is he just doing this sooner than the other roosters? All are 5-6 weeks old.

6 weeks seems early for a rooster to be "very copper all over". Dark and mostly black seems more normal at that age. Was he dark brown/black as a chick or any different from the others at hatch?

 

[Lifesong Farm]

Quote:
Interesting. I have some chicks in with some turkey juvies as well. The turkeys seem to protect them from other birds and the cats. I also have a lavender orpington roo who tries to adopt all chicks and even has adopted a kitten!!

My Faverolle roos are very good with the chicks also. If the juvies get to rough with the turkey poult then he steps in to break it up before they get to the chicks. So far I have had no worries since the rooster and turkey poult have taken over the chicks. Its funny watching her with the chicks. As soon as she does the threat call they all go running for the coop.

 

[lutz123]

Great thread, though I haven't gotten through even a small portion of it...

I'd like to have some help sexing my chicks! My question was initially whether the coppery tinge to the tips of one of my 11-12 day old FBCM chicks was significant. Since I was taking pictures I figured I may as well get an opinion on everyone. Yes, I realize it's way too early. My curiosity comes because I was surprised to notice a more significant comb on one of my chicks this morning (Chick 2). I also noticed that it is the only one showing slight coppering to some wing feather tips. I didn't know if this is more of a common color variation, or whether it is more likely to mean cockerel. FWIW, it was also a fattie when born! The feathering on all three seems to be coming in at the same rate.

I'm going to attempt to post these, but they aren't previewing so I may have to tweak or post images separately...

Chick 1:

Chick 2:

Chick 3:

 

[stonecottagefarm]

Quote:
Thanks for responding! They are only 6 weeks old and I don't mind keeping them longer. I'd really like to focus on traits they are known for in Europe, hardy dual-purpose meat birds that lay dark brown eggs. I have not gotten into showing birds yet but plan to sometime in the future. We still have so much work to do on our farm. Other traits I want are good foragers, free-rangers, cold-hardy, good egg-laying, etc. Right now, looks are low on the list because I want to focus on the above traits and cull out the weak birds before I get too caught up in physical traits and start keeping birds that are not hardy. That could be the wrong approach maybe? I am using this approach for all of our birds right now to get a good strong healthy stock going and it's worked so far. We also do ducks and geese.

I have a dozen more hatching out from Bethel right now. Different parent lines. So far, four have hatched. Waiting on 7 more. I guess the eggs are harder to hatch. Still have another 24 hours. Come on babies!

Back to the marans. Most of them are dark and mostly black. But I have one rooster that is very copper all over. Does this mean anything or is he just doing this sooner than the other roosters? All are 5-6 weeks old.

6 weeks seems early for a rooster to be "very copper all over". Dark and mostly black seems more normal at that age. Was he dark brown/black as a chick or any different from the others at hatch?

He looked just like the others. They all came from Bethel Plantation, I have no concerns about them being anything other than purebred Marans. I'll try to get photos of him soon. He is very beautiful. Just wasn't sure if that was typical or not as I haven't seen that anywhere else. I also have a hen with a copper spot on her head. Pretty cute. Call her coppertop.

 

[stonecottagefarm]

Quote:
My roosters usually have the bigger combs and much thicker legs than the hens. #2 looks like a rooster to me. But I'd also have to feel the leg thickness as well. The other two look like hens again depending on leg thickness.

 

[lutz123]

Quote:
My roosters usually have the bigger combs and much thicker legs than the hens. #2 looks like a rooster to me. But I'd also have to feel the leg thickness as well. The other two look like hens again depending on leg thickness.

Thanks - Yes, that's what I'm thinking. The legs do feel a bit thicker, but then Chick 2 is just bigger anyhow. Any thoughts on the copper on the wings this early? Would a pullet have that?