Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Bravo]

Quote:
That is hard to say.

My BCM's are probably the most kick back birds I've ever raised. I can have 20 in my backyard that I'm growing out and no tiffs, drama or ruckus...not even over food!

Now my EE's, while sweet, are drama queens in comparison. They are constantly having tiffs, personal space issues and always feeling that they have to enforce the pecking order. It's actually kind of annoying. Everything from sunbathing to roosting is a production with them.

I suppose it is just because they are young but who knows.

My BCM and EE pullets are equally as friendly though

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Ditto that.

The more time you spend with them, the calmer & more laid back they become. I simply don't have the extra time this year to spend hangin' out with my chooks right now, so my last few batches haven't been as friendly as others but, in general, my Marans are equally as calm as my Jersey Giants, who are known to be easygoing.

 

[seabreeze]

My BCMs are quite calm especially comparison to my other breeds, Wyandotte, Barnevelder and even the Australorps. The Orpingtons seem the calmest and most laid back of all.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Oops. So sorry. I should have said, "Mine seem like very calm birds to raise." Yes, it's likely reflective of the particular parent stock, though you'd think that environment could have something (10%?) to do with depending on things like housing, space, flock mates, nearby predator load, other stressors, etc.

But I've never had one of my BCMs (except that extra red one that's now gone) roosters so much as peck at me. They don't even give me the stink eye.

I did think that most BCMS were fairly peaceful, though, and had though that many other folks felt the same way.

I am definitely not the most experienced BCM person here. I have 6 of them; 3 females and 3 males - now 9 weeks old. They are calm compared to my EEs but my Ameraucanas are the calmest. One of the Blue Copper boys gets a little confused when I'm handing out treats and zings me if my hand takes him by surprise but otherwise they are birds with lovely, calm dispositions. However, they are suspicious and VERY quick to startle and panic if they think the sky may be falling - and they are very vocal about it. I guess I would say they are quick to take offense. They are not lap birds like my Ameraucanas.

 

[Bravo]

Do you guys ever notice that your different breeds will congregate together?

I have several batches of birds of different ages at home that I am growing out. They all live together but it is very interesting that my BCM's will flock together in one area of the yard while my EE's will do the same thing on the other end of they yard. Even BCM's and EE's that were hatched and brooded together will join the separate flocks over time. I really think it's my BCM's attempt to stay away from the drama queens

Roosting is also different. We have a secure coop and predator-proof run that we lock up at night. The EE's have to roost inside the coop, perched high. My BCM's prefer to sleep perched on the lower roosting poles in the run where they are in the cool, summer breeze. Every evening when I go to lock them up it's the same story.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Mine definitely do. All hatched and brooded together but they know their own kind. I can't resist sharing this picture of my Marans Sisters.

Passing judgement on the others.

In my coop, the Marans like to be up high, the EEs, down below.

 

[AyeUpChuck]

Quote:
Birds of a feather flock together! They really do. Though it's funny as ours still hang out in their brooded groups and then they have their breed cliques within those groups. Chickens are funny!

 

[Bravo]

Quote:
Mine definitely do. All hatched and brooded together but they know their own kind. I can't resist sharing this picture of my Marans Sisters.

Passing judgement on the others.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/38460_img_6896-2.jpg

In my coop, the Marans like to be up high, the EEs, down below.

So cute!!! Love the pic

 

[Bravo]

Quote:
Birds of a feather flock together! They really do. Though it's funny as ours still hang out in their brooded groups and then they have their breed cliques within those groups. Chickens are funny!

LOL forgot all about that phrase

 

[Noymira]

Here is one of my Black Copper Marans, she is 18-20 weeks and laid her 1st pullet egg today.

I was really hoping for some dark eggs, and this one was lovely! She has been squatting for me for a week now, and another pullet just started to squat a couple days ago.

Here's the pullet egg next to a M/L egg from my Partridge Rock.