Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Noymira]

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so glad to see they are laying! they look good and happy!

Thanks again Keara! They are pretty and sweet birds. I'm very happy to have them in my flock!

 

[Noymira]

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Thanks! I was up early this morning trying to "google" chicken eyes for pictures, thinking I had missed something!

I haven't noticed any of the other symptoms Bravo posted either.

 

[Noymira]

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Thanks! I am new to chickens, so I certainly could miss something not overly obvious.

 

[TDM]

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Worry all you want.

 

[hudsonnascarfan]

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Worry all you want.

i dont see anything wrong in selling chicks as long as the ones buying them know they are only egg layers not sq the hatcherys dont even come close to sq but they sell lots of chicks to people that only want eggs

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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Worry all you want.

i dont see anything wrong in selling chicks as long as the ones buying them know they are only egg layers not sq the hatcherys dont even come close to sq but they sell lots of chicks to people that only want eggs

I was at a poultry show yesterday. No Marans at this show but I sure was surprised by what I saw there. LOTS of things not to the specific breed standards and the condition of some of the birds was appauling too, quite frankly. Apparently folks are willing to show whatever birds they happen to have with no regard for standards of any sort.

The judge at this show was also gracious enough to let me shadow him and commented on all the birds he was judging. I asked him if he was familiar with Marans. He was not yet he would still have to judge them if they were at this show. (I believe he said there were 332 varieties of poultry that he was supposed to be familiar with!) (I did learn a lot about feathering patterns from this judge. That was very useful.)

They also had classes at this show for birds that were "production" birds. Leghorns entered into that one. Not sure how they would judge that one at a one day event but he was asked to.

 

[math ace]

BarnGoddess01
[b :

The judge at this show was also gracious enough to let me shadow him and commented on all the birds he was judging. [/b]I asked him if he was familiar with Marans. He was not yet he would still have to judge them if they were at this show. (I believe he said there were 332 varieties of poultry that he was supposed to be familiar with!) (I did learn a lot about feathering patterns from this judge. That was very useful.)

.

I would LOVE to have this opportunity. How did you go about arranging that ? ??

I am trying to breed the speckled sussex. They follow the sussex build with the speckle coloring requirements.
Needless to say, I could learn a lot from a judge like that who would allow me to shadow him while he was evaluating the Sussex line....

What a wonderful opportunity you had!

 

[edgarmongold]

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i dont see anything wrong in selling chicks as long as the ones buying them know they are only egg layers not sq the hatcherys dont even come close to sq but they sell lots of chicks to people that only want eggs

I was at a poultry show yesterday. No Marans at this show but I sure was surprised by what I saw there. LOTS of things not to the specific breed standards and the condition of some of the birds was appauling too, quite frankly. Apparently folks are willing to show whatever birds they happen to have with no regard for standards of any sort.

The judge at this show was also gracious enough to let me shadow him and commented on all the birds he was judging. I asked him if he was familiar with Marans. He was not yet he would still have to judge them if they were at this show. (I believe he said there were 332 varieties of poultry that he was supposed to be familiar with!) (I did learn a lot about feathering patterns from this judge. That was very useful.)

They also had classes at this show for birds that were "production" birds. Leghorns entered into that one. Not sure how they would judge that one at a one day event but he was asked to.

The APA has not published in its Newsletter the Marans standard or the color description for Black Coppers.

When that is done the judges should be more informed on the Marans breed.

 

[kathyinmo]

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Worry all you want.

i dont see anything wrong in selling chicks as long as the ones buying them know they are only egg layers not sq the hatcherys dont even come close to sq but they sell lots of chicks to people that only want eggs

There are tons of people that have Marans simply for dark eggs. What each individual does with their flock is their own business, of course. Fewer than 1% of poultry keepers are "breeders," I have read. I agree with what Hudson said regarding hatcheries. I don't think they sell any breed in "show quality" or even "quality" type. Of course we all know it is rare to even get show quality from show quality stock. Maybe 1 in 10? I think that is the estimate.

Just like all other breeds, I imagine Marans will join the "production," class. It is rare to find quality in many of the old breeds.

My opinion is: Do what you want to do with your flock. Most of all, ENJOY them!

 

[onthespot]

I am middle of the road on breeding. I am trying to breed to the standard, as much as the genetics of my flock will allow. I am not chasing the holy grail of "the perfect marans" by any means. I want my birds to be bigger, meatier and lay bgger darker eggs. I want the hens to be copper hackled, and I want feathered shanks on everything. Other than that, I am just breeding forward with my favorite birds, and hatching from my best looking eggs. I only keep roosters that hatch from my best looking eggs, and only keep roosters that have the fewest faults possible and good temperaments. Beyond that, I guess I'm a "mill" of sorts. I don't ever plan to show marans ever. I just want a buncha DARK laying, good looking, big ol' hens the right color.