Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Zanna]

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Good Evening! I think this got lost in all of the lovely pictures today.........Anyone knowledgeable in leg feather genetics?

Look up VillageChicken's posts. I believe he posted an awesome genetics overview of shank/toe feathering a few months back on the Marans thread. It was WAY over my head though

Thank you! Yes, I was hoping he would actually comment, this genetics stuff is way over my head...........................

 

[VillageChicken]

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Look up VillageChicken's posts. I believe he posted an awesome genetics overview of shank/toe feathering a few months back on the Marans thread. It was WAY over my head though

Thank you! Yes, I was hoping he would actually comment, this genetics stuff is way over my head...........................

Leg feathering is complicated. Once it is dialed in correctly though, it seems to breed true. Wheatens seem to have much fewer problems with 2nd toe feathers, compared to BC, so it's likely some stray genes lurking in most flocks that cause the 2nd toe feather.

The reason it is tricky is there can be feather inhibitors that are recessive. So you could have an ideally feathered bird that has 2nd toe feather genes + an inhibitor that gives an ideal configuration. I'm not saying this has been proven or that this is the configuration you are shooting for, but it's a way that 2nd toe feathering gets passed on and how it has persisted in most flocks for so long.

There is the same problem with BC here in Europe as well. My best BC roo has 2nd toe feathers. He's young, and I've only hatched a couple from him, but neither has 2nd toe feathers at this point. I believe they will pass these genes on to some of their offspring. I also believe a portion of their offspring will be correctly feathered but carry 2nd toe feather genes. Many folks get 2nd toe feathers when pairing two correctly feathered parent birds. So if they are in your flock, you probably won't ever eliminate them completely. I am not sure anyone has eliminated them completely from their BC flock. But i think most folks would rather get a stray 2nd toe feather than get clean shanks when they are expecting feathers.

To answer your question - yes they will definitely pass on to some offspring. You will probably also get some correct offspring. Only time will tell if you will have 2nd toe feathers show up in your 2nd generation. If you single mate you may find a pairing that doesn't throw 2nd toe feathers in your second generation.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Thanks VC, you have a great way of explaining that makes it easier to understand

 

[Zanna]

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X2!!! Probably won't go there but I will see how they mature out.

 

[Bravo]

Update on the boy I am growing out. He's 12 weeks old now and he's definitely over-melanized. He's got a lot of the blue/green sheen to his feathers but not as much as some birds I've seen. He's quiet and gets along with everyone so I'm going to hold on to him a while longer.

The pic colors are funny and my camera is in desperate need of recycling. His shanks and toes are a light slate and those little white flecks on his breast have almost completley grown/molted out. He's FINALLY starting to get his copper saddle and wing feathers but that seems to the norm with over-melanized birds. At this point I don't think I am going to be keeping him but I do like his overall body type.

His eye rims are still swollen from whatever allergen/environmental irritant they were exposed to but every day all of the birds look better. Also they are going through juvenile molt so he looks a bit scruffy

I'm open to any critiques anyone has.

(the white spot on the back of his head is poo LOL)



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[AyeUpChuck]

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For me he could have slightly more leg feathering - a bit more even but man he looks like he could be a SUPER hunk! Maybe more copper on his breast? He has a gorgeous profile though! Very nice looking head I think!

 

[Bravo]

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Thanks! I too like a bit more leg feathering. I believe Don (snowbird) mentioned that a lot of times when they go through their adult molt they lose a lot of their shank feathering and the heavier-feathered birds tend to keep theirs. Also, for whatever reason this is my ingrown toe feather boy LOL. I've had to remove some crazy ingrown toe feathers from him--a few of them actually looked like cat claws--hard and sickle shaped like a cat nail. Crazy stuff.

It is a waiting game with his coppering too--I've never had a bird this dark so it will be interesting to see what he matures into. I'll post another update on him in another 5 weeks or so

 

[AyeUpChuck]

I've got two BCM roos his age. I'll have to take pics later and post. The smaller brother actually did the wing dance at me when I went in the coop earlier.

The slightly larger is really handsome but I think possibly overly melanized. Only time will tell really!

Their sister though is

gorgeous! I'll definitely have to take some pictures of her. If she coppers in properly, I think she has show potential. But...... I'm also a novice so what do I know

She's got PERFECT shank feathering. She might be too dark for some I feel but man I LOVE her! Her name is Liza~

 

[Bravo]

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Isn't that funny how that works?!? My flock has produced some nice cockerels, some ok cockerels, mediocre ones and a few UGLY ones but for whatever reason almost all of the pullets are nice. How does that work?!???

When I first started out I purchased my foundation stock from a reputable breeder as day olds and all of the cockerels in the bunch were UUUUUGGLY (serious need for capital letters in that word too LOL). I am definitely learning that it is much easier to produce a nice pullet than it is a nice cockerel

I'd love to see pics of your trio

 

[pinkchick]

Bravo~ I think he is a nice looking youngster and looks to have promise....if he were mine I would hold on to him until he is mature. I think you might be pleasantly surprised about the amount of copper that he will end up with.

Aye~ You can't talk about your gorgeous birdies and not share photos my friend.

BTW, How are the babies that you got from me doing?