Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Ivywoods]

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Smith poultry supply sells them. I made one out of the heavy wire that reinforces the top of our woven wire field fence. The field fence is too flimsy itself, but the top and bottom wire are just right. The wire is a little crooked, but hey... it works.

 

[alaina]

Thanks Ivywoods!! Will check it out, and I do have pieces of field fence as well, good idea, thanks for sharing!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

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Sorry, just saw this. Yes the net is awesome. I have two, one on one end of the farm and one on the other so that one is always handy. One of them has an extention handle. The other is more lightweight. I typically walk toward them until I can get them into a corner (inside or outside) and then watch them and fake them out. Closer...closer... to the left--no the right--up in the air--no to the right again.

My Hubby and Dad love to watch and always have something nice to say when I get them on the first fake out or even mid air. I'm goooood at it!

I will add the chicken catcher to my stock of must haves if I can find one here. The processor that I take my birds to when I have a bunch for freezer camp has one and it's pretty good too. Who says chickens aren't smart? They are way smarter than they ever let on.

 

[Ivywoods]

I posted these on the other marans thread, but haven't had any replies, so I will put them here.

I finally got some pics of my young stock this year. I have several hens that have nice type and neck lacing, but I am concerned that their combs are too dark. I don't know if this is something they will grow out of and perhaps it will color up red as they mature. I am planning to use a rooster that is fairly nice but has too much coppering in his breast. I'm hoping I can increase the amount of neck lacing in my hens by using this rooster.
Sorry the pictures are so poor. I never realized how hard it is to get a good picture of a chicken.

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Notice how dark the comb is on this bird. She actually has pretty good lacing that doesn't show well in this pic.

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This hen has what I consider a more desirable comb color, but she lacks the good lacing that several of the others have.

This pic is blurry, but it does show that dark coloration of the comb that concerns me.

Sorry this girl stuck her head behind the stick. She has the dark comb, but I like the lacing on her.
What do you think? Should I breed the ones with the dark comb? Is this what they call melanistic in this breed? If so, will breeding them to the rooster with the extra coppering on his breast help correct the problem? Will they outgrow this. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give. I'm trying to weed down to just a couple breeders.

 

[OwensMom]

Yup, chickens make us think that they are dumb but believe me they have us figured out. I may have to get one of those nets. Right now I use my Border Collie, Owen, to round up my birds at night. If he is not available I have a few stubborn juveniles who refuse to cooperate. The net or threat of the net would be valuable. Thanks for the idea!!

 

[math ace]

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I had a cockerel who just wouldn't behave. So, I used one of my extra "green" publix bags.... they have this plastic bottom in them for extra strength.... I squeezed tough guy cockerel in the bag. His head was sticking out. Then I put my head through the handles. The bag held most of his weight. I kept one hand around him just to keep him from getting any crazy ideas. Then I took him outside to weed my garden with me.

Up, down, Up, down, left, right, left, right, stretch, up, down, twist! I did the whole active weeding thing for about 20 - 30 minutes with naughty buddy boy held in the bag around my neck close to my chest. I have NOT had a problem with him since. He walks beside me and does not even think about attacking me!

 

[Wynette]

Ivywoods, you keep saying "lacing" - what is it that you are referrig to here? The copper coloring in the hackles? Just wanting to clarify. On the dark combs, I really can't see it in the pics - the comb should be pink/red (juvie/adult), but are they black, or just dark red? Sorry, I just can't see. How old are they? If they're not laying yet, I would wait until they are laying to see what color their combs change to.

 

[Ivywoods]

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Oh, yes. I am referring to the hackles. I think it reminds me of a "lace collar" and that is probably why I keep thinking of it as lacing. I don't mean lacing such as the color around the edge of the feathers, ie. silver laced, etc.

In some of the hens, the top of the beak appears black, as well as the front part of the comb. I don't believe it's dark red. They have not started laying yet. They are mostly May hatch.

I have to go to work, but maybe I can get a better picture of one of the dark combs tomorrow... if I can get hubby to hold her still for me!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Ivywoods, there are the few hens that their comb looks black for awhile. I have only had one who stayed that way and she was culled. Like Wynette said it is most likely dark dark red and then they brighten up as they mature.

 

[flgardengirl]

I have a big fat pure blue hen that had a giant black comb and really big feet when she was young. I really thought she was gonna be a roo for the longest time. Turned out to be a nice hen and her comb turned the normal shade of red when she started laying. Her comb is still large and it flopped over a little but no points are supposed to be taken off for hens with large flopped over combs if they are laying age.
Maybe your bcms comb will get redder as she starts to lay. I'd just watch it for now.