Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Wynette]

Quote:
Don, I know your position on using cock birds with copper in their chest, but I just haven't personally seen it. Since this breed is so new, it's very likely that everyone with the same colored birds will not hatch with the same results, unfortunately. But goodness, I see this in my Jersey Giants, and in my Plymouth Rocks as well, so to be honest, it wouldn't bother me, personally, to use this guy at all. I believe he has MANY very good attributes, but then, that is always my downfall, that I can see "useability" in almost every bird. The other thing, and I think this is important to note, especially for Keara, who bred this boy, and for the owner, noymira - I have seen male birds that have sparse copper coloring in their chests that, upon finishing their first adult molt, no longer have the copper feathers in the chest, having molted them out. Again, who knows if the genetics of this boy would do the same, but you just never know! He's got very good overall type, and you know what they say...build the barn first! In my novice opinion, that's a darn nice barn.

 

[stoopid]

Don, sorry I didn't give the whole story, I've got enough stress just getting pics up. Ideally, I would like a Black Copper Flock, I am not looking to have the grand champion, but a few ribbons here and there would be nice. I am in it mainly for those beautiful eggs, but where I am (Long Island, NY) I consider us chicken people "geographically unsuitable"
I am bringing Clyde to Sussex County next month, I don't know if I won't strangle him waiting to see if he is worth holding onto!

 

[Wynette]

Stoopid, Don was referring to another post, not yours.

ETA: whoosp, sorry - I didn't see that Snowbird had replied to you at the bottom of the previous page - my mistake.

 

[snowbird]

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If you want to keep the mean rooster just start picking him up everyday for a few days and hold under one arm and with the other hold a piece of over ripe banana up to his beak , before you turn him loose rub under his beak with you finger, if he trys to peck you while you rub his neck, just put you open hand over the back of the neck and rub with the finger. I have never seen a rooster that could not be gentled, was raised on a very large game fowl farm and have seen real mean roosters.

If you have any questions just ask them.

 

[Wynette]

I agree with Don. I get really perturbed when I see folks who jump right to "put him in the stew pot!"

 

[Debbi]

Ok Don, what's with the banana?? I have tried the carrying, petting, holding stuff with Pip, that just makes him more angry.

So what does the banana do?

Stoopid posted in another thread, and according to her, her roo is not a manfighter, just overly aggressive with the hens, and crows a lot. To me, that's not a jerk, just a roo, doing what roos do...

ETA: Wynette, I can see why folks do say that. Someone that has had a mean roo doesn't really want to go through that BS again. There are too many nice roos out there, and unless the mean one is a near perfect specimen, which I have yet to really see, make 'em soup. Me, I have all the time in the world, and Pip, is to me, a case study, plus he amuses me!

I have found with him, he is more like a spoiled child. He will do anything to get my attention, even if it's negative attention. The uglier he acts, the more I react. He seems to feed on this, so I have taken to ignoring the bad behavior, and it seems to be working. I choose my battles with him, and always keep him within my peripheral vision just in case. He seems to be slowing down now with his ugly moods since I have taken on this new tactic. Case in point: Sitting in a chair on the lawn the other day. He comes within 2 feet of me, doing the growly/dropwing dance. Flared hackles and all. I just sat there calmly, while before I would either yell at him or point my cane. This day, I just sat there. He threw his little tantrum, made lots of noise, then just stopped. He stood there looking at me, waiting for my response, and I gave him nothing. He turned and quietly walked away. Now I have another one who is bigger and younger than Pip, and he is soup! Both were raised here, Pip was handled a lot, Blue Butt was not, so the handling thing has made no difference here in my experience. Clyde and Roy, both handled a lot when young, and both are true gentlemen.

 

[snowbird]

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Debbi, It is just like when you learned or was taught how to hold onto your man, It is all in how you hold them. I will be back and explain the whole process later.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Debbi, It is just like when you learned or was taught how to hold onto your man, It is all in how you hold them. I will be back and explain the whole process later.

Well, that failed miserably!! Two times, no less! Maybe I should've used a banana on them too???

 

[stoopid]

Too many quotes here. My head hurts. I know how to handle roos, just wanted to see if anyone saw some obvious flaws that I don't from those 3 pics. He is bowing down a little, he really does have a neck.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
On the far away picture it is very hard to say anything about the Black Copper male good or bad. I ask about the Marans all being from the same breeding pen for a reason.