Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Arielle]

In horse breeding, we use the term reliability. The higher the number of offspring accessed the higher the reliability of the information. I can't remember the exact numbers now. Been a long time since delving into the statics. Hundreds of offspring are needed to approach 97% reliability.

 

[warbirds]

Just like to ad something here for any one that will listen. We all should be doing test mating with non SOP fowl and keeping records just to verify what has been said in the past. When I started testing and breeding in large numbers I found that a lot of information I seen posted was very inaccurate. There is no way anyone can make an accurate assesment of the young with only 5-6 young to go by. I think a minimum of 25 chicks should be studied to make a decision on any breeding. If testing is done we will probably find that most of what we know now is not factural. there is so much that is unknown with chicken genetics.

I'm listening, Don............have paid very close attention to everything you have posted on breeding techniques. Not a spring chicken and not new to breeding, and enjoy very much learning from others that understand what they are doing

and are willing to share with other breeders, old and new.

I hatched out somewhere around 300 marans of 3 different varieties last year. Just starting to cull through the last ones that hatched in November.
There are precious few left of all the other hatches - cull hard and often!! BCM have had so many other things mixed in, and other varieties mixed in, and until a breeder hatches A LOT of chicks, you really do not know what you have!

It is a difficult variety to work with and get correct, and unless you can hatch a lot, you don't know what the person before you did - or didn't do!!

I'm up to the challenge, although I will admit I thought of tossing them aside more than once.............but I don't own any breeds that aren't a challenge to get to the SOP!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Just like to ad something here for any one that will listen. We all should be doing test mating with non SOP fowl and keeping records just to verify what has been said in the past. When I started testing and breeding in large numbers I found that a lot of information I seen posted was very inaccurate. There is no way anyone can make an accurate assesment of the young with only 5-6 young to go by. I think a minimum of 25 chicks should be studied to make a decision on any breeding. If testing is done we will probably find that most of what we know now is not factural. there is so much that is unknown with chicken genetics.

Don, I'm still trying to figure out a way to come and work with you! I was keeping myself amused this morning in the barn (cleaning horse stalls) pondering how and when you make decisions to cull and picturing your mile long set up of white barrels. I would LOVE to be a fly on your wall on those days. Maybe I could be your secretary???? (I'm one of those "5 or 6 young to go by" breeders. Duh! Some days I think I would LOVE to have so many that the individuals started to matter less. Other days, not so much!

)

 

[culler]

Barb, All the cages and buildings are still empty from the clean out last summer. I am in the process of starting back up with mostly different breeds. This is the time of year I like most with the poultry, chick hatching time.

If anyone has some questions on eliminating the DQ's that the BC are prone to have now would be a good time. Don

 

[Vickir73]

Although I do agree that listening to all the "experts" sometimes make my head spin and makes this seem like something I might not want to tackle

, I remember that we all (or most of us) started out small and it has taken quite awhile for some to get where they are. I'm a small fry, but am very interested in showing this breed. Although I keep seeming to have set backs, I am still hopeful that one day someone will call me an "expert" and The Chunky Dunk will one day be a "household" name when it comes to Marans and just chickens in general

I'm very glad I have y'all to learn from and knowing that I can ask any question, although sometimes stupid, and it will be answered by those who have tons of experience and knowledge is a wonderful thing. I am looking forward to meeting some of you at the show on the 10th and am excited about bringing home some great birds from some of you.

 

[culler]

My first suggestion for you is try and find some Marans that will produce young fowl that doesn't have all the DQ's that are associated with Marans in general. Try and befriend some with Marans that will be honest with you and be open with what faults their Marans really have. If you get marans that have a lot of DQ's it is virtually impossible to breed go fowl from them. Just do your home work and you will be ok. The hardest part about owning any breed of fowl is being able to cull when it is necessary.

 

[math ace]

Am I paraphrasing correctly:

Mossy is the copper showing up as edging or spots, especially on the back. And it is highly heritable.


Correct?

Mossiness occurs anytime you have a bleed through of a color where it should not be.
On Black Copper marans, it occurs when the copper bleeds through in areas it shouldn't - like the breast.

On other birds, it can be a color other than copper bleeding through.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:

Based on looking at this bird of mine, I would like to add that mossiness perhaps also includes feathers that are incompletely "coppered". The odd coloured feathers on my pullets back are sort of "splashy". Copper appears in the middle of the feather but doesn't extend to the edge.

 

[Arielle]

THanks Ace and Barn GOddess, helps me nderstand this concept better.


My roosters are fulled loaded with color, from hackles to across back.

Here is my area of lack of understnding. Starting an inch or 2 below the chin area, the hackles part and reveal the non hackle feathers of the body. THese non hackle feathers extend down the neck and down the breast to the legs.

My question is how much mossiness ( in copper for the CBM) should or should not be showing? I have seen roosters of other breeds with all black, but not my BCM. Should the BCM be all black also??

 

[culler]

Ace, I kinda disagree with you on the mossy Marans. The color that shows up on the breast is usually not Mossy. The mossy usually is on the back and will appear as mealy mostly. This appears mostly on female. The copper spots that are on the Black Copper male breast are not considered Mossy.

Arielle, for the neck feathering young can have a few of the copper feathers. I prefer to have the BC males with black chest and neck. If I were ever going to breed Bc again I would never breed a male with the copper spots, just the way I see it.