Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[redwood]

I agree I am guilty of not asking about mossy chicks but I didn't know about such a thing when I was asking questions. I looked at his stock and chicks on his website and what I received doesn't look like what was represented on his site. I even searched the company name and his screen name on this sight and found nothing negative. I didn't expect show quality birds just what was represented on his site. I also am not asking these questions as a form of belly aching.....I just want to know if I should fatten them and freeze them or wait and see. I don't need that many more egg layers. I would like to have somewhere to start as far as breeding is concerned and not just to make a Buck.

 

[Wynette]

I agree I am guilty of not asking about mossy chicks but I didn't know about such a thing when I was asking questions. I looked at his stock and chicks on his website and what I received doesn't look like what was represented on his site. I even searched the company name and his screen name on this sight and found nothing negative. I didn't expect show quality birds just what was represented on his site. I also am not asking these questions as a form of belly aching.....I just want to know if I should fatten them and freeze them or wait and see. I don't need that many more egg layers. I would like to have somewhere to start as far as breeding is concerned and not just to make a Buck.

I get what you mean, and from the picture, it does appear that you'll have some with good coloring. We all have culled VERY heavily - much moreso than with a heritage line that's been bred for 100 years. The key, in my humble opinion, is to hatch as many as you can, and then cull VERY heavily. I will keep, on average, 1 of every 10 for breeding. It does make for slow growth in your flock, but if you are like me (and many others), you'll rather have 1 or 2 VERY good examples of the breed and have the least possible chance of breeding anything negative forward.

We do expect a bit much from a breed that is just 1 year old in the U.S. I don't believe it makes the person you got them from a "bad" breeder. Again, just my opinion. Some folks breed more for egg color, some are unfamiliar with the SOP...now that you have them, I would grow them out as long as you can, and then make your breeding choices.

 

[fowlman01]

Peter Ovalle had Reserve Champion Large Fowl with a BC Hen at the Heritage Expo this last Tuesday. It was a very nice bird. I can see big improvements in this variety as I judge.

Walt

 

[Sally8]

When I posted pic's of my birds, they are for enjoyment only. I have them for pets not to breed, show or compete. I can understand from the professional standpoint, but that is not me and probably isn't for a lot of other's who frequent here also. I enjoy reading the comments and especially the pictures. I have also gotten a lot of help where needed in emergency's and the like and it is truly appreciated. Perfection is never achieved overnight and most people know this. Thank you BYC for the enjoyment you give me.

 

[Wynette]

Peter Ovalle had Reserve Champion Large Fowl with a BC Hen at the Heritage Expo this last Tuesday. It was a very nice bird. I can see big improvements in this variety as I judge.

Walt

Good to know, Walt - I know Pete's worked very hard on his line! I appreciate you popping in to post this encouraging note.

 

[Wynette]

When I posted pic's of my birds, they are for enjoyment only. I have them for pets not to breed, show or compete. I can understand from the professional standpoint, but that is not me and probably isn't for a lot of other's who frequent here also. I enjoy reading the comments and especially the pictures. I have also gotten a lot of help where needed in emergency's and the like and it is truly appreciated. Perfection is never achieved overnight and most people know this. Thank you BYC for the enjoyment you give me.

You're right, Sally - showing/competing/breeding to the SOP is not for everyone, and of course that's just fine! (so glad you are enjoying BYC!)

 

[math ace]

I agree I am guilty of not asking about mossy chicks but I didn't know about such a thing when I was asking questions. I looked at his stock and chicks on his website and what I received doesn't look like what was represented on his site. I even searched the company name and his screen name on this sight and found nothing negative. I didn't expect show quality birds just what was represented on his site. I also am not asking these questions as a form of belly aching.....I just want to know if I should fatten them and freeze them or wait and see. I don't need that many more egg layers. I would like to have somewhere to start as far as breeding is concerned and not just to make a Buck.

Redwood,

I do hope that I am not stepping on toes with you. I am not trying to offend. When I speak, it is in general... It is heart felt lessons that I have personally learned from the school of hard knocks. It is my hope that if I put in print what I have learned, then it might save someone else from being frustrated

I, too, tried the whole search company and screen name thing. I have found that rarely will anyone put in PRINT complaints about someone's stock. However, if you PM some of the folks you see in the threads for names, references, etc.... You will get them. When I have written to total strangers who posted about receiving DQ stock, they have openly shared the names with me.

Personally, I think your babies are too young to make any decisions with yet. I have had some born with born spots on their heads. Then when they got their feathers in, the brown spot disappeared.

 

[Wynette]

Redwood,

I do hope that I am not stepping on toes with you. I am not trying to offend. When I speak, it is in general... It is heart felt lessons that I have personally learned from the school of hard knocks. It is my hope that if I put in print what I have learned, then it might save someone else from being frustrated

I, too, tried the whole search company and screen name thing. I have found that rarely will anyone put in PRINT complaints about someone's stock. However, if you PM some of the folks you see in the threads for names, references, etc.... You will get them. When I have written to total strangers who posted about receiving DQ stock, they have openly shared the names with me.

Personally, I think your babies are too young to make any decisions with yet. I have had some born with born spots on their heads. Then when they got their feathers in, the brown spot disappeared.

This sort of thing is so difficult...I am very open/honest with folks, and even then, I have had people get back in touch with me and tell me that they are seeing a defect in a bird from me that I had never seen in hatching thousands of them. I've given them the benefit of a doubt, and have given away lots of eggs or given "deep discounts" to make folks happy, but I have also had people contact me and say, "I heard that you will send free eggs if I have a problem...." so, word gets out, and I may have been making a mistake to replace eggs. Sigh. For sure, asking tons of questions, asking for pictures, even asking who the person breeder mentors with is super important and the way to go! Also ask if they are breeding to the SOP, as many folks are just selling birds that lay pretty, dark eggs.

Good to see you, math!

ETA:

(love that emote!)

 

[snowbird]

Redwood,

I do hope that I am not stepping on toes with you. I am not trying to offend. When I speak, it is in general... It is heart felt lessons that I have personally learned from the school of hard knocks. It is my hope that if I put in print what I have learned, then it might save someone else from being frustrated

I, too, tried the whole search company and screen name thing. I have found that rarely will anyone put in PRINT complaints about someone's stock. However, if you PM some of the folks you see in the threads for names, references, etc.... You will get them. When I have written to total strangers who posted about receiving DQ stock, they have openly shared the names with me.

Personally, I think your babies are too young to make any decisions with yet. I have had some born with born spots on their heads. Then when they got their feathers in, the brown spot disappeared.

Lisa, I bet if you look when you have chicks with brown spots where there should be white all that happens is the brown just drops down and the soft feathering down below is brown tinted and sure is a no no.

 

[math ace]

Lisa, I bet if you look when you have chicks with brown spots where there should be white all that happens is the brown just drops down and the soft feathering down below is brown tinted and sure is a no no.

Well, if any hatch this way this fall - I will look for it.
I think the brown spot birds were from someone else's stock and I think I culled them for other reasons...