Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[BarnGoddess01]

THanks NYREDS for weighing in. This leads me to ask how many black breasted males actually exist? ANd if I don't have one, and can't get one, how do I breed to get it?

Maybe Don you have some ideas on this as you have bred the BC marans.

I have one with a solid black breast. He is also completely free of copper in his saddle area, however, and his sisters are seriously over-melanised. I believe the few copper spots in the chest suggest the male might not be carrying so many melanisers which I am finding useful for getting colour in the females.

 

[Arielle]

So perhaps, the male that I have that is spotted all the way down his legs, really!, could be useful on a hen that is overmelanized.

THis parti breed is difficult . I think it was DOn that said, am I'm interpetting his words, to get good SOP individuals you actually breed compatable males and females and these are birds which are not as close to the SOP for ideal color. ( DOn correct me if I have this wrong. )

 

[BarnGoddess01]

So perhaps, the male that I have that is spotted all the way down his legs, really!, could be useful on a hen that is overmelanized.

THis parti breed is difficult . I think it was DOn that said, am I'm interpetting his words, to get good SOP individuals you actually breed compatable males and females and these are birds which are not as close to the SOP for ideal color. ( DOn correct me if I have this wrong. )

I have been told more than once that the best bird for the breeding pen is not necessarily your best show bird and vice versa - or even, necessarily, a show bird at all. You obviously have to know what you should and shouldn't work with and how to combine things. Test breeding is one way of seeing what pops out. Then pay attention and keep careful records. I'm certainly finding it interesting.

 

[snowbird]

As stated, the Standard for the Black Copper Marans calls for the breast to be "solid black or with a few copper spots". This is one of those instances where I wish the Standard description was more precise. What looks like a few to one person my seem to be a lot by another. Personally, since the description is for "black or" I'd say the fewer the better. If I were looking at 2 birds that were otherwise equal & one had a pure black breast while the other had a number of copper spots I'd place the black breast first. Following that logic, everything else being equal, the less copper spots the better. Having not bred these birds I can only assume that it's easy for the copper spots to get out of control so I'd be careful about using birds with copper in their breast as breeders.
Wish I was able to add more clarity but it all comes down to the individual determining what a few means to them.

ETA: I find the description of the Wheaten Marans even more incomprehensible. What does "washed off back colours" mean?

Bill, thanks for coming over and commenting on the spotted breast. I agree with you 100 % and I can not comment on the Standards very much as I will be sent packing again.

Anyone wanting to know about breeding the spotted breast males pm me and will answer your questions.

 

[johnderosa1]

Hi - still would like to get comments on this rooster. I understand about the spots on the breast (as stated previously I actually selected on the spotted breast based on reading the french standards and not knowing that the US standards stated black or black with a few spots) but I still would like to know if I was close on the other criteria. I've never tried to select for standards on any chicken breed before and would like to know how I did.

You can't really see his legs very well but they are slate over pink. The feathering on the feet is black. There are no white feathers anywhere on his body. His tail looks a little wild in this picture but the feather sticking up is due to his current quarters + 3 inches of rain (last picture) and not how it grew in.

Most importantly I am interested in comments on his body shape, tail angle, eye color and overall coloring. I would also like to what you think of his comb. I know it's supposed to have 5 points. Please comment, it will be very helpful to me.

Kindest regards,

John

 

[johnderosa1]

Please note that I was referring to the pictures I posted on page 484. Thanks

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Please note that I was referring to the pictures I posted on page 484. Thanks

laughingclown (Wayne's) response was spot on. Your boy has a lot of colour and his black isn't very black but there is nothing glaring wrong with this guy beyond that based on photos. If your girls are over melanised, you may be pleased with what you get. If he is what you have to work with, try a test hatch. See what you get. Worst case scenario - you have to cull them all but you will learn so it isn't all bad.

 

[Laingcroft]

Hi all! I posted these over on the Marans (all varieties) thread which seems to be pretty fast paced and not specific to the FBC variety so I thought I'd try here too.

Yes, I've read the SOPs everywhere I could find them on the net, including the 40 page post specifically covering the SOP.

This boy isn't perfect, but I think he might be a pretty good start to build upon. I do have some heavily melanized hens as well as those with lighter than standard neck feathers. His lineage is supposed to be Wade Jeane and he hatched from nice dark eggs (looked like 7 to me). His "copper" seems closer to red/mahogany rather than the copper, which to me is the bright color of a chestnut horse.

Any opinions appreciated, and other pics with different angles are needed, I'll try to get them.

Ear tufts are copper, comb is straight. Leg feathering could be better, but he is five months old and may be entering molt. First picture shows the copper "spotting" on his breast.



The evil glare head shot.



Back. Green sheen on black tail feathers so there should be some melanizing genes present.



Walking away 3/4 profile.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Hi all! I posted these over on the Marans (all varieties) thread which seems to be pretty fast paced and not specific to the FBC variety so I thought I'd try here too.

Yes, I've read the SOPs everywhere I could find them on the net, including the 40 page post specifically covering the SOP.

This boy isn't perfect, but I think he might be a pretty good start to build upon. I do have some heavily melanized hens as well as those with lighter than standard neck feathers. His lineage is supposed to be Wade Jeane and he hatched from nice dark eggs (looked like 7 to me). His "copper" seems closer to red/mahogany rather than the copper, which to me is the bright color of a chestnut horse.

Any opinions appreciated, and other pics with different angles are needed, I'll try to get them.

Ear tufts are copper, comb is straight. Leg feathering could be better, but he is five months old and may be entering molt. First picture shows the copper "spotting" on his breast.



The evil glare head shot.



Back. Green sheen on black tail feathers so there should be some melanizing genes present.



Walking away 3/4 profile.

That's a pretty big mother-load of copper on the chest and an unfortunate tail angle (too sharp and too upright.) He is young. Type doesn't seem very full-bodied. I'd be reluctant to use this guy at this point. But since he is young and if he is all you've got, let him grow out a little more and hope for the best????

 

[Lotsapaints]

That's a pretty big mother-load of copper on the chest and an unfortunate tail angle (too sharp and too upright.) He is young. Type doesn't seem very full-bodied. I'd be reluctant to use this guy at this point. But since he is young and if he is all you've got, let him grow out a little more and hope for the best????

X2 and for me I wouldn't like to use him because of the shafting in his breast feathers I think his red spots will become more....but you can always test mate him to be sure