Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[johnderosa1]

Hi Barn Goddess,

Thank you for taking the time to look at him and giving me some thoughts. Much appreciated. In your response you say "Your boy has a lot of colour and his black isn't very black". I was wondering if you could elaborate a little more especially on the "colour" comment. I am guessing you mean he has a lot of copper in his body.... is that a problem for him or is it potentially a problem for his offspring? or both? As for the black not being very black... never even thought of that. I will check to see if it was the lighting or if it is washed out. I have some black ameraucanas I can compare him to. Thanks again for the comments (laughingclown, included).

I would still love to hear from others if possible. I am a complete neophyte with this stuff and I don't even know what I don't know, so I am all ears....

Thanks,

John

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Hi Barn Goddess,

Thank you for taking the time to look at him and giving me some thoughts. Much appreciated. In your response you say "Your boy has a lot of colour and his black isn't very black". I was wondering if you could elaborate a little more especially on the "colour" comment. I am guessing you mean he has a lot of copper in his body.... is that a problem for him or is it potentially a problem for his offspring? or both? As for the black not being very black... never even thought of that. I will check to see if it was the lighting or if it is washed out. I have some black ameraucanas I can compare him to. Thanks again for the comments (laughingclown, included).

I would still love to hear from others if possible. I am a complete neophyte with this stuff and I don't even know what I don't know, so I am all ears....

Thanks,

John

Let me preface by saying I am a complete newbie as well so my comments should be taken with a grain of salt or probably even a pound!!!

I made the comment about the colour because to my eye, he has SO much "copper". That's an awful lot of "red" for a Black Copper Marans, genetically speaking. (I like to read.) And I make the comment about the black being not black enough because of my Ameraucanas. I haven't done much hatching but I am learning there is black and there is BLACK. And I'm seeing it works the same way with my Marans. The black I saw in the photo you posted looked more charcoal (grey) than glossy black which is not a good thing in my mind.

I'm in the same boat as you. Complete neophyte. I pick what I like and what fits most closely with my understanding/comprehension of the SOP (which doesn't mean it's right), the genetics stuff I've been reading up on, and the birds I'm seeing at the shows in the real world (which really are my last consideration because I know we are a breed under construction.)

I hope others comment as well because we all learn even if we don't all agree.

(You and I should get together. I have a cockerel with great type that is totally over-melanised (I think I could literally count the "copper" (red) feathers on him) which I'm thinking is really not a good thing in a male. If only we could blend the two birds .... )

 

[johnderosa1]

Sounds like that combination might just work. I had 14 cockerals to choose from one almost completely black all the way to one with a completely copper breast. I got rid of 1 during my last cut that had only a few copper spots on his breast. He was pretty good overall but I remember that he had white in the feathering on his feet. Unfortunately, I never found the right standards when I was deciding and went with the red spots over the white in the feathering of the feet. I also had some decent birds with black breasts and black eartufts and again selected on the copper spots.... ignorance is bliss. Oh well

 

[lonnyandrinda]

LOL Just tonight I was wishing myself that I could "blend" my birds to get everything right in a cockerel... copper ear spot with the black breasted with the one with nicely feathered legs etc, LOL Oh, well, just keeping the best in my opinion and tomorrow is process day for the rest... except for the one that got a free pass because a lady who stopped by to get chicks today just fell in love with the size, color, and personality of our FBCMs and HAD to take one home with her! She didn't even care that it was the one with yellow legs...

One less to deal with tomorrow I guess... it's our first time and we have no idea what we are doing, but have done a lot of reading and I guess we are as ready as we will ever be!

 

[stoneunhenged]

 

[snowbird]

Color that is showing looks real good, Whats up with the wing that is showing ?

 

[pinkchick]

Nice looking bird. How old is this male?

 

[Laingcroft]

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

Thank you for the feedback. No, he's not all I've got but the other boy definitely isn't good enough to use (too narrow toward the tail, sunset colors with yellow in the lower hackles and oddly enough, a solid black breast)

At this point, I'm more worried about getting nice dark egg color and good size on the next generation. This boy may not look it in the photos, but he's one hefty cockerel when held in the hand. I've had roos that look more meaty on sight, but don't feel even close to heavy as this guy.

What I'm aiming for is a true dual purpose bird that lays really dark eggs and is still within the standard for type and color, but not so much a show bird. I'd prefer a solid black breast, but can live with the copper spotting.

Which reminds me...is anyone planning to attend the Frederick MD show the first weekend in November? I'm hoping to find someone finished with their own hatching for the year who might be willing to part with a few dark (8-9) hatching eggs from BCMs.

 

[jmanderson777]

Any thoughts about a white tip on leg feathering. I noticed my guy has a white tip on one if his tow feathers. Maybe poop but looked like a white tip. Fault or DQ?

 

[DMRippy]

Any thoughts about a white tip on leg feathering. I noticed my guy has a white tip on one if his tow feathers. Maybe poop but looked like a white tip. Fault or DQ?

DQ Sometimes they will molt out. Keep an eye on it.