Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[snowbird]

Barb, I stand by what I said and if some do not agree that is alright also. There are people out there that really do want to learn. People asked for the comments on the forum about type and Body structure.

Will not comment on Judges as I have seen my share of the good and also the bad.

Barb, and Wynette I suppose you would rather the thread go back to a coffee club that it was in the past.

I get nothing from doing this except the feeling that I tried to help someone with my experiences from the past.

 

[stoopid]

Oh boy....

 

[RedBugPoultry]

 

[gilavina]

Look around at the Marans posted on BYC and you will see very few with the right body structure and overall type. It is a must for anyone looking to study type of poultry to have a copy of the SOP.

The only real good body and type Marans I have seen on BYC belong to Vicki and she has a long history of being around Show Poultry. I also like the Black Marans male belonging to Kim.

Once you see a good Marans if you keep an open mind you will know what to look for in the future.

Thanks for the kind words Don. I think it was you that talked about the first 30 to 40 pages of the SOP and their value. Once those pages are studied and are put into practice alongside an individual breed's Standard it makes all the difference in pretty much every way to raising poultry. It will take time, but the best way to learn type is from picking up your own stock as often as possible and selecting for the best back and breast width, and there are also these sketches I've posted on the regular marans thread that are outlines for the type on birds, especially for tail angle and back length and etc. I have these printed out on cards that I've laminated and take them down to the pens with me when I'm observing different birds. After a while, the process of knowing your own stock and how they are built really will start to click, especially as offspring begin to develop and can feel what certain matings are giving you in terms of body type and can help when making decisions on who worked as a pairing and who didn't. I know I've said it a ton, but my dad is the one I give all the credit for, when it comes to how I breed birds.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Thanks for putting those up again. I was thinking the other day I should put them up but I didn't want to step on your toes since I got them from you. I have these printed out with my DQ's and Faults list so I can SEE what they should look like.

 

[blackbirds13]

Not too many BCM's around here to look at, even when you go to the local fairs so without pics I'd be at a great loss. I find the critiques invaluable - yeah for technology! Perhaps as an Artist I'm used to some brutal truthiness but I'm very grateful for the wisdom of the sages on BYC. I was gonna put some pics of my boys up but one of my 'keepers' has a bum foot that is much worse today despite antibiotics and supports (that won't stay put) - he's probably a goner. My other 'keeper' is a Bev Davis bird but I think he'd be a no-go for Don as he has color oh his breast. The last boy is just too small for my liking and too narrow. Maybe I'll take pics when I have some time and post all the same. But I think more likely I'll be buying more hatching eggs next year looking for the elusive Keeper-BCM-roo. Some of my girls are gonna be a bit dark I think but I'm hoping they lay eggs like they hatched from so I'll be on the search for some super dark eggs in about 6 months I think.

 

[gilavina]

Thanks for putting those up again. I was thinking the other day I should put them up but I didn't want to step on your toes since I got them from you. I have these printed out with my DQ's and Faults list so I can SEE what they should look like.

Haha, no need to feel that way at all lady. They are not mine, Just a really good resource I found along the way while I was getting my start in the Marans.

 

[math ace]

Most definitely a copy of the SOP is imperative, if you are breeding to standard. I would go so far as to say - don't bother posting pictures until you have one, as there is no way we can help you - we would be pointing you to the SOP for specifics and for examples, and if you do not have one, it's pointless to ask for feedback. Again, JMO.

I am going to jump in here and disagree with this statement.

Wynette and I both have started threads that state what the SOP is for BCM. The current edition of the SOP does not include the standard for BCM.
As for the items mentioned in the first 40 pages or so of the SOP.... AGAIN Wynette and I have threads that contain pictures of these faults and DQs. I am pretty sure my thread even includes a break down of the points value for each part of the bird.

I AGREE the SOP is an important book, but we can help folks find their way without mandating that they purchase a book. I KNOW this for a fact because people like Don and Kim helped me learn everything I know. Got to LOVE it when Kim brings out the pink marker and marks things on photos AND Don has had the patience of a Saint when it comes to SPELLING every single detail out to me

Those of you without an SOP.... if you want to know if it is really worth the money ( AND IT IS...) then I suggest you go to the library. Most libraries have the ability to get an inter-library loan. My county's libraries did not have the SOP, BUT they were able to borrow it from another county's library system. THIS is an excellent way to check the book out BEFORE commiting to the expense.

 

[DMRippy]

Here is a link to old SOP and one for Rocks and Wyandottes ALL have the first 40 pages and some go into GREAT details with pics. The info in these books is really the same as a new book. One big difference is the NEWER Breeds that have been added since the 20's.

http://archive.org/search.php?query=Standard of Perfection Poultry AND mediatype:texts

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I'm not even sure how to respond to this. Suffice to say -- there is SO much more to learn when you can hold a real, live bird in your hands - see their size, feel their weight and their angles, their bones, and see their "colours" and flaws with your very own eyes, not just through the eyes of my lens and what I choose to post. On line forums are great sources of information but they are definitately NOT the be all and end all.