Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[Wynette]

Please consider giving me a critique........Here are some more pictures of the roo I am working with for this coming breeding season. I actually saw him, for the first time, cover a hen. So now I am going to start looking for eggs for a late fall winter hatch!
--------------
Wow. that is one nice roo! Eventually, you'll want the rear of his comb to lay closer to his skull but that will come with time. So much to like about this boy! Lovely depth and breadth. Typey profile. Quality coloring. Super tail set! I drool over that tail. Just the right amount of feathering on feet and shanks. Nice body angles in profie. The body sits well on the legs.
Handsome boy!
Karen in soggy western PA, USA

I disagree about the comb - it's supposed to be separated from the skull as this male's comb is.

Keara, I can't find a thing to pick on about this male - I really can't! If I was pushed into a corner, I'd say his shank feathering could be a bit heavier, but I also think I may not be seeing it all int he picture. His comb has too many points, but I never use that as a cull point, personally, since it's only a 1/2 point deduciton for each extra point. Tail angle is optimum. Breadth/width looks good. Color balance is great. Eyes appear to be the right color. Solid black chest, which is what they look for in a show bird. He MAY throw solid black females, but his male offspring should be excellent, I would think. KUDOS on this male - in my personal opinion (and I am not an expert), he is the best I have seen on these threads!

Wanted to add - if that second picture is his natural stance, his topline is PERFECTLY SPOT ON and his underline is probably 95% of where it ought to be! Man, this guy is NICE!!!

 

[DMRippy]

In the last pic of the roo his tail looks pinched to me.... am I wrong?

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Keara, wow that male looks fabulous! Wish my boy were nearly this good, I have a long ways to go yet!

I wanted to post a couple pics of my girls. Still working on finding a good cockerel for them. Feedback is solicited...

Blue legband


Yellow legband

IMO these hens do not have near enough leg feathering, and it's hard to tell in the photo but I think the eye color could be better? How old are these hens? Maybe their eye color is still developing if they are fairly young. Other than that I think they look very nice. Leg feathering can easily be worked on with some careful breeding and culling. Anyone else care to comment? I am interested in knowing which tail set is preferred for the hens, the blue legband 45 degree is my assumption. The other hen isn't BAD just not as good.

 

[Wynette]

In the last pic of the roo his tail looks pinched to me.... am I wrong?

I don't see a pinched tail, but in that last picture, the saddle feathers do distract from the tail as they are draping over a bit.

 

[Wynette]

I wanted to post a couple pics of my girls. Still working on finding a good cockerel for them. Feedback is solicited...

Blue legband


Yellow legband

I personally do not prefer the first female. Her tail is too long, and she appears unbalanced to me. it could be the pictures.

The second female is better, and this is a really good example of when we talk about how you just really can't tell from pictures on things like type. In the first pitcture, she apears to have a decent underline, but in the second, she looks far too shallow in the breast. When you compare the stance of both pics, you can clearly see that she's "on alert" in the second picture wiht her neck up & extended, making her "appear" to be shallow breasted. All that said, if I was basing it on the first picture, she does appear to have a nice underline, but her topline - tail is too low. She's got nice coppering in her hackles, but appears to be clean legged - if she is, that's a DQ. The secod pic almost looks as if she does have shank feathering, so we can't be sure on this. How is eye color? It should be bay (which in poultry is sort of like a pumpkin color). Neither of these females, to me, appear to be quite as large as they should be, so I'd look for a male with good size. Also, be sure to choose a male with heavy shank feathering to offset the lack of it in the females. How is egg color?

 

[ashandvine]

IMO these hens do not have near enough leg feathering, and it's hard to tell in the photo but I think the eye color could be better? How old are these hens? Maybe their eye color is still developing if they are fairly young. Other than that I think they look very nice. Leg feathering can easily be worked on with some careful breeding and culling. Anyone else care to comment? I am interested in knowing which tail set is preferred for the hens, the blue legband 45 degree is my assumption. The other hen isn't BAD just not as good.

I agree about the leg feathering. I had a cockerel with heavy leg feathering that was 'supposed' to compensate but he was killed by Monsieur Renard. The girls are... about 6 mos now. I will try for better pix. I love and hate their long toes-- beautiful but dangerous! lol

 

[Keara]

Thanks all, for getting back to me on my male.

3riverschick..... I will watch that comb he is still young and it could get bigger and look more off the head. My birds free range and the leg feathering suffers for it. I have many "street sweeper" young stock that grow up to look kinda sparse.

maryhysong..... good luck with your hatch. and unless you have an obvious defect like fused toes or obvious color issue like yellow feet or mossyness, always wait to cull. I almost ate this boy as he was slow to mature and took forever to grow tail feathers!

Wynette .... Thanks for the input and the compliments, I feel better about moving forward with this male for my next round of chicks. I feel this is his natural posture. It was the day of Sandy and, despite the wind and his alert level, this was how he was holding himself.

DMRippy ... I feel his tail could be wider, it does not compare to the girls for sure. I will keep him with the widest butt girls!

lonnyandrinda ... Thanks for the compliment. I got lucky with my first group of Marans and am doing my best to keep the flock up to snuff. I've heard here, many times, that it only takes a generation or two to ruin good type in the flock. Love your bee picture. My husband keeps bees... they make me happy!


-Keara

 

[seabreeze]

How old is this boy in these pics?

 

[Keara]

How old is this boy in these pics?

If you are referring to mine... he is 6 months. Hatched late April.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
For 6 months, he's MIGHTY impressive. (His tail concerns me a little .... ) But I certainly wouldn't be eating him anytime soon.