Black Copper Marans x Welsummer

[frostedcombs]

Dear BYC,

Earlier this year I hatched some FBCM eggs I purchased from a breeder. I included in the uncubator some of my own Welsummer eggs that had been fertilized by a Black Copper Marans Rooster, simply for more laying hens here at the ranch.

Hatched on 1 April.

The results are interesting so far. Fact is, I am having a tough tie telling them apart. I expected to see the crosses with a lighter leg color and maybe some of the partridge feathering of the Welsummers. Not so much. So far the crosses have a grey feathered leg, but quite similar in appearance to the pure bred birds.

Does anyone here have experience with this cross? I searched the forums here and did not find much.

I will post pictures here in a bit.

Thanks for any comments!

 

[Habibs Hens]

they will start becoming apparent when they feather in

the welsummer has the wild type gene so chicks will show the chipmunk effect


but the featuring will determine the adult colour

can we see pics btw

sounds like a cool cross

 

[frostedcombs]

 

[Habibs Hens]

The marans seems to have over powered the Welsummer colouring

I cant explain properly as I am not sure of the welsummer gene

but a marans rooster usually give the gold necked black hens for tis offspring when crossed with a welsummer

 

[EweSheep]

I had a friend that DID cross her Marans with her Welsummer hens.....I bought a flock of them for a long time friend of mine back home and they looked like yours, solid black bodies with gold tipped neck feathers and a stray rust color here and there (as if they were trying to be sex links). They did produce DARK eggs but not as dark as the Marans but darker than the Welsummers.

Some were feathered and some were not. Their legs were either slate/black or a very sooty yellow.