Black Copper Marans

[pinkchick]

I agree it COULD be a splash and I have hatched out alot of Splash birds as Splash and Blues are my goal, but the coloring down the chicks back is what looks out of sorts to me. All of my splash chicks have always started to show color in their wing feathering first before showing any coloring anywhere else. I have a little splash baby right now in the brooder I will try to post a photo of him later.

No matter what that little chick is........IT'S TOO CUTE!!!!!!!!!

 

[highcountrychickens]

Oh, what a disappointment for you. So sorry you are going through this. Good for you for posting to ask the hard questions, though - you'll find what's right for you in the collection of opinions here... And for MY two cents:

I believe the matter of ethics the first responsibility of the breeder to do what's right for the breed with the highest minded intentions possible... If you're going to take on the perpetuation of a breed, then you MUST do it right to honor the breed, and the collective effort of all who strive for a pure line. If you want to keep these birds as pets, that's completely wonderful, but if you intend to sell hatching eggs, then it is your responsibility to start over with birds from a reputable source - again, through Maran's society recommendations, or recommendations from somebody well established in the breed, like the moderator here Wynette...

The presence of another strain should be a very very deliberate thing - not the accidental discovery on the other end of the project... and if it happens it should never be sold as or claimed as BCM... because it isn't... to perpetuate that is unethical. The truth is that with the presence of another strain in your chicks, anything you do to correct it will be complete chance, as will the resulting offspring. Lucky and ethical are two different things.

I'm glad to know there are reports of Wheaton lines showing up in a particular breeder's stock - makes good sense to avoid that stock if it isn't true.

Okay, off the soapbox... air is thin up there

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
It isn't nearly that simple. Wheaten shows up in MANY "lines" of BCs, both in the US and in France. And yes, these are still Marans. They're just Marans that are, unfortunately, carrying an undesirable (in this context) gene.

In any case -- it's not at all clear what's going on in the OP's case. He didn't buy the egg this chick came out of -- he raised its parents. It's entirely possible that one of his OWN roosters jumped a fence and fathered this little chick. Since it isn't a wheaten, which is now pretty obvious, we won't have a really good idea about what's going on with it until it at least feathers out.

 

[tgcole]

AmazonDoc, I know you are knowledgable in APA standards and such. What are their requirements as to a variety breeding true? I have seen it somewhere, but can't locate it now.

Discarding a line because of an occasional off chick seems a bit much to me.............

I'm not familar with any line of Black Copper that produces textbook chicks ALL the time. Hatch enough chicks and you'll eventually see a little yellow fellow, a splash or ?????? Consider them opportunities.

I'm curious. Has anyone ever seen a blue Wheaten??????

Greg

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
To meet APA requirements, they only have to breed true 50% of the time. That allows for black/blue/splash breeding.

I'm curious. Has anyone ever seen a blue Wheaten??????

Sure. Here's a blue wheaten hen:

Here's a blue wheaten roo:

ETA: I should mention that neither one of those are my birds. My camera is AWOL. Both of those birds are Bev's!​

 

[jeremy]

If you don't want/can't keep the little chick(s) I'd be more than willing to pay for shipping and take him off of your hands! I've always wanted some Wheaten Marans... even if he/she is a mutt it could be worth it.

 

[nivtup]

The blue wheaten chicks look just like a wheaten chick in my experience.

 

[pinkchick]

Here are a couple of pics of my little Splash Marans chick that hatched on January 2nd.

 

[highcountrychickens]

Quote:
It isn't nearly that simple. Wheaten shows up in MANY "lines" of BCs, both in the US and in France. And yes, these are still Marans. They're just Marans that are, unfortunately, carrying an undesirable (in this context) gene.

In any case -- it's not at all clear what's going on in the OP's case. He didn't buy the egg this chick came out of -- he raised its parents. It's entirely possible that one of his OWN roosters jumped a fence and fathered this little chick. Since it isn't a wheaten, which is now pretty obvious, we won't have a really good idea about what's going on with it until it at least feathers out.

Yah, my soapbox was a little to high on that comment, wasn't it? I should have stopped with the general philosophy of ethics - I'm so glad this is such an involved thread, because I've been looking into Marans for years - I'm learning SO much, and apologize if I stepped too close to the toes with that comment - I think I was probably commenting to another poster's revelation that there may be something lackadaisical going on with a breeder... I'll zip my lip and read and learn on this one.

I do have a question that is at the heart of the topic though that I hadn't really considered before putting my foot in my mouth - Is a strain different than a separate breed? Is a Wheaton Maran a breed or a strain? Is it anything like yellow/black/chocolate labradors?

 

[john in wa]

the one thing i can guarantee is no other roosters jumped the fence. no one else out here in my area has any chickens. I culled my tuff old barred rock roo. made chicken and egg noodles out of him. my coop and run is 100% fenced in top and sides.

i have been searching pics of all different breeds of marans and dont see any thing that even looks close to what this chick looks like. I guess i will play the waiting game. just give it some time to grow in more feathers and see what it turns out to be.