Blue birchen marans rooster; which to keep ?

[shaw613]

I've just started with blue birchen marans; purchased a splash rooster and crossed him with my black copper hens. Understanding I'm not into showing or even understand SOP here, just want to enjoy these beauties and raise a few more without keeping poor stock. I crossed to bcm for a darker egg color. I ended up with 2 roosters; one is very good sized but has russet feathering coming on the wing. The smaller of the two is coming in with all silver; however he's quite a bit smaller. Which would you choose?

 

[FrappcinoObsession]

I've just started with blue birchen marans; purchased a splash rooster and crossed him with my black copper hens. Understanding I'm not into showing or even understand SOP here, just want to enjoy these beauties and raise a few more without keeping poor stock. I crossed to bcm for a darker egg color. I ended up with 2 roosters; one is very good sized but has russet feathering coming on the wing. The smaller of the two is coming in with all silver; however he's quite a bit smaller. Which would you choose?View attachment 2682747 View attachment 2682748View attachment 2682751

The 3rd picture.

 

[shaw613]

The 3rd picture.

He's sure the one I'd like to keep He's grown quite a bit since these pics and is really pretty. So don't be concerned about the russet?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Both cockerels look like they have some red. Any birchen marans with both red and silver is a mixed color. However, they’re still purebred marans.

 

[cmom]

The 3rd picture.

 

[cmom]

I know you are not going to breed for showing but want nice chicks. I would take the male with the best temperament, your favorite. Good luck and have fun...

 

[shaw613]

I know you are not going to breed for showing but want nice chicks. I would take the male with the best temperament, your favorite. Good luck and have fun...

Thanks!!

 

[shaw613]

Both cockerels look like they have some red. Any birchen marans with both red and silver is a mixed color. However, they’re still purebred marans.

Yes ... Purebred but cross colors. The smaller one has russet coming in since the picture. Hens, though, will be birchen and that's what I'm aiming for.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Yes ... Purebred but cross colors. The smaller one has russet coming in since the picture. Hens, though, will be birchen and that's what I'm aiming for.

If you breed one of those roosters to your hens you’ll also get hens that are black copper/blue copper/splash copper. Though they will probably be lighter than a true bred copper.

 

[shaw613]

If you breed one of those roosters to your hens you’ll also get hens that are black copper/blue copper/splash copper. Though they will probably be lighter than a true bred copper.

I have a couple of blues that I've selected to breed them to to pursue the blue birchen. The egg color I have is more of a terra cotta and I'm hoping to increase both egg size and color with this cross. Thanks!