Blue Copper and Splash Copper Marans Discussion

[LTrain]

Blue at 10 wks, cockerel or Pullet?

 

[LTrain]

 

[LTrain]

 

[LTrain]

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Blue at 10 wks, cockerel or Pullet?

Pullet.

 

[Raven1]

Pullet

 

[One Chick Two]

Just wanted to drop in and say thanks SO much for the chick ID marking ideas- very helpful!

Definitely toe punch for permanent marking. We've used the spiral plastic leg bands before, but find they become brittle on our free rangers over time and have to be changed occasionally before they break. Besides toe punching we're looking into these adjustable aluminum leg bands. Has anyone used these?

https://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/bird-identification

My DH argues that wing banding is a better option to go than the toe punch, but I'm not crazy about this as an option. What do you think about wing banding?

A different question...

A few of our 5- 6 week old cockerels are starting to get a bit of color growing in saddle feathers/hackle a few dots on neck. Just curious at what age the females start growing in hackle color? (As in the case of this little 5 week old lady, below.)

 

[snowbird]

Just wanted to drop in and say thanks SO much for the chick ID marking ideas- very helpful!

Definitely toe punch for permanent marking. We've used the spiral plastic leg bands before, but find they become brittle on our free rangers over time and have to be changed occasionally before they break. Besides toe punching we're looking into these adjustable aluminum leg bands. Has anyone used these?

https://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/bird-identification

My DH argues that wing banding is a better option to go than the toe punch, but I'm not crazy about this as an option. What do you think about wing banding?

A different question...

A few of our 5- 6 week old cockerels are starting to get a bit of color growing in saddle feathers/hackle a few dots on neck. Just curious at what age the females start growing in hackle color? (As in the case of this little 5 week old lady, below.)

I have always toe marked all my chicks, When they are 3-4 months old I wing band them. This way the next year you can use the toe marks again. Don

Edited to say she might not ever get the copper neck feathers, she looks to have some nice type going on. Don

 

[One Chick Two]

I have always toe marked all my chicks, When they are 3-4 months old I wing band them. This way the next year you can use the toe marks again. Don

Edited to say she might not ever get the copper neck feathers, she looks to have some nice type going on. Don

Thank you Don. Is there a specific reason that you wait 3-4 months to band, and just not do it at birth? (Just curious.)

I do understand this pullet might not get colored hackle feathers. Her mother hen was black/green, and her sire seems well colored balanced (with the exception of his slight hackle ticking edge) so I realize it will be less of a possibility for those juvies. I was just curious to when coloring starts up for females as we have other pullets whose mother has some hackle color. Thank you for the type comment too.

 

[snowbird]

Quote: The wing on the just hatched chicks is very small and I just will not do the wing band on the chicks as it goes in the web of the wing and not much to go through. Don