Blue Copper and Splash Copper Marans Discussion

[LuvinBlueBirds]

I hear that lots of folks do "test hatches". Can you please help me to understand what you would look for in a chick from a test hatch? It seems like you have to wait a long time for them to grow up and see what you get. Especially when there is egg color to consider. What would you look for in a chick if a test hatch?

 

[DMRippy]

I hear that lots of folks do "test hatches". Can you please help me to understand what you would look for in a chick from a test hatch? It seems like you have to wait a long time for them to grow up and see what you get. Especially when there is egg color to consider. What would you look for in a chick if a test hatch?

Down coloring, feathered legs, leg color. Some things you can tell in chicks at hatch.....

 

[Chad Cool]

Down coloring, feathered legs, leg color.  Some things you can tell in chicks at hatch.....

Should you Cull at Hatch Or what age? If at hatch what do you look for specifcally?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I mark the ones I am keeping. Feathered Legs, Leg Color (a little older than day olds) Down Coloring..... Marans chicks should look like Marans chicks.... white and black.

 

[Kimmi500]

Hi Guys,
I am very happy to have found this thread! I am very new to Marans. I purchased a pair at the end of Sept 2013. They are from Wade/Davis lines. Can you please tell me the quality of these two. Good/bad points so I know which direction I should go Thanks so much!
Louis

Lola

 

[farmhand]

Hi Guys,
I am very happy to have found this thread! I am very new to Marans. I purchased a pair at the end of Sept 2013. They are from Wade/Davis lines. Can you please tell me the quality of these two. Good/bad points so I know which direction I should go

Thanks so much!
Louis

Hi Louis
I would answer your questions but I just showed up to ask the same things. Hopefully we'll learn from each other.

I have been around chickens most of my life but have never owned Marans nor been interested in breeding other than just hatching eggs. Last year I purchased and hatched Copper Marans eggs and have a brother/sister pair I am considering line breeding. Please critique these birds as they might be judged.
My main interest in the hen is that she has on average laid 3 eggs per week through winter like the picture below. Also would like to know if this is average, better or worse.
Thank you

 

[Runawaylobster]

Here is one of my unusual blues, she is genetically a blue copper, she came from a black hen and a blue roo, the hen was genetically a black copper but never showed any copper. she also had clean legs, i don't have her any more but i kept this one pullet from her because even though it's odd i really like her color. Not exactly sure how I could use her breeding wise but i was thinking of crossing her with one of my blue roos who is showing some copper on his chest to see if can get a dark blue offspring and bring out the copper at the same time, that would be so awesome.???

i'm just thinking aloud but would be really interested in any comments you might have.

 

[farmhand]

Can you please tell me the quality of these two.

Please critique these birds as they might be judged.

i'm just thinking aloud but would be really interested in any comments you might have.

Calling all judges

 

[DMRippy]

Here is one of my unusual blues, she is genetically a blue copper, she came from a black hen and a blue roo, the hen was genetically a black copper but never showed any copper. she also had clean legs, i don't have her any more but i kept this one pullet from her because even though it's odd i really like her color. Not exactly sure how I could use her breeding wise but i was thinking of crossing her with one of my blue roos who is showing some copper on his chest to see if can get a dark blue offspring and bring out the copper at the same time, that would be so awesome.???

i'm just thinking aloud but would be really interested in any comments you might have.

What is it you think is odd about her? Is it because she is so dark all over for a blue? If you want to lighten up her color just breed her to the blue copper with the copper on his breast you have. you will get splash and then she would be a good candidate for a Splash Cockerel but you can't really see how much copper splash have. You might get the color you like with just the blue copper. I would not worry too much on the clean legs. A roo with good feathered legs will fix that in the chicks. She has the genes for that probably they just didn't express and might come out with a feathered roo.

Experiment.... that is why we MAD SCIENTIST have chickens to see what we can create in the next generation.

 

[DMRippy]

Hi Guys,
I am very happy to have found this thread! I am very new to Marans. I purchased a pair at the end of Sept 2013. They are from Wade/Davis lines. Can you please tell me the quality of these two. Good/bad points so I know which direction I should go

Thanks so much!
Louis

Lola

I am NOT an expert but this is what I see right off.... What is going on at the back of that roos comb? looks like a gap between points. He has that HALO effect and COULD mean he has some wheaten in him.... but most marans do we just have to work with it. I see that in most of the blues for some reason.

The pullet has really dark eyes...... she is narrow at the back and has a pinched tail. You can breed her with a roo with a nice OPEN and WIDE back side and light eyes and that could improve those things.

Not great birds, but would be fine for backyard breeding as long as there on not other things I can't see. Not enough pics to really tell much but you can work with them.