Blue Marans Breeding Question Copper vs Birchen

[Gracie555]

I am new to marans, but I love them so far! I have blue birchen marans juveniles that are about 4 months old, and I have some blue copper marans chicks. My blue birchen marans are supposed to be from the Greenfire Farms lines. If the blue coppers are good quality, can you breed birchen to copper or is it best to avoid doing that? Thanks in advance.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

It depends on your purpose. If they are to sell or show, no. If you are just want more Marans to lay you some dark eggs, go for it.

Actually I just looked it up on the genetics calculator using Bevs genetics codes for each one and it looks like it would produce a good mix of nice looking chicks. Just if you decide to sell any chicks, give full disclosure about their heritage. Mainly, people frown on it because then that is how actual breeders might end up with a chick with "hidden genes" of a totally different Marans variety and it can really mess up their breeding programs. Suddenly you pop out a wheaten chick from your blue coppers, from example.

 

[Gracie555]

It depends on your purpose. If they are to sell or show, no. If you are just want more Marans to lay you some dark eggs, go for it.

Actually I just looked it up on the genetics calculator using Bevs genetics codes for each one and it looks like it would produce a good mix of nice looking chicks. Just if you decide to sell any chicks, give full disclosure about their heritage. Mainly, people frown on it because then that is how actual breeders might end up with a chick with "hidden genes" of a totally different Marans variety and it can really mess up their breeding programs. Suddenly you pop out a wheaten chick from your blue coppers, from example.

Ok, thanks so much!