International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[chickengr]

They made it safe and are doing well. 5 Birchen, 5 Blue Birchen and two Blue Copper pullets.
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congrats!

 

[Old Man Tom]

HEY anyone notice this thread is over 1,000 pages. Red Banks and Chooks Man were in full swing on page 1! Chooks Man says out of 2,500 chics he only kept 90 chics! That is on page 1! I love to go back and reread all this information. We all have to hatch a lot more chics to have quality stock. I have the dreaded white feathers and way to much copper in the chest. I do not hatch 50 chics a year, do not think I can feed any more chics. We do the best that we can, but without the big numbers I doubt we can have consistent Quality chics. I will just keep pluggin away. Love my chickens, hate my feed bill! TOM

 

[chickengr]

HEY anyone notice this thread is over 1,000 pages. Red Banks and Chooks Man were in full swing on page 1! Chooks Man says out of 2,500 chics he only kept 90 chics! That is on page 1! I love to go back and reread all this information. We all have to hatch a lot more chics to have quality stock. I have the dreaded white feathers and way to much copper in the chest. I do not hatch 50 chics a year, do not think I can feed any more chics. We do the best that we can, but without the big numbers I doubt we can have consistent Quality chics. I will just keep pluggin away. Love my chickens, hate my feed bill! TOM

do you remember what people used to feed chicks? I remember my grandparents fed them corn meal (grits?) and some fresh cheese and nettles. they grew like mushrooms after rain and didn't need antibiotics. I am considering that. I just wonder if I can have nettles after april in my climate.

 

[Old Man Tom]

do you remember what people used to feed chicks? I remember my grandparents fed them corn meal (grits?) and some fresh cheese and nettles. they grew like mushrooms after rain and didn't need antibiotics. I am considering that. I just wonder if I can have nettles after april in my climate.

I remember when I was young the chickens used to weigh about 1 pound, now my cockerels weigh out at 6lb at 16 weeks. I think we have better feed now. TOM

 

[Magnolia Hill]

Seems like the thread is slowing down, figured i would post some pictures. The pullets were looking good today.

 

[Magnolia Hill]

 

[OneMountainAcres]

When anyone gets a chance, please rate the boys that I posted. I need to know which two of the three to keep. Post 10037. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-to-the-sop.1122465/page-1004#post-20207767

 

[Magnolia Hill]

When anyone gets a chance, please rate the boys that I posted. I need to know which two of the three to keep. Post 10037. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-to-the-sop.1122465/page-1004#post-20207767

Can you not keep all three? They all look really good to me. If it was me i would keep all 3 of them. When breeding marans options are good, every situation is differnt and sometimes the best bird is not the best breeder. Right now i have 11 cockerels growing out that made the cut out of 27 and i'll keep to full maturity. each one has strengths in differnt areas.

 

[KF0002]

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They sure are looking good! Very nice girls you have there! Sorry Ive not been on much. My online class is keeping me busy, plus work, and everything else.

 

[KF0002]

When anyone gets a chance, please rate the boys that I posted. I need to know which two of the three to keep. Post 10037. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-to-the-sop.1122465/page-1004#post-20207767

I will look at them tomorrow on my laptop. I have to make time tomorrow afternoon to butcher some culls so I know how important it is to weed cull birds out.