International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Magnolia Hill]

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.

Yea my life is always crazy busy also, ive just got done with my final cull before they fully mature. Out of 60 chicks i ended up with 29 keepers so far. Now I'll let them grow and mature and see how i can pair them, i'l pretty optimistic though.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

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.

I would love to keep all 3 but I promised one to a friend. It doesn't matter which as he's not breeding then, he just wants one.

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.

Thank you

 

[Magnolia Hill]

Ok, before, we all agreed that green was the number one bit of this group. In all the following pictures, green is on the right, blue is on the left. I had an opportunity to get a few pictures so I took it.

View attachment 1465052 View attachment 1465054 View attachment 1465055 View attachment 1465056 View attachment 1465057 View attachment 1465059 View attachment 1465060 View attachment 1465062 View attachment 1465063 View attachment 1465065

Blue

View attachment 1465075

Green

View attachment 1465081

Black, again uncooperative

View attachment 1465077 View attachment 1465083 View attachment 1465084 View attachment 1465071 View attachment 1465079

3 of the 4 girls

View attachment 1465072

I been looking over them for awhile and it's really hard to say, they all look decent, the only thing that makes me nervous to say which one is nicer is the tails not being fully developed, i would really suggest not rushing to cull till they fully develop, the one you give away will be the one with the best tail, I've learned that lesson the hard way.

 

[WVduckchick]

I been looking over them for awhile and it's really hard to say, they all look decent, the only thing that makes me nervous to say which one is nicer is the tails not being fully developed, i would really suggest not rushing to cull till they fully develop, the one you give away will be the one with the best tail, I've learned that lesson the hard way.

I gave away 2 extra cockerels. I really want to see them, but i also don’t want to see them.

 

[marchick]

Here are a few update pictures. They are really growing. I love the lacing on them.

 

[Magnolia Hill]

I gave away 2 extra cockerels. I really want to see them, but i also don’t want to see them.

I know the feeling, I've done it way to many times.

 

[Magnolia Hill]

Here are a few update pictures. They are really growing. I love the lacing on them.
View attachment 1469111 View attachment 1469129 View attachment 1469130 View attachment 1469131 View attachment 1469133 View attachment 1469137

Those are some real gems you have there, cherish and protect them. You have unbelievable birds to start your flock with. What are your goals with them?

 

[marchick]

Those are some real gems you have there, cherish and protect them. You have unbelievable birds to start your flock with. What are your goals with them?

Really It's just for me. It's kind of a out for me. The one thing I truly enjoy. Don't get me wrong sometimes I get frustrated with them. I wonder why I keep doing this! After spending so much money on my last Marans. I just about give up. I didn't want to breed forward those yellow legs. I just want to continue working towards the SOP to improve the breed. I have a severely disabled son. So showing for me is probably never going to happen. I thought about the local fair though. I am not going to sell many of them. Maybe a couple batches a year to help pay the feed bill.

 

[Magnolia Hill]

Really It's just for me. It's kind of a out for me. The one thing I truly enjoy. Don't get me wrong sometimes I get frustrated with them. I wonder why I keep doing this! After spending so much money on my last Marans. I just about give up. I didn't want to breed forward those yellow legs. I just want to continue working towards the SOP to improve the breed. I have a severely disabled son. So showing for me is probably never going to happen. I thought about the local fair though. I am not going to sell many of them. Maybe a couple batches a year to help pay the feed bill.

I completely understand, well whatever you decide to do in the future with your birds you got a heck of a good start. And my heart goes out to you for your son, i couldn't even fathom the pain that comes with that that.

 

[marchick]

I completely understand, well whatever you decide to do in the future with your birds you got a heck of a good start. And my heart goes out to you for your son, i couldn't even fathom the pain that comes with that that.

Thank you, Our son is 26 years old and the hardest part of taking care of our son. Is knowing we can't keep doing this forever. We will care for him till we absolutely can't. Since my failed rotator cuff surgery resulted in a detached deltoid and bicep. I am worried this will come sooner than we would like.