International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[chickengr]

Thank you, It was Zorro and Lion heart that are in bad shape. Zorro being in the worse shape. They may never be beautiful again. If he pull through I will hatch from both of them.

I would give liver pate or chopped liver to the animals that lost blood.

 

[Mrs.Megan]

How are Zoro and Lion Heart doing @marchick?

 

[marchick]

How are Zoro and Lion Heart doing @marchick?

They are doing good! Thank you! Zorro is walking around eating and drinking. Like nothing happened. I will give him a week or so then give him some female company. Lion Heart will get some female company here pretty soon.

 

[marchick]

I have this hen with a wavy comb. We thought she was Birchen but now leaning Black Copper. I still can't tell what she is Birchen or Black Copper. She is black! Any guess? The pen is muddy so that is the spots you see in pictures.

 

[Morgansrbest]

Usually the white feathers are considered parasitic if they are still there once the bird molts out their juvenile feathers, and especially if they have white after their adult molt. If he has a white tail feather, pull it out and see if it comes back white. If it does, then it's parasitic white. If it comes back normal it may have been caused by damage as the feather was developing, so I've been told. Grab the feather firmly and yank it hard and fast. It should come out completely from the follicle. If you break it off, get a pair of pliers and pull it out. My opinion, likely it is parasitic white.

Parasitic white is very common in Marans. Many fellow breeders I am friends with struggle with it also, so you are not alone I assure you. It likes to show up under the hackles too so check there. I am trying my best to cull hard for parasitic white but it can be difficult because only the males show it but the females can carry it without any visible white. All 3 of my breeder males have parasitic white underfluff this year, but I plan to replace them with better males as I produce them. It is something to breed away from with diligent culling and careful breeding. I would replace him once you produce a better male with no white. That is where it gets tricky. A male can appear to have no white and then sprout a white tail feather or white fluff after his adult molt (at around a year to 18 months). Talk about maddening..

And yes frostbite is a major bummer. Nearly every male on my property suffered some degree of frostbite damage this year, the undubbed birds anyway. I'm sorry about your male's comb and wattles. I'm sure he's still a handsome fella!

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Thank you for this explanation on parasitic white in the Marans. I have been trying to find more information on this particular problem. This helps. Do you have any links to more material that I could follow up on? best regards

 

[chickengr]

They are doing good! Thank you! Zorro is walking around eating and drinking. Like nothing happened. I will give him a week or so then give him some female company. Lion Heart will get some female company here pretty soon.

glad to hear they are doing well.

 

[marchick]

glad to hear they are doing well.

I moved Lion Heart over to a pen with my two Birchen pullets. I also put a Blue Birchen pullet in with him the one that Chooks man liked best. The one with the red and white leg bands. I am thinking of naming her Love. What do you think? The two Birchen pullets still need names. I am terribly with names.

 

[marchick]

@marchick

Pullet #4 My Favourite .
love the way she stand .Elegant. show bird for sure . need a little tuning .
great body type /Deep chest ,long back and Faultless tail .
she is true Marans specimen , that how they should look . thick ,heavy .long and Elegant Not goofy or sloppy .
her blue is not a best .not uniform and her hackle has not any silver .

HER COMB IS A BEST .small ,well serrated and well shaped .nice lobe and correct points .
she is a breeder of both pullets and cockerel.

chooks man

I put Lion Heart in with this Blue Birchen pullet "Love" and my only two Birchen pullets.

 

[chickengr]

I moved Lion Heart over to a pen with my two Birchen pullets. I also put a Blue Birchen pullet in with him the one that Chooks man liked best. The one with the red and white leg bands. I am thinking of naming her Love. What do you think? The two Birchen pullets still need names. I am terribly with names.

Love is a perfect name for her!

 

[Chickem707]

What does everyone think about my boy? On one wing two of his feathers are white tipped, dunno why. That’s a fault though, right?