International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Acre4Me]

Looking for more information! We have black CM and blue CM chicks, appears both are male. We plan to keep a male and neighbor may take a male (we have seven other breeds of straight run chicks to choose a male from so might not choose a CM). Chicks are nearly 6 weeks, and we will keep till the fall before we sell them at auction (either August or October or November).

Spouse wants a more colorful male than we have now (our current rooster is all black except comb and wattles)...and the CM (black or blue) are more colorful. However, I’ve read multiple posts over the last year where posters comment that the Maran boys are often mean/aggressive -including to humans. We don’t want this type of male.

1. Pictures of your male black and blues. FWIW, we have a darker blue and a splash blue, so pics of both would be good.

2. What is the 1 year old or so personality of your males? Tolerated humans? Mean? Good to the hens? Etc.

Thank you!

 

[Bantambird]

I eat naughty boys so I have no naughty boys. That said, I try not to coddle them much and don't overly handle them until after puberty, and this seems to make a difference. If they are giving me sidelong glances and squaring off at me during adolescence I watch them closely but I generally don't give them any response to their initial aggressive posturing. I distract them with food instead and they forget their aggression. If, after this, they become man haters, I eat them, because it's not worth the hassle.
Food distraction during puberty helps redirect males.

 

[Acre4Me]

Here are our 6 week update pics.
We ordered 2 Blue CM and 4 Black CM - all straight run.

There appears to be a darker blue and a splash blue. But look at the two pics of the 4 black CM - is one blue? And they vary quite a bit in their overall coloring anyway. Could this be due to breeding variations or gender variations? Do these look like decent quality CM?

@kcrandall, @chickengr - tagging since you both replied previously when I posted the 4 week pics with good information.

So far, I'll guess that the Splash Blue CM is a male. And there look to be two males in the Black CM pics. So, three males out of 6 Maran.

 

[jolenesdad]

Looking for more information! We have black CM and blue CM chicks, appears both are male. We plan to keep a male and neighbor may take a male (we have seven other breeds of straight run chicks to choose a male from so might not choose a CM). Chicks are nearly 6 weeks, and we will keep till the fall before we sell them at auction (either August or October or November).

Spouse wants a more colorful male than we have now (our current rooster is all black except comb and wattles)...and the CM (black or blue) are more colorful. However, I’ve read multiple posts over the last year where posters comment that the Maran boys are often mean/aggressive -including to humans. We don’t want this type of male.

1. Pictures of your male black and blues. FWIW, we have a darker blue and a splash blue, so pics of both would be good.

2. What is the 1 year old or so personality of your males? Tolerated humans? Mean? Good to the hens? Etc.

Thank you!

Where did they come from?

Hatchery males or those in flock breeding situations tend to be more aggressive. Breeder males tend to be more docile, both by the desire of breeders to produce good stock, but also due to management. A rooster that attacks people doesn’t get to stick around and breed with birds that are constantly managed by people and not sitting in a breeder house with no observation.

 

[Acre4Me]

Where did they come from?

Hatchery males or those in flock breeding situations tend to be more aggressive. Breeder males tend to be more docile, both by the desire of breeders to produce good stock, but also due to management. A rooster that attacks people doesn’t get to stick around and breed with birds that are constantly managed by people and not sitting in a breeder house with no observation.

These were all from Sandhill Preservation in Iowa.

 

[kcrandall]

Here are our 6 week update pics.
We ordered 2 Blue CM and 4 Black CM - all straight run.

There appears to be a darker blue and a splash blue. But look at the two pics of the 4 black CM - is one blue? And they vary quite a bit in their overall coloring anyway. Could this be due to breeding variations or gender variations? Do these look like decent quality CM?

@kcrandall, @chickengr - tagging since you both replied previously when I posted the 4 week pics with good information.

So far, I'll guess that the Splash Blue CM is a male. And there look to be two males in the Black CM pics. So, three males out of 6 Maran.
View attachment 1806833View attachment 1806834View attachment 1806835

@Acre4Me,

First pic, Splash CM is definitely a Roo. BLCM is a pullet. Second pic, I see a BCM Roo, BLCM Roo (he’s a nice dark blue) and 2 BCM Pullets. The BCM Pullet with the Copper Hackles looks like she may be overcolored possibly mossy. I see copper coloring on her back and side of her breast. Can you confirm she has coloring on back / breast?


Generally I don’t recommend breeding a mossy hen / pullet but sometimes we got to go with what you have. If I were to breed her I would mate her to a darker. BCM Roo.

Take Care,
Keith

 

[kcrandall]

Looking for more information! We have black CM and blue CM chicks, appears both are male. We plan to keep a male and neighbor may take a male (we have seven other breeds of straight run chicks to choose a male from so might not choose a CM). Chicks are nearly 6 weeks, and we will keep till the fall before we sell them at auction (either August or October or November).

Spouse wants a more colorful male than we have now (our current rooster is all black except comb and wattles)...and the CM (black or blue) are more colorful. However, I’ve read multiple posts over the last year where posters comment that the Maran boys are often mean/aggressive -including to humans. We don’t want this type of male.

1. Pictures of your male black and blues. FWIW, we have a darker blue and a splash blue, so pics of both would be good.

2. What is the 1 year old or so personality of your males? Tolerated humans? Mean? Good to the hens? Etc.

Thank you!

@Acre4Me,

I have had both docile and aggressive Marans Roosters. Aggressive Roosters go into the gumbo or dumpling pot no exceptions. I will not keep or breed a mean rooster or hen for that matter. We have to remember that Marans have gamebird (fighting cocks) blood in their DNA so it is bound to show up from time to time.

Chicks are naturally curious so I use that to my advantage by hand feeding mealworms to my chicks until they tell me it’s time to back off usually around maturity at 5-6 months. Roos are typically the first to back off as they reached maturity and go into Cock Bird Mode. At this point I completely ignore them when entering the coop for daily chores. I give the Roosters their space and never walk directly at them so as not to be a perceived threat. What I find is that the Marans Rooster will give me space if I give him space. Now with that said, there is at least one in every bunch that will attack no matter what. When that happens I make Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. May seem harsh but I just don’t have the time to deal with a mean Rooster.

Hope this helps.

Take Care,
Keith

 

[Ra_]

@Acre4Me,
Aggressive Roosters go into the gumbo or dumpling pot no exceptions. I will not keep or breed a mean rooster

I get roosters that bite my hand because they're sexually frustrated.
I use it as a device to get them to run to me.
As soon as i scoop them up, they forget all about biting and they just hang out.
These birds end up being my most tame and friendly because they have no fear of me.

 

[marchick]

@Acre4Me,

I have had both docile and aggressive Marans Roosters. Aggressive Roosters go into the gumbo or dumpling pot no exceptions. I will not keep or breed a mean rooster or hen for that matter. We have to remember that Marans have gamebird (fighting cocks) blood in their DNA so it is bound to show up from time to time.

Chicks are naturally curious so I use that to my advantage by hand feeding mealworms to my chicks until they tell me it’s time to back off usually around maturity at 5-6 months. Roos are typically the first to back off as they reached maturity and go into Cock Bird Mode. At this point I completely ignore them when entering the coop for daily chores. I give the Roosters their space and never walk directly at them so as not to be a perceived threat. What I find is that the Marans Rooster will give me space if I give him space. Now with that said, there is at least one in every bunch that will attack no matter what. When that happens I make Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. May seem harsh but I just don’t have the time to deal with a mean Rooster.

Hope this helps.

Take Care,
Keith

Boy am I in trouble! My first hatch is around 7 weeks old. I really do need to look in my book on age but around 7 weeks. When I was leaving the pen one of the little cockerels tagged me. Also when I was filling the feeder one bumped my hand then attacked it. I don't know if it was the same one. This is the first time I have had one this young show agression.

 

[kcrandall]

Boy am I in trouble! My first hatch is around 7 weeks old. I really do need to look in my book on age but around 7 weeks. When I was leaving the pen one of the little cockerels tagged me. Also when I was filling the feeder one bumped my hand then attacked it. I don't know if it was the same one. This is the first time I have had one this young show agression.

@marchick,

I’ve had them peck / bite my hands pretty hard at that age but I was feeding them mealworms so they were just fighting their hatchmates for food and my hand was in the way. He may be simply associating your hand with food since you were filling the feeder. Now for the one that tagged you when you were leaving the coop I’ve never seen one do that at that age. If I’m not mistaken you wing band. I would make a note of the attack on His record so it comes culling time and if he is in the mix as a keeper then that will help you make your decision.

Good luck!
Keith