International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[kcrandall]

View attachment 1815529 View attachment 1815528 View attachment 1815527 View attachment 1815526 Got some BCM today to sneak under my Broodies. My one with the infertile eggs still hasn’t broken and it’s been 6 weeks. Then I have a 1yr old BCM that’s been sitting for over a month. No idea what this guys parent stock looks like. 1 of the chicks has a copper spot on its head. I remember someone on here saying something about that...

@Hensndoes,

Very good hatch down color...minimal to no white on the face. I can’t tell their type because they’re sitting. Copper spot on the head signifies genetic purity and some say that it also is a good indicator of a pullet. I have a 2 week old chick with a copper spot and it’s definitely a pullet. I use different colored leg bands on all my chicks with a copper spot, proper hatch down color, parasitic white (too much white down on face and body), etc. so that I can track their development as they grow out...very important for a breeding program so you know all that you can about your birds.

Take Care, Keith

 

[chickengr]

@Hensndoes,

Very good hatch down color...minimal to no white on the face. I can’t tell their type because they’re sitting. Copper spot on the head signifies genetic purity and some say that it also is a good indicator of a pullet. I have a 2 week old chick with a copper spot and it’s definitely a pullet. I use different colored leg bands on all my chicks with a copper spot, proper hatch down color, parasitic white (too much white down on face and body), etc. so that I can track their development as they grow out...very important for a breeding program so you know all that you can about your birds.

Take Care, Keith

I had a cockerel that hatched with a copper spot.

 

[Hensndoes]

I had a cockerel that hatched with a copper spot.

I wouldn’t mind. I’m hoping for 2 out of the 3 to be boys it’s taken me 2 yrs to build a starter stock. I better hear some crowing!

 

[marchick]

Updated pictures of my Black Copper cockerel he is 8 weeks old. I really hope he turns out good.

 

[kcrandall]

Updated pictures of my Black Copper cockerel he is 8 weeks old. I really hope he turns out good.
View attachment 1816887 View attachment 1816891

@marchick,

I like his copper coloring so far...looks like it will be a nice rich copper neither too light or mahagony. He has nice colored eyes too they will turn a nice reddish orange when he matures. His back looks long and his tail set looks good as well. I can’t tell too much about his type from the way he’s standing in the photos.

Take Care,
Keith

 

[chickengr]

I will sell my 2 youngsters. pullet is mottled and with a lot of parasitic white and I don't need extra roo.

 

[marchick]

@marchick,

I like his copper coloring so far...looks like it will be a nice rich copper neither too light or mahagony. He has nice colored eyes too they will turn a nice reddish orange when he matures. His back looks long and his tail set looks good as well. I can’t tell too much about his type from the way he’s standing in the photos.

Take Care,
Keith

I had to set him on my feed barrel to get a picture. I go into the pen and they just swarm me. At least they are friendly.

 

[Song girl 11]

Incubation help needed! I set some of my BCM's eggs and some ameraucana eggs 2 days ago. It's my second time using my incubator. The first hatch went well but the temperature ran a little lower than the incubator displayed.(I used a thermometer inside) So this time I set it higher, accordingly, but didn't use the thermometer inside, assuming it would do the same thing. After day two I put the thermometer in to make sure the temp was right(should've done to begin with!) and it read 85 degrees Fahrenheit! I adjusted it, now it's reading 99.5. Is it too late? Did I ruin my hatch? Should I wait it out or quit and start over with new eggs? I know I was too hasty and rushed the process, I'm super busy lately but I know I should've taken more time and been more careful

 

[marchick]

Incubation help needed! I set some of my BCM's eggs and some ameraucana eggs 2 days ago. It's my second time using my incubator. The first hatch went well but the temperature ran a little lower than the incubator displayed.(I used a thermometer inside) So this time I set it higher, accordingly, but didn't use the thermometer inside, assuming it would do the same thing. After day two I put the thermometer in to make sure the temp was right(should've done to begin with!) and it read 85 degrees Fahrenheit! I adjusted it, now it's reading 99.5. Is it too late? Did I ruin my hatch? Should I wait it out or quit and start over with new eggs? I know I was too hasty and rushed the process, I'm super busy lately but I know I should've taken more time and been more careful

You should run your Incubator at least a couple days to make sure temperature is adjusted correctly before putting eggs inside. I find the best way to know if your temperature is right. How was your first hatch. Did they hatch late? If they did then raise the temperature. Your temperature was too low. If they hatched early your temperature was too high. For me I have used about 5 different thermometers and all gave me different readings. Those thermometers about drove me crazy.

 

[Song girl 11]

You should run your Incubator at least a couple days to make sure temperature is adjusted correctly before putting eggs inside. I find the best way to know if your temperature is right. How was your first hatch. Did they hatch late? If they did then raise the temperature. Your temperature was too low. If they hatched early your temperature was too high. For me I have used about 5 different thermometers and all gave me different readings. Those thermometers about drove me crazy.

Thanks for your reply. My first hatch I set 15 eggs and 6 hatched, all on day 21. Not the best hatch rate but they were shipped eggs and my first time incubating eggs, so I was still pleased. So do you think these eggs are a total loss? Should I continue to incubate or toss them and start over? I will take your advice next time and run the incubator for a couple of days before adding the eggs. I only have 1 BCM hen and I wanted to get at least 4 eggs from her into the incubator. She only lays every 2 to 3 days, so I was rushing to get her eggs in quickly as the oldest egg was 8 days old and I know fertility drops dramatically after a week. She had also just went ten days without laying before laying these 4 eggs, so I felt lucky to get them when I was wanting them to incubate.