International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[KF0002]

we did not had another choice .but @kfelton0002 she have many better pullets to select from .
chooks man

Yeah it's easier to avoid breeding small birds now than producing large volumes of small culls I will have to feed until maturity. I am being selective to hopefully lower the volume of culls I produce, even if it is just marginally. I have a good lineup of nice sized females to breed this year.

 

[KF0002]

that is different story .
if it is a case than go for it .just make sure count the number of eggs she is going to lay the next 2 months .

tell me a laying cycle of your older hens ,you have for a white now .when normally they come to lay .late winter? ,early spring? w@ what age they start laying ?

chooks man

The Marans hens typically stop laying during the molt and won't lay again until closer to spring. The only birds I have that are laying right now are free ranged Marans pullets, Legbars, and my old Olive Eggers. Some of the OE and Legbars tend to lay year round. Jolie is my only breeder that is laying.

Some later spring/summer pullets will start laying in the fall/winter but a good number of them will hold off until spring. In my climate that seems to be the pattern. Jolie is an early spring pullet but I think being penned for conditioning and show, then winter stalled her laying.

 

[wolfwalker]

I cant help but like 53 better, he looks like a chunkier bird despite his darker color. Its hard to tell without a side view. They will both change so much in the next few months. Number 53 may suprise you.

Side view of number 53 and in the background is the back view of 54

 

[KF0002]

Jolie's egg next to an egg shade card. I took these the other day and forgot to post them.

 

[Chooks man]

Jolie's egg next to an egg shade card. I took these the other day and forgot to post them.

View attachment 2017283

View attachment 2017284

stunning .Jolie is proving her self to be very worthy breeder .
Do you think her eggs are better than her mama Malika? I want to know if Duke has darken the eggs ?

BRAVO my dear friend , well happy for you .you where expecting a lot form Jolie ,she did not let you down .

chooks man

 

[KF0002]

stunning .Jolie is proving her self to be very worthy breeder .
Do you think her eggs are better than her mama Malika? I want to know if Duke has darken the eggs ?

BRAVO my dear friend , well happy for you .you where expecting a lot form Jolie ,she did not let you down .

chooks man

Thank you! I do think Jolie's eggs are a little darker than Malika's. I will post them side by side once they are both laying. I am very pleased with Jolie and am looking forward to getting chicks from her.

 

[Chooks man]

those are the last 18 cockerels from GR#1 been processed yesterday .
what left from this group is 11 cockerels and 27 pullets
cockerels =
3 solid Black. BM
2 Blue copper ,BM
1 Black copper , BM
1 Solid Black /Black copper . BM
2 Dark cuckoos . ST /AR
2 Dominant white , ST /AR

Pullets =
6 BC all by BM
6 Solid Black .BM
3 silver cuckoos , ST/AR and CW
3 Silver Blue cuckoos .ST
7 Dominat white ,ST/AR
1 Blue Birchen .CW
1 Golden Cuckoo ,AR

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

this weekend I will separate the cockerels from GR#2 and pen them . I m only going to keep few .the rest will be processed .
have about 30 good pullets and 40 cockerels .

my Dogs are well pleased now ,they can enjoy they hard work guarding the chooks .now they eat some of them . they are loving it ,1 cockerel/dog/day . a lot cockerels .

I m refusing to sale any of my stock . I ll keep the best as my breeding stock and processed the rest for me and my dog .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

my youngest group#6 the cross are 8 week old now ,still in the purple room{ nursery } they have all for them selves .a lot room for them .
they are the most correct looking marans I have ,long ,wide ,chunky ,well feathered .solid on they legs . gorgeous eyes . majority are pullets .40/30 not sure .

I m well pleased I invested on them .they where not my chooks but I managed to pair them the way I like . and both all the eggs they laid in the duration of 2 weeks .well happy .I will waited 1 more year to make the cross my self .will never be a same ,because I have the progeny not the original parent stock .

photos next week .a lot to do .
chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

2 brothers White tail Buff and Red Pyle are doing very well .they are very big and heavy .
they combs are they weakest point .

chooks man