International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[RedstarRanch]

This is my boy. 16 weeks.

 

[marchick]

Im assuming around 6 -7 months is when i start looking at my birds and deciding which ones to use as breeders and which ones to get rid of. Correct?

I wish the legbands would get here. It would be nice to band which ones came from eggs and which ones came from on- line breeder before their too old to accurately band....or does it matter if their all staying together as line A?

My oldest are 5 1/2 weeks old. I am culling already. One will go to freezer camp when old enough way too mossy. I will cull as I go but it will be at least 6 months or more to pick out the top contenders. I can't keep all of these till 6 months old. I wing band and use leg bands. For chicks I use colored rubber leg bands in different sizes.

 

[Punkybrewster]

My oldest are 5 1/2 weeks old. I am culling already. One will go to freezer camp when old enough way too mossy. I will cull as I go but it will be at least 6 months or more to pick out the top contenders. I can't keep all of these till 6 months old. I wing band and use leg bands. For chicks I use colored rubber leg bands in different sizes.

Taking into account everything i have read on this thread, i can safely cull the obvious high fan-tail birds then as i have read this indicates high tails later on. Yes?

At this point, starting out, i just keep the ones that wont take many generations to correct their faults (if thats even possible) even if it means keeping a small flock to begin with. Or am i delusional?

My OE flock will consist of EEs and ccl with the nice blcm cockerel over them. I will take some cull bcm hens that lay the darkes eggs and put them in there. Makes a nice color variety in the egg carton for sale.

Of course this is only my PLAN for now.

 

[marchick]

Taking into account everything i have read on this thread, i can safely cull the obvious high fan-tail birds then as i have read this indicates high tails later on. Yes?

At this point, starting out, i just keep the ones that wont take many generations to correct their faults (if thats even possible) even if it means keeping a small flock to begin with. Or am i delusional?

My OE flock will consist of EEs and ccl with the nice blcm cockerel over them. I will take some cull bcm hens that lay the darkes eggs and put them in there. Makes a nice color variety in the egg carton for sale.

Of course this is only my PLAN for now.

I do not know if fan-tail means high tail later on. That is a question for Chooksman. I do know if the tail is a little high early on it's only going up from there. You only need a few good birds to work with. We all aim to improve each generation. Some things are just harder to work with.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I have a question. In general what age do maran hens start laying? I'm asking because i've noticed in the last week my 1 pullet Daisy's comb and face is starting to get red. She's 15 weeks old. I assume I've got several more weeks but just a few minutes ago I saw her willingly let my rooster toothless breed her. I've not separated them from him yet as i thought i've got at least a month and a half or longer before they started laying, and untill now they've for the most part kept to themselves.

 

[kfelton0002]

Hello all! Pardon my absence. Life has been hectic. My old phone got busted and I am just now getting around to adding the BYC app on my new phone. I have a lot of catching up to do!! I saw that @RedBanks is back! I'm so glad. I have missed you all. I am behind on hatching Marans for this year and only have a handful of chicks so far. The birds just haven't cooperated.

Hope everyone is well!!

 

[kfelton0002]

I have a question. In general what age do maran hens start laying? I'm asking because i've noticed in the last week my 1 pullet Daisy's comb and face is starting to get red. She's 15 weeks old. I assume I've got several more weeks but just a few minutes ago I saw her willingly let my rooster toothless breed her. I've not separated them from him yet as i thought i've got at least a month and a half or longer before they started laying, and untill now they've for the most part kept to themselves.

My Marans don't start laying until 6 months at the earliest. Their face will get beefy red and the comb and wattles will become larger and more developed as she nears point of lay. I would be shocked if she started laying so young but some production breeds of chickens can start laying as young as 16 weeks.

 

[Chooks man]

This is my boy. 16 weeks.

I like this guy ,he is big boy a little taller on his feet ,but that is not a problem .because he has a long strong neck and long wide back to go with this legs,so he is balanced .just big phenotype .
love to see him fully grown .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

Hello all! Pardon my absence. Life has been hectic. My old phone got busted and I am just now getting around to adding the BYC app on my new phone. I have a lot of catching up to do!! I saw that @RedBanks is back! I'm so glad. I have missed you all. I am behind on hatching Marans for this year and only have a handful of chicks so far. The birds just haven't cooperated.

Hope everyone is well!!

welcome back . nice to hear you are fine .
still plenty of time to hatch few marans chicks , it is Summer in US now ?

chooksman

 

[Chooks man]

I do not know if fan-tail means high tail later on. That is a question for Chooksman. I do know if the tail is a little high early on it's only going up from there. You only need a few good birds to work with. We all aim to improve each generation. Some things are just harder to work with.

Fan tail and High tail are 2 different thing .some time they are combined in one chooks ,that is a nightmare .
High tail ,we talking about the Angle of tail compare to the horizontal ground .should not pass 45 Degree . 60 Degree is permitted but not desired .
Fan tail .we talking about the shape/form of the tail . we looking for tail full at the base and short .pointed end .

chooks man