International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Punkybrewster]

And heres Negans

 

[kcrandall]

Thank you for than answer. The internet always pushes the BCMS and I couldn't understand of Blue coppers and black are the same breed, how can black be the ones laying the darker eggs? Never thought about it in terms of availability.

It’s really about how people manage their breeding programs. Both males and females carry the dark egg genes. Breeders who consistently select breeders that conform as closely as possible to the SOP for their specific Marans variety and select females that lay darker eggs (#6-8) and chose a male that was hatched from a dark egg are usually more successful. This takes a lot of hard work and time.

 

[kcrandall]

Please tell me im not seeing what i think im seeing...

This is Glen from line #1. My favorite chooks.

Vulture hocks?!?!

View attachment 2298591View attachment 2298592View attachment 2298597View attachment 2298600View attachment 2298601

@Chooks man you spotted this when they were younger and i said no it isnt.

The flock that i had earlier in the spring had what looked like vulture hock but it seemed to go away. But those chicks never made it to this age. I had to cull all my birds due to illness, remember?

I bet they would have looked like this too if they lived to be this old. Same parents.

This is awful. My favorite birds.
Line#1.
3 pullets, 3 cockerels. My "Walking Dead" chooks.
So Glen and Negan both have vulture hocks.

That leaves Rick as the only usable cockerel and pullets Maggie, Judith and black eyed Carol.

And they are all over feathered on their shanks and bad combs. Ugh

OK, let’s not panic just yet. If the feathers are stiff and hard like primary wing feathers then its vulture hocks if the feathers are soft like on the belly then I think his feathers are just loose fitting.

Keith

 

[Punkybrewster]

OK, let’s not panic just yet. If the feathers are stiff and hard like primary wing feathers then its vulture hocks if the feathers are soft like on the belly then I think his feathers are just loose fitting.

Keith

Their in between.
Not super stiff but not fluffy soft either.
2 have it and one doesnt.

When i noticed them the first thing i did was feel them and i was a little confused. I expect them to be hard like tail or wing feathers but their not.

 

[chickengr]

Please tell me im not seeing what i think im seeing...

This is Glen from line #1. My favorite chooks.

Vulture hocks?!?!

View attachment 2298591View attachment 2298592View attachment 2298597View attachment 2298600View attachment 2298601

@Chooks man you spotted this when they were younger and i said no it isnt.

The flock that i had earlier in the spring had what looked like vulture hock but it seemed to go away. But those chicks never made it to this age. I had to cull all my birds due to illness, remember?

I bet they would have looked like this too if they lived to be this old. Same parents.

This is awful. My favorite birds.
Line#1.
3 pullets, 3 cockerels. My "Walking Dead" chooks.
So Glen and Negan both have vulture hocks.

That leaves Rick as the only usable cockerel and pullets Maggie, Judith and black eyed Carol.

And they are all over feathered on their shanks and bad combs. Ugh

so far I don't think it is vulture hocks. I had chickens like that and they ended up loosing maybe 50 % of their leg feathers. fingers crossed!

 

[Punkybrewster]

so far I don't think it is vulture hocks. I had chickens like that and they ended up loosing maybe 50 % of their leg feathers. fingers crossed!

That would be awesome.
I guess im hypervigilant after the mess this spring. I just want to get some to laying age. I keep telling myself to chill out and let them grow.

They have their flaws, but they are flaws i can easily breed out with my other line. But the vulture hocks i wont even try.

Thank you for giving me hope.

 

[RoosterML]

Great hatch! 24 of the 27 eggs set hatched.
Full house!

 

[Punkybrewster]

Very nice. Love the hatch color.

 

[Bantambird]

Ah a fellow Montanan? @RoosterML

( Bozeman is in Montana, bulldogs are on of the high schools there)

 

[kcrandall]

That would be awesome.
I guess im hypervigilant after the mess this spring. I just want to get some to laying age. I keep telling myself to chill out and let them grow.

They have their flaws, but they are flaws i can easily breed out with my other line. But the vulture hocks i wont even try.

Thank you for giving me hope.

If it were vulture hocks I would think the feathers would be stiff like primary wing feathers. They still have a couple of juvenile molts to go thru so they will change a lot. Just grow them out the. You’ll know for sure.

Do you know the foundation blood (line) for your Line #1? I know Little Peddler BCMs sometimes throws chicks with vulture hocks.