International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[kcrandall]

One is his hatch mate and the other is a little older but same lines So you say the hens are better to use then the cockerel? What about the white feathers on the one hen, will that cause more problems then it’s worth?

You can test mate the hen with the white feather by breeding her to a Cock that is free of parasitic white (no white feathers or under fluff/down). Hatch 10 chicks then grow them out to maturity. If the hen has parasitic white then in theory half of these chicks will express parasitic white.

 

[RoosterML]

Could someone tell me the approximate age for a marans hen to start laying? I just read someplace on the internet that it was 7-9 MONTHS? Is that correct?

Thanks

I just had mine start laying at about 5 1/2 months. Was great to finally get that first egg. Good luck!

 

[RoosterML]

I ordered my egg color card from Marans USA club. Should have them in the mail this week. 2 for $6

 

[Thomas Bright]

I just had mine start laying at about 5 1/2 months. Was great to finally get that first egg. Good luck!

We want pics of that first egg !! TOM

 

[RoosterML]

We want pics of that first egg !! TOM

I did back on page 1625

My 2nd hen started laying and she is darker and speckled also.

 

[kcrandall]

Chicks are 4 weeks old tomorrow and are starting to show signs of copper already. First pic Pullet and Second pic Cockerel.

 

[marchick]

I have 9 to 12 older cockerels that are not ready to butcher yet. They have about another month to go. I am thinking of selling them when my friend has her yard sale. I really don't need the extra work in butchering them. Plus I don't need Blue or Splash Copper cockerels. Time to thin down the flock.

 

[marchick]

Chicks are 4 weeks old tomorrow and are starting to show signs of copper already. First pic Pullet and Second pic Cockerel.

They are looking good!

 

[Punkybrewster]

Yes. They are.

 

[Punkybrewster]

So we are now at 7 weeks old. This is line #2. The ones that looked like tall skinny giraffes at a few days old. Their plumping up nicely. I like their leg color and feathering. Nice blue eyes.
There are 9.
2 cockerels and 7 pullets.

These are the two cockerels. One is bold and friendly and the other one stands back and observes.

Very sloooow feathering.