International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Halfpasthen]

Hello fellow marans enthusiasts! I have hatched a pair of black copper marans and was hoping someone would critique them. I am not breeding them for profit or anything like that. But I was hoping to breed them for my own personal flock and to give some to a friend or 2. So this is more out of curiosity than trying to achieve perfection. Still I would like to know what the experts think. They're 21 weeks old today. I tried to get somewhat decent pictures but, you know, chickens. The male is huge lol. My neighbor keeps asking if I'm feeding him miracle grow.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Hi everyone, I'm posting for the first time here. Been reading and learning for over a year with our 7 assorted hens. I purchased 4 pullets / 1 cockerel back in April as day olds in the hopes of breeding and the Marans bug bit hard. I've read the Marans discussion thread (1390 pages) and still going in this thread. (on page 1377).
I've learned so much here and want to say thank you to all the folks here. The wealth of knowledge is just overwhelming.

As it turned out one of our little girls very quickly became a little boy and our plan had to change course to accommodate 2 cockerels and seperate pens if needed. Also learning that 2 boys are better than just 1 for obvious reasons along the way. So here we are with our 5 black coppers @ 20 weeks. The cockerels have been separated for quite a while and 2 of the pullets have just started laying ( 3 fairy eggs so far) . I'm hoping to get some advise on how best to breed our Marans and the good, the bad, and the ugly of our birds. Would like to eventually get as close to the French standard as possible. Sorry for the long rant, just excited to be here.....lol.

 

[NanaK]

Hi everyone, I'm posting for the first time here. Been reading and learning for over a year with our 7 assorted hens. I purchased 4 pullets / 1 cockerel back in April as day olds in the hopes of breeding and the Marans bug bit hard. I've read the Marans discussion thread (1390 pages) and still going in this thread. (on page 1377).
I've learned so much here and want to say thank you to all the folks here. The wealth of knowledge is just overwhelming.

As it turned out one of our little girls very quickly became a little boy and our plan had to change course to accommodate 2 cockerels and seperate pens if needed. Also learning that 2 boys are better than just 1 for obvious reasons along the way. So here we are with our 5 black coppers @ 20 weeks. The cockerels have been separated for quite a while and 2 of the pullets have just started laying ( 3 fairy eggs so far) . I'm hoping to get some advise on how best to breed our Marans and the good, the bad, and the ugly of our birds. Would like to eventually get as close to the French standard as possible. Sorry for the long rant, just excited to be here.....lol.

Welcome to the thread!

I'd love to see your birds. There are others better experienced to discuss the "good, bad and ugly".

In the mean time you could get some good photos posted. Try to get down on their level and post side shots, front and rear and maybe topside. Then maybe someone will be by to critic them soon.

@Chooks man is great and really knows his marans.

Until then there is LOTS of good stuff here to read and welcome again!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Thank you @NanaK ..... And I do hope Chooks man is still active here. He is a genetics god.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Here is King.... he's our accidental. So of course he has to be the wife's favorite.

 

[wrathsfarm]

This is Kong. This guy was a tank from the word go. How about that comb? Our "court jester"....lol

 

[Bantambird]

This is Kong. This guy was a tank from the word go. How about that comb? Our "court jester"....lolView attachment 2823953View attachment 2823955View attachment 2823956View attachment 2823957View attachment 2823961View attachment 2823964View attachment 2823965View attachment 2823966View attachment 2823967View attachment 2823970View attachment 2823971

I almost thought Kong had a king's comb/coronation comb, indicating an old effort when marans were first brought over to the United States (before Greenfire's import). The gene pool was limited, and to increase this and try not to tamper with the dark egg gene, Pendescenda were crossed in. Unfortunately, the comb of a Pendescenda is an incomplete dominant, and its presentation as spurs of flesh jutting out of the comb blade has confounded subsequent breeders and many have thrown up their hands in defeat at them. I would say that such a floppy comb is not at all desirable, but at least you don't have the king's/coronation comb. Kong's breast is overly colored, but paired with a certain class of female he could bring something to the table. Show us your ladies and we will know! I do love Kong's rock solid bod and his blocky shape, his nice short tail, leg feathering is very good with feathers going down the outside shank and toe and none on the middle toe that I can see. Kong has a slight halo on his hackle. I love how well his hackle and saddle match.
King has a much better comb. SO much better of a comb. Not perfect, but very very useable. He has a clean breast, no breast lacing. He has well matching saddle and hackle feathers. His wing bows should color up a little more with age. Kong has better legs. King has, I think, better color. While Kong is a chonky boy, Marans are a slow maturing breed, so King could still surprise you, although Kong is always going to be huge. I love both of their tails, not to big, just right. They will get more changes to their color as they age.
Kong's comb is pretty floppy though...

 

[wrathsfarm]

Thank you @Bantambird for taking the time to look and describe our boys. Yes that comb....lol..
I'll get some pics of our girls asap. 1 of ours ( Betty) has no copper coming in yet so if it stays black she will be a good match for Kong. Yet the other 2 are getting floppy combs already at POL.
So far combs seem to be our nemesis.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Here are the pullets. Betty should be a good match for Kong's overcolored breast and hopefully fix his comb....but I'm not sure about breeding Joannie and Jett with him.

 

[wrathsfarm]