International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Punkybrewster]

JR.
He's the devil

 

[Punkybrewster]

@Punkybrewster
here the method I work with to classify who is the best chooks in the farm ( best hens or best cockerels )
I have made many list each list is for one trait and each list has 10 spots ;Example
10 dark egg layer = 1 DA , 2LS , 3Mdna ect ................
10 best body type = 1 MS , 2LS ,3DE. 4 DA etc..................
10 best legs = 1 DE ,2 Brahma , 3 MS .4LS . 5 DA etc......................
10 best tails ; 1 MS , 2 DE , 3 WO , 4 DA etc........................
10 best hackle marking ; 1Mdn , 2 LS , 3 Measha . 4 copper tie .etc............
10 best plumage . 1 LS , 2 Mdn , 3 Sahara. 4 MS , 5 DA etc...........................
10 best combs ; 1 Sleaka , 2MS ,3 Mdn. 4 Brahma , etc.................

if I classify the hens recording to how many time they apeared in the 7 lists .I will get =
- DA 5 and MS 5 times
LS 4 and Mdn 4 times
-DE 3
BRahma 2
Sleaka 1 , Meash 1 , Copper tie 1

result are Dark Angel and Mama Sasha are the best 2 hens . but the list is not complete to number 10 .
hope this method will help you to classify your hens .and knowing who is the best .take your time .
chooks man

I will try this.

O boy, it will be interesting to see what a mess I make of this!

But you can't learn if you don't make an effort.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

thought I’d show you an egg from my other pullet. Not as dark but very round and shiny with nice big speckles. Is this a good marans egg or should it be darker?
I feel like my big hands make the eggs seem smaller than they are.

 

[Punkybrewster]

thought I’d show you an egg from my other pullet. Not as dark but very round and shiny with nice big speckles. Is this a good marans egg or should it be darker?
I feel like my big hands make the eggs seem smaller than they are.
View attachment 3471250

I love the dark spots.
Your girls are laying beautiful eggs!

 

[Chooks man]

I am still sexing the chicks from his pen. I was going to keep only the pullets. I was not sure how many hens we were keeping.
These photos are examples of the chicks. There are more cockerels to cull from here.
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I like this chicks very long body type . What we are looking for.
Don t cull the cockerels yet . Need to see some photos of them when you finished sexing then . They manas lay dark eggs. So they will have that gene for sure .
Chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

I am wrong.
Mr. Comb holds his tail high more often than low.
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Yes very high king tail well arched .
Chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

thought I’d show you an egg from my other pullet. Not as dark but very round and shiny with nice big speckles. Is this a good marans egg or should it be darker?
I feel like my big hands make the eggs seem smaller than they are.
View attachment 3471250

Stunning egg shape and colour
Chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

JR.
He's the devil
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He has a better tail for sure.
Chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

I will try this.

O boy, it will be interesting to see what a mess I make of this!

But you can't learn if you don't make an effort.

You have to try.
This list does not need to be done very fast . Will take months and months of observation .
For me each time I go to see the chooks I always have my note book. My chooks are well documented , every chooks and every traits. Did not happen over night.
Chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

JR.
He's the devil
View attachment 3470821View attachment 3470822View attachment 3470823

He does have a priceless copper .
Chooks man