International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Punkybrewster]

The new chicken village coops were built with solid walls to the wind. This way, I only need to cover the front fencing if it will get extremely cold.

I save up empty feed bags to use as a wind break wall if needed. Ive also used trashbags, clear roof panels, white tarps before.

Im in the northwest corner of SC, it only gets bitter cold once in a while. Not sustained.

I am very grateful for this. Im originally from the northeast. Keeping chickens through winter up there could be a struggle sometimes. There is a delicate balance between draft free and not enough ventilation in the cold, dark winter months.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Can we talk about proper copper color?

.Copper
.Orange
.Mahogany

What is a halo and what does it mean going forward with breeding?

Is there any benefit to their progeny when breeding a rooster with a halo like there is with an overcolored chest?

How can we breed proper color into our line?

 

[wrathsfarm]

Only 2 but I did only throw a few in to test. I have another 4 due in a week plus threw more in recently

Definitely post pics when you can. We love pics here.

 

[wrathsfarm]

There is a delicate balance between draft free and not enough ventilation in the cold, dark winter months.

So true.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Can we talk about proper copper color?

.Copper
.Orange
.Mahogany

What is a halo and what does it mean going forward with breeding?

Is there any benefit to their progeny when breeding a rooster with a halo like there is with an overcolored chest?

How can we breed proper color into our line?

Great questions, Punky. I'm all ears... Or eyes.

 

[chickengr]

we don't have much cold here but it can be so windy that it rains/snows horizontally.

 

[Chooks man]

Can we talk about proper copper color?

.Copper
.Orange
.Mahogany

What is a halo and what does it mean going forward with breeding?

Is there any benefit to their progeny when breeding a rooster with a halo like there is with an overcolored chest?

How can we breed proper color into our line?

that is good question . the copper we are looking for ( what SOP call for ) is uniform rich red .not orangy neither Mahogany
the halo in the hackle is polution cause by unkown genes we are not aware of because is stongly inherited .we try to avoid it in breeding if we can , if we are forced to work with it becuase it is the only bird we have than we have to hatch as much chicks as we can , the halo is like the parasitic white doesn t go without a fight .
to breed proper copper into the line we haver to have atlease one correct bird with great rich red copper as foundation in the breeding programs .
we need to have a stong breeding program to achieve what we want and fix any fault plus breed any good trait true , lot peoples if not most have a lot birds to breed from but they don t have any breeding program .like @chickengr said Rooster + hens = chicks nothing to do with program .
to breed great marans we have to breed each trait separatly than we merge them all together when they start breeding true .
chooks man

 

[NanaK]

The new chicken village coops were built with solid walls to the wind. This way, I only need to cover the front fencing if it will get extremely cold.

I save up empty feed bags to use as a wind break wall if needed. Ive also used trashbags, clear roof panels, white tarps before.

Im in the northwest corner of SC, it only gets bitter cold once in a while. Not sustained.

I am very grateful for this. Im originally from the northeast. Keeping chickens through winter up there could be a struggle sometimes. There is a delicate balance between draft free and not enough ventilation in the cold, dark winter months.

The thicker clear shower curtains work well to stop cold wind but still allow light. Make sure to leave lots of ventilation as it also adds warmth.
I also use clear shower curtain to make cold frames in the garden.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Finally able to get a few crappy shots of the babies... 20 wks old. 11-4-23. I (in my limit knowledge) really like how these 3 are growing out so far.
Dark Angel is red band @Chooks man
Copper is black band
Raven is no band
My grand daughter wanted to name the other 2 and she loved the name Raven I suggested from @NanaK

Raven still has a white feather tip showing on her right side. It's been windy here where you see the ruffled feathers and tail in some pics
Tell me your thoughts so far good and bad...

 

[wrathsfarm]

And of course Kong in full on molt