International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

Yes, she’s very chunky. I couldn’t have asked for more from my first marans, not giving me much improvement work to do. My biggest concern for her is her tail, I think her sons will have squirrel tail, at least when bred to my roo Loki, who has one already. If one of my BCM cockerels grow up to be better quality than Loki I will swap them, their dam has a nice small and low tail. Chanel did have a son but he was a cross and the rats got to him as a chick and I never even found his body. This year I will hatch more marans out to increase my numbers, mostly from my own but I do want some English type cuckoos for my eventual GCM project.

How many cockerels are you growing out now? All from Loki?

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

How many cockerels are you growing out now? All from Loki?

I’m growing two. My dad’s friend hatched 4 for me out when I gave him some Wellie and Silkie eggs. 2 from either hen. 2 black copper cockerels from Natasha, 1 blue copper pullet and one mix cockerel from Chanel. One cockerel has yellow legs but it is copper so must be pure marans. His body is better and his colours are more developed. The other has the right legs but is a tad shorter in body length and his colours are behind a little. I’m waiting for them to be older to see their tails properly, because they’re always scruffy at this age. If neither are better I’ll get rid of both of them and breed Loki another season to give chance for better ones. For now I can only really have one adult marans cock, unless I split the big layers pen for the breeding season.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Im looking forward to getting some boys out of Kong. Just need to get my pairings set right... I know for sure I need the best comb and body type hen for him.

 

[wrathsfarm]

One cockerel has yellow legs but it is copper so must be pure marans.

This is confusing to me.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

This is confusing to me.

Based on the cockerels I had in the pen, the only one that would produce copper is Loki, as the other two were silver based. My BCM hen has yellow legs, so they unfortunately carry it. I suppose they won’t be 100% pure for this to exist in them, but I meant both parents must be marans.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

I’m just boiling myself that lovely egg from Chanel right now for lunch.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I’m just boiling myself that lovely egg from Chanel right now for lunch.

My wife wouldn't allow that...
I was talking to her the other day about the super small egg Betty laid and she goes and fiddles around and comes back and hands it to me... "This one?"
I didn't realize she saved it. She drilled a hole in it and cleaned it out. (Apparently that's a thing)

I should of took another pic of it before she shoved it back into her altered universe - realm wherever it came from. But it's this one from Nov 2022

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

The corn I’ve been feeding them has done wonders, the picture doesn’t even show how orange the yolks really were. I always feel guilty eating them!

 

[wrathsfarm]

View attachment 3720335The corn I’ve been feeding them has done wonders, the picture doesn’t even show how orange the yolks really were. I always feel guilty eating them!

You produced them. Be proud and enjoy them.
A meal fit for James Bond....

 

[wrathsfarm]

View attachment 3720335The corn I’ve been feeding them has done wonders, the picture doesn’t even show how orange the yolks really were. I always feel guilty eating them!

Wife is making eggs for dinner one of these night and she's using all of Angels 1st 18 eggs..