International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

It's a pretty decent day, 40s and no rain. And they are loving the grass, so took a few random shots.

Joannie...

Joannie and Copper..

Jett...

Kong needs junk in his trunk..

 

[NanaK]

How's your cold doing? Hope your feeling better.

Still got the sniffles but feeling much better. Thanks for asking.

Nice pictures of your flock. I know they were enjoying the day
scratching around.

 

[ihatedarkroast]

So, I have this BCM rooster who is about 2 years old now. At about a year, he developed a tiny white splash at the base of a single tail feather. This white splash has spread a little up the shaft and to the base of 3-4 other tail feathers. Is this what's called parasitic white? I take it that this is undesirable? I don't have a purebred flock so I probably won't cull him if it is. He doesn't attack people, and will let you pick him up, which is more important to me. But I wanted to know if it was that. I have no idea which hatchery he came from as I got him free from Craigslist as a chick.

 

[wrathsfarm]

So, I have this BCM rooster who is about 2 years old now. At about a year, he developed a tiny white splash at the base of a single tail feather. This white splash has spread a little up the shaft and to the base of 3-4 other tail feathers. Is this what's called parasitic white? I take it that this is undesirable? I don't have a purebred flock so I probably won't cull him if it is. He doesn't attack people, and will let you pick him up, which is more important to me. But I wanted to know if it was that. I have no idea which hatchery he came from as I got him free from Craigslist as a chick.

Could you post a couple pics of him? Are you seeing any white underfluff or just the couple feathers?

 

[ihatedarkroast]

Could you post a couple pics of him? Are you seeing any white underfluff or just the couple feathers?

No white underfluff. It's a bold stark white splash. It's about 1/3rd length of a feather. I will try to get a pic this afternoon.

 

[wrathsfarm]

No white underfluff. It's a bold stark white splash. It's about 1/3rd length of a feather. I will try to get a pic this afternoon.

Ok thanks... I'm gonna say it's possible stress related if your not seeing white under fluff especially at 2 years old. Experts say white feathers as chicks are ok until their 18 months old. After that it's a fault... BUT stress related white feathers showing up is not a fault.
Others more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

Looking forward to seeing pics of your boy...

One of my boys King has a lot of white plus squirrel tail so I've got him in my other flock for Olives and Marans hybrids.

My other boy Kong is in with the Marans now for test mating coming up. He has no white but some other faults....we use what we have.

 

[wrathsfarm]

A happy update... Not as dark as her earlier eggs but considering her ordeal she dealt thru, she's a warrior!!

 

[ihatedarkroast]

Ok thanks... I'm gonna say it's possible stress related if your not seeing white under fluff especially at 2 years old. Experts say white feathers as chicks are ok until their 18 months old. After that it's a fault... BUT stress related white feathers showing up is not a fault.
Others more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

Looking forward to seeing pics of your boy...

One of my boys King has a lot of white plus squirrel tail so I've got him in my other flock for Olives and Marans hybrids.
View attachment 3735717

My other boy Kong is in with the Marans now for test mating coming up. He has no white but some other faults....we use what we have.
View attachment 3735721

Very handsome flock there!

 

[ihatedarkroast]

Ok thanks... I'm gonna say it's possible stress related if your not seeing white under fluff especially at 2 years old. Experts say white feathers as chicks are ok until their 18 months old. After that it's a fault... BUT stress related white feathers showing up is not a fault.
Others more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

Looking forward to seeing pics of your boy...

One of my boys King has a lot of white plus squirrel tail so I've got him in my other flock for Olives and Marans hybrids.
View attachment 3735717

My other boy Kong is in with the Marans now for test mating coming up. He has no white but some other faults....we use what we have.
View attachment 3735721

Stress causes this? I thought maybe it was just bad genetics?

 

[wrathsfarm]

Without seeing the pics at the time, I was only offering a possibility.
@Bantambird or @BlueTheBrahma know more than I do about genetics.

What I was suggesting is a BCM that does not show white (parasitic or recessive). Then suddenly a white feather appears could be stress related and not bad genetics especially after it's 18 month molt.
Hope I worded that right.