International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Tstraub]

The hatch was a fail.... I wasn't properly set up and neglected to calibrate incubator, at 99.5 F actual inside read 90.
I would've been upset if I had lost Raven but otherwise this was working with not knowing the sire again and wrong time of cold winter.
So back on plan. I'm ordering a Govee, and I'm looking into a better candler. @Punkybrewster I took a screenshot of yours to look into.
I was rushing to get the new/revamped brooder pen done so I can slow down on that now and throw more detail into it I wanted, mainly the wall that connects to the Marans coop I want to be see thru for line of site with a pop door for integration.

And I'll be doing a hatch or 3 when the weather breaks.

But this is where I need everyone's help, who to mate up first.
My thought process is for the 1st hatch...21 eggs (3 sets of 7) so....
Kong x Joannie because I want more 'Angels' first and foremost.
Kong x Angel (see above )
And then... winging it.

But that's just my thinking. I need guidance and critiques of all my Marans. (I've got 2 that are for positive culls).

And/or should I bring in outside eggs?

Sorry to hear your hatch didn’t work out. A 10 degree difference is really surprising no wonder the previous owner of the incubator was so eager to move it on. Hopefully it is something you can adjust out of it. I like to think that as long as you learned something you didn’t fail

I’m currently reworking my home made incubator. It was using a light bulb as a heat source. It did successfully hatch out some chicks but once the hatched the looked stressed from the flashing light bulb. Every time the light would go off they would fall asleep. Then a couple minutes later the light came back on and they would immediately pop back up awake.
They suffered no long term issues but they just didn’t look comfortable to me. So I’m going to try to find another heat source that doesn’t emit light. I’m going to go buy a cheap $7 soldering iron and pull the heating element out to repurpose it.

I could just buy an incubator but I’m having too much fun tinkering around with this one.

 

[Punkybrewster]

The hatch was a fail.... I wasn't properly set up and neglected to calibrate incubator, at 99.5 F actual inside read 90.
I would've been upset if I had lost Raven but otherwise this was working with not knowing the sire again and wrong time of cold winter.
So back on plan. I'm ordering a Govee, and I'm looking into a better candler. @Punkybrewster I took a screenshot of yours to look into.
I was rushing to get the new/revamped brooder pen done so I can slow down on that now and throw more detail into it I wanted, mainly the wall that connects to the Marans coop I want to be see thru for line of site with a pop door for integration.

And I'll be doing a hatch or 3 when the weather breaks.

But this is where I need everyone's help, who to mate up first.
My thought process is for the 1st hatch...21 eggs (3 sets of 7) so....
Kong x Joannie because I want more 'Angels' first and foremost.
Kong x Angel (see above )
And then... winging it.

But that's just my thinking. I need guidance and critiques of all my Marans. (I've got 2 that are for positive culls).

And/or should I bring in outside eggs?

When I first started, I brought in 3 different Marans lines and worked with only them. They were my foundation birds.

I did see egg color lighten a little but quickly came back in the next couple of generations.

Even now while rebuilding, I am trying to work/replace with my original lines I purchased only because I know their strengths and weaknesses. Its a personal choice for me.

As you can see, I did bring in new blood by getting the 3 roosters I have. I am taking my time with them. Not sure how I will use them yet.

I am not confident enough to begin suggesting who to pair up for breeding.
My own? Sure.
Someone else? Ugh

But having a small flock, mate up and test breed everyone. That would show you a lot.

I dont remember how many hens you have.

 

[Punkybrewster]

3 Roosters.
A big difference in each of their copper quality. They are huge.

I love their type and their calm, friendly disposition.

Their leg spacing is beautiful and there is not one speck of white on any of them so far.

Orange band is the boss and blue band is the lowest.

As you can see, orange band also has the best copper. His chest leakage will be good for my pullets lacking copper.

 

[Tstraub]

I think the pecking order in my flock is changing. My 10 month old barn yard mix cockerel Oster has been the flock leader basically from the start. Now my marans are 7 months old and have grown to be larger than he is.

For the past few days my favorite Marans Axl has been strutting around like he owns the place. Crowing constantly and breeding every girl he sees. The girls are submitting nothing aggressive just normal chicken stuff.

I haven’t witnessed any fights at all Oster is just letting it happen and seems to be content sharing his girls. I don’t know if things are going to blow up when the spring hormones come into full swing. I have been expecting a big fight for a while now because I do have 3 cockerels all housed together over 15 girls. Anyway I’ll keep monitoring things so that hopefully nobody gets hurt if and when the fight starts.

 

[Punkybrewster]

The hatch was a fail.... I wasn't properly set up and neglected to calibrate incubator, at 99.5 F actual inside read 90.
I would've been upset if I had lost Raven but otherwise this was working with not knowing the sire again and wrong time of cold winter.
So back on plan. I'm ordering a Govee, and I'm looking into a better candler. @Punkybrewster I took a screenshot of yours to look into.
I was rushing to get the new/revamped brooder pen done so I can slow down on that now and throw more detail into it I wanted, mainly the wall that connects to the Marans coop I want to be see thru for line of site with a pop door for integration.

And I'll be doing a hatch or 3 when the weather breaks.

But this is where I need everyone's help, who to mate up first.
My thought process is for the 1st hatch...21 eggs (3 sets of 7) so....
Kong x Joannie because I want more 'Angels' first and foremost.
Kong x Angel (see above )
And then... winging it.

But that's just my thinking. I need guidance and critiques of all my Marans. (I've got 2 that are for positive culls).

And/or should I bring in outside eggs?

What a bummer with the dang incubator. At least there was a happy ending. Raven is alive!

 

[wrathsfarm]

you have enough birds to work with. I wouldn't mess up with the unknown genes.

This is true thanks for that. At least until I get my test mating/culling done. At the moment I know what I have.

Sorry to hear your hatch didn’t work out. A 10 degree difference is really surprising no wonder the previous owner of the incubator was so eager to move it on. Hopefully it is something you can adjust out of it. I like to think that as long as you learned something you didn’t fail

I’m currently reworking my home made incubator. It was using a light bulb as a heat source. It did successfully hatch out some chicks but once the hatched the looked stressed from the flashing light bulb. Every time the light would go off they would fall asleep. Then a couple minutes later the light came back on and they would immediately pop back up awake.
They suffered no long term issues but they just didn’t look comfortable to me. So I’m going to try to find another heat source that doesn’t emit light. I’m going to go buy a cheap $7 soldering iron and pull the heating element out to repurpose it.

I could just buy an incubator but I’m having too much fun tinkering around with this one.

I put a meat thermometer in there and jacked temp up to 108 which brought internal up to roughly 99.5 so just need to reset it once I get a Govee. I learned a thing or 3 so that's a plus.
After cracking all of them none had started developing further than veins so ....

What a bummer with the dang incubator. At least there was a happy ending. Raven is alive!

This was really the better outcome. I get more eggs from her and I'll know exactly who the Sire is. (Proper breeding)

 

[wrathsfarm]

When I first started, I brought in 3 different Marans lines and worked with only them. They were my foundation birds.

I did see egg color lighten a little but quickly came back in the next couple of generations.

Even now while rebuilding, I am trying to work/replace with my original lines I purchased only because I know their strengths and weaknesses. Its a personal choice for me.

As you can see, I did bring in new blood by getting the 3 roosters I have. I am taking my time with them. Not sure how I will use them yet.

I am not confident enough to begin suggesting who to pair up for breeding.
My own? Sure.
Someone else? Ugh

But having a small flock, mate up and test breed everyone. That would show you a lot.

I dont remember how many hens you have.

That was a smart move, you know your stock. And I really appreciate all your knowledge, your underestimating yourself. Your birds are proof, even Chooks Man knows that.

I have 9 girls total. 3 are pullets (Angel, Copper and Raven)

 

[wrathsfarm]

3 Roosters.
A big difference in each of their copper quality. They are huge.

I love their type and their calm, friendly disposition.

Their leg spacing is beautiful and there is not one speck of white on any of them so far.

Orange band is the boss and blue band is the lowest.

As you can see, orange band also has the best copper. His chest leakage will be good for my pullets lacking copper.
View attachment 3737595View attachment 3737596View attachment 3737597View attachment 3737598View attachment 3737599View attachment 3737601View attachment 3737602View attachment 3737606View attachment 3737607View attachment 3737608View attachment 3737609View attachment 3737610View attachment 3737611View attachment 3737612View attachment 3737613

Wow, I need a few of these. Orange is a monster, well done.

 

[Punkybrewster]

That was a smart move, you know your stock. And I really appreciate all your knowledge, your underestimating yourself. Your birds are proof, even Chooks Man knows that.

I have 9 girls total. 3 are pullets (Angel, Copper and Raven)

Beyond the obvious pairings, test mate each hen and pullet to your 2 boys. Working with a small group makes things so easy.

Find out their qualities and what pairings makes the nicest progeny. Those will be your breeding stock for your line.

It sounds complicated but its really not. Just keep good records and before you know it, it will be sorted out.

Which pairings produce correct pullets.

Which pairings produce correct cockerels.

A small starting flock is so, so much better than a large group of random Marans that lay dark eggs. You are saving yourself a lot of work.

Down the road, when you know what they are capable of producing, then you may want to bring some other birds in that can improve what you need.

Just my 2 cents.

I sure do wish @Chooks man was here to confirm my suggestion.

 

[TommyTilla]

3 Roosters.
A big difference in each of their copper quality. They are huge.

I love their type and their calm, friendly disposition.

Their leg spacing is beautiful and there is not one speck of white on any of them so far.

Orange band is the boss and blue band is the lowest.

As you can see, orange band also has the best copper. His chest leakage will be good for my pullets lacking copper.
View attachment 3737595View attachment 3737596View attachment 3737597View attachment 3737598View attachment 3737599View attachment 3737601View attachment 3737602View attachment 3737606View attachment 3737607View attachment 3737608View attachment 3737609View attachment 3737610View attachment 3737611View attachment 3737612View attachment 3737613

They’re beautiful! I have just one, but I love him. I haven’t had many roosters, but he’s been the best I’ve ever had. Protects “his” hens very nicely.