International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[marchick]

King has taken a downward turn...

He's been stumbling around, tripping and falling down trying to keep up with his girls the last couple days. He's been sleeping in one of the nest boxes since swapping them over, which is a little challenging to get cleaned out first thing so girls could use it without laying in poo. (Thankfully they're not in full on production). I've been good with that, he's been a very reliable friend for going on 3 years...
But over the last week I've had to lower it to almost floor level, and then I added a ramp to it for him.
Tues evening he struggled more to get up the ramp using his wings to balance himself so yesterday morning I set him up in the revamped brooder coop, thick layer of bedding and a box of bedding for him. Food/electro-water is on blocks. For treats wife made him up a plate of dry oatmeal, yogurt, a raw egg, sliced green grapes/blueberries, wet and dry cat food and peas. I hand fed him a whole B12 complex tablet also and just gave him another this morning. He's eating and drinking ok its just the stumbling, lack of balance.
If you've made thru all this please realize he's not a breeder. He's one of my yard partners. I know what's coming and when I see he's struggling too much or in any pain I'll do it.

Any other suggestions surely welcome.... This is mainly just a vent of emotions for the day. I know there's a line drawn between breeding and pets and I'm willing to make that reasoning when I start that part.

@marchick you just went thru this and I'm feeling that pain coming.
This will be my first friend I've had to put down in a couple years. My wife is taking it hard, King was our accidental roo and she latched onto him with .

It never gets easier.

I am so sorry! I hope he gets better! This is the part of having chickens that I don't like. I get really attached to them. It's hard to lose them. I try not to get too attached especially to the cockerels because I know I can't keep them all. There is always that special one. That's the one I usually lose. I should have put her under myself but I just couldn't do it this time. She was so sweet. Sorry, I do not know why I don't get notifications anymore.

 

[marchick]

I have just got yellow golden and lady amherst (and chukar partridges and quails). they are last years. will they mate this year? I read somewhere that golden females will lay some eggs but males should be at least 2 yo to mate. is that true? also someone had them as families, 2 females and 1 male and got infertile eggs. should they be in pairs (just golden pheasants)?

Sorry, I didn't get this message or any messages! I use to get notifications but not anymore. They should still lay this year and he will be very much interested in the females. They may be too inexperienced to hatch out and raise babies. You can collect the eggs and put them in the incubator if fertile. Remember they are wild birds and nature tells them when they are ready. I would not put just one female with him through the whole breeding season. I would have at least 2 hens or he will pester the one constantly. I have one rooster pheasant and 7 females. He will bug her non stop around breeding season which is spring, summer and fall it seems. Lol when it gets cold its over he stops being a pest. If you keep collecting the eggs you should get about 30 in the year. At least I do with my red golden pheasants. The Goldens and amherst pheasants can also cross.

 

[marchick]

Just a little update on King. Still wobbly on his feet, and cant really tell if he's getting any better tho. Maybe a touch.
I started the antibiotics day before yesterday so he's got that and the B going. Here's pics of his feet if anyone notices anything off or not. I don't think there's SLM from my knowledge but does his feet look swollen? (ankles?) I can get better pics if needed, I was holding him and trying to get pics also so he wasn't happy about it.
Thank you for all the help with him it's super appreciated..View attachment 3746519View attachment 3746520

It does look swollen to me. I hope he gets better!

 

[marchick]

This confused me but I don't have a scale anyway sooo....
Am I ok to give him that dosage I posted?
Just once a day or would it benefit anything to split twice a day?

Yes I'm going to make a horrible breeder. I get attached.
"You breed Marans?"
"No, I just have 400 Marans !!"

Then you say..... No, They breed each other! That's why I have 400 Marans! Lol I am sorry! I just couldn't not say it! lol

 

[wrathsfarm]

Finally got some better pictures of the cockerels, pretty sure they’re both going, I’ll stick with Loki for now.View attachment 3747708View attachment 3747709View attachment 3747711this is 12, his tail is not an improvement of Loki’s, his body isn’t any better and his copper is a little pale. He is not developing as quickly as 13. At least his legs are pink, his comb’s a little scruffy.View attachment 3747719View attachment 3747720View attachment 3747721View attachment 3747723View attachment 3747724
13, better copper and his face is reddening up quickly. I’m worried his comb might be too big, but time will tell. Tail awfully high, and yellow legs, definitely a cull (or sell). His body is a better type than his dad but the other faults outweigh this I think.View attachment 3747778View attachment 3747779View attachment 3747780
82, the pullet is really nice, not much more to say. Her Dam is Chanel, so I’m expecting her egg to lovely and dark.

82 sure is pretty and I hope she lays just as dark or darker egg than Chanel.
She needs a proper name, tho.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

82 sure is pretty and I hope she lays just as dark or darker egg than Chanel.
She needs a proper name, tho.

Yes, agreed she needs a name. Any suggestions are welcome. Esme was supposed to be Chanel’s name but after one pullet died the names got switched around, so maybe I’ll reuse that name, since she looks so much like her mum anyway.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Yes, agreed she needs a name. Any suggestions are welcome. Esme was supposed to be Chanel’s name but after one pullet died the names got switched around, so maybe I’ll reuse that name, since she looks so much like her mum anyway.

There ya go... Esme is a nice name for her.

I like the name Chanel, I may steal it for one of my chicks when they hatch if you don't mind, of course.

 

[chickengr]

Sorry, I didn't get this message or any messages! I use to get notifications but not anymore. They should still lay this year and he will be very much interested in the females. They may be too inexperienced to hatch out and raise babies. You can collect the eggs and put them in the incubator if fertile. Remember they are wild birds and nature tells them when they are ready. I would not put just one female with him through the whole breeding season. I would have at least 2 hens or he will pester the one constantly. I have one rooster pheasant and 7 females. He will bug her non stop around breeding season which is spring, summer and fall it seems. Lol when it gets cold its over he stops being a pest. If you keep collecting the eggs you should get about 30 in the year. At least I do with my red golden pheasants. The Goldens and amherst pheasants can also cross.

thank you. unfortunately I have pairs only. but I don't think with our heat boys will be so active. a friend who had golden pheasants didn't get fertile eggs when he had 2 girls and 1 boy. with the other pheasants he didn't have issues even with 5-7 girls and 1 boy.

 

[marchick]

thank you. unfortunately I have pairs only. but I don't think with our heat boys will be so active. a friend who had golden pheasants didn't get fertile eggs when he had 2 girls and 1 boy. with the other pheasants he didn't have issues even with 5-7 girls and 1 boy.

Maybe there is a difference in lines. Maybe it's just my male. He is very determined and will chase constantly. From sun up till son down. Just be careful and keep an eye on them.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

There ya go... Esme is a nice name for her.

I like the name Chanel, I may steal it for one of my chicks when they hatch if you don't mind, of course.

I chose Chanel because she is fancy and French, and of course you can use it, just make sure it’s a fancy hen!