International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Bantambird]

I first got my black silvers after searching online and sending a few emails out in 2012/2013. Eventually I got a bite when Bev Davis directed me towards a gentleman in Georgia who was breeding Black Silver ( Birchen) Marans, by the name of Reeves. I managed to get some hatching eggs and started from that first hatch. I had just acquired my cabinets from my great uncle, whose wife was trying to get him to slo down on the bird breeding habit. He was glad the incubators would continue being used. Mr Reeves has since divested his birds due to health issues, so are scattered across the country. The blue and white genetics came about 4 years later, when my husband won an auction for some greenfire Blue Silver Marans. I discovered the recessive white in that line 3 years after that. I have worked with this group ever since.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Kong Jr...

 

[wrathsfarm]

 

[wrathsfarm]

2 of the 3 from Betty...

 

[WheatenLover]

This thread is an absolute treasure trove of knowledge, thank you everyone who contributed!
I have a question I am hoping someone is able to help me with. A couple years ago I obtained BCM chicks from a well known breeder in my area. I tried my best to select the pullets and cockerels that matched the SOP best, but overall by pullets had varying degrees of overmelanization. I selected two cockerels who showed a tad too much copper in the hope to balance out the defects.
Fast forward to this spring where I have been growing out chicks from the breeding, basically all of them are showing mossiness on both genders. I am hesitant where to go from here. Do I grow them out and see if the mossiness goes away with their adult molt? Do I outsource for another cockerel? Do I scrap them all and go on a search for another bloodline completely? This breeder shows her birds with great success, so I'm confused with how mine are turning out. Or will they moult out of it and be great looking adult birds?

 

[chickengr]

This thread is an absolute treasure trove of knowledge, thank you everyone who contributed!
I have a question I am hoping someone is able to help me with. A couple years ago I obtained BCM chicks from a well known breeder in my area. I tried my best to select the pullets and cockerels that matched the SOP best, but overall by pullets had varying degrees of overmelanization. I selected two cockerels who showed a tad too much copper in the hope to balance out the defects.
Fast forward to this spring where I have been growing out chicks from the breeding, basically all of them are showing mossiness on both genders. I am hesitant where to go from here. Do I grow them out and see if the mossiness goes away with their adult molt? Do I outsource for another cockerel? Do I scrap them all and go on a search for another bloodline completely? This breeder shows her birds with great success, so I'm confused with how mine are turning out. Or will they moult out of it and be great looking adult birds?

marans change a lot so be patient. you will know when they are about 18 mo. if you have another overmelanized bird (hen?) you can try to correct. breeding nice looking birds take at least 5 years.

 

[wrathsfarm]

This thread is an absolute treasure trove of knowledge, thank you everyone who contributed!
I have a question I am hoping someone is able to help me with. A couple years ago I obtained BCM chicks from a well known breeder in my area. I tried my best to select the pullets and cockerels that matched the SOP best, but overall by pullets had varying degrees of overmelanization. I selected two cockerels who showed a tad too much copper in the hope to balance out the defects.
Fast forward to this spring where I have been growing out chicks from the breeding, basically all of them are showing mossiness on both genders. I am hesitant where to go from here. Do I grow them out and see if the mossiness goes away with their adult molt? Do I outsource for another cockerel? Do I scrap them all and go on a search for another bloodline completely? This breeder shows her birds with great success, so I'm confused with how mine are turning out. Or will they moult out of it and be great looking adult birds?

I'm on this same project. (See the 2 pullets above your post) That's 2 of the 3 I hatched out Easter Sunday from my over colored roo x all black hen (Betty)

The issue I had was that hatch only produced the 3 pullets from her. I then put 9 more of Betty's eggs under a broody in hopes of boys and now have 4 boys/1 girl to watch that are 4 wks old tomorrow.
My original birds are hatchery and I'm still a rookie as we go thru my test matings.

8 total from Easter hatch from 3 specific hens all sired by my over colored roo Kong.... Kong x Betty (3 pullets) are red leg bands now are 12 weeks old.

And these 5 are the latest from Betty

I need to get better pics, but been busy as I'm swamped with chicks (3 broodys).

Would love to follow your progress, tho and see pics. Maybe we can compare as they grow out for notes.

 

[Tstraub]

Today is the day I’m going to cook and eat a Marans for the first time. I put one in the freezer back in February when it became apparent that my male to female ratio was off and I had to make decisions on who got to stay and who moved to the freezer.

I plan to put it on my smoker and cook it low and slow along side a grocery store chicken so I can compare home grown to store bought chicken. It was 8 months old at time of butcher so hopefully it’s no it too chewy.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Today is the day I’m going to cook and eat a Marans for the first time. I put one in the freezer back in February when it became apparent that my male to female ratio was off and I had to make decisions on who got to stay and who moved to the freezer.

I plan to put it on my smoker and cook it low and slow along side a grocery store chicken so I can compare home grown to store bought chicken. It was 8 months old at time of butcher so hopefully it’s no it too chewy.

Update how it goes. All the juicy details...

 

[Tstraub]

Update how it goes. All the juicy details...

It smells pretty good so far Marans on the left grocery store on the right pineapple upside down cake in the middle. Potatoes will go on when the cake comes off. I did half the marans when I butchered so I could fit it inside a gallon freezer bag