International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

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Here's another blue silver dude, I like his color better than the other one, but he is younger by a couple of weeks so he's still got a ways o go in growth.

I love this guy. He is stunning.

Please post more pics of your birds...

 

[wrathsfarm]

He is really nice too!

I didn't notice the wattle fold until you pointed it out.
Maybe it will relax some as he grows??

Love his color! You definately house a LOT of eye candy.

Couldn't agree more...

 

[wrathsfarm]

If I post pics of the 12 weeks could I get everyone's help in early selecting thru them?

There's 7 boys and 3 girls. I'm keeping the girls to POL and looking to keep the best 3 of the boys. They're not butcher age yet, just looking to get them rebanded and update my notes more thoroughly.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Questions...
Dark eyes are a fault. Do I not breed from the hen or roo throwing the dark eye progeny? Even if throwing both correct and dark? Or do I just hard cull the dark eyes?

How is this gene passed down to some but not others?

For instance, if I keep correct eyes and cull the dark eye progeny from the same hen or roo, will the correct eye progeny have the gene also and it's just hiding? Could it still pop up in subsequent breeding and I just need to cull for it?

I'm 'assuming' Kong is passing it, as I see progeny from 2 hens with dark eyes. Betty and Angel so far (these are the 10- 12 week olds) and 3 pullets that are 20 weeks from Betty.

There is a possibility that Angel could be Betty's daughter as I don't know her dam for positive. I've just assumed she was from Joannie as she lays a very similar egg color. But I'm not so sure now. It seems to me, dark eyes would be a better indicator than egg color and shape.
If I'm guessing right here then... Betty would be my culprit as Angel was sired by King but all progeny now is Kongs pointing me to Betty.....


Very confusing.

 

[chickengr]

Questions...
Dark eyes are a fault. Do I not breed from the hen or roo throwing the dark eye progeny? Even if throwing both correct and dark? Or do I just hard cull the dark eyes?

How is this gene passed down to some but not others?

For instance, if I keep correct eyes and cull the dark eye progeny from the same hen or roo, will the correct eye progeny have the gene also and it's just hiding? Could it still pop up in subsequent breeding and I just need to cull for it?

I'm 'assuming' Kong is passing it, as I see progeny from 2 hens with dark eyes. Betty and Angel so far (these are the 10- 12 week olds) and 3 pullets that are 20 weeks from Betty.

There is a possibility that Angel could be Betty's daughter as I don't know her dam for positive. I've just assumed she was from Joannie as she lays a very similar egg color. But I'm not so sure now. It seems to me, dark eyes would be a better indicator than egg color and shape.
If I'm guessing right here then... Betty would be my culprit as Angel was sired by King but all progeny now is Kongs pointing me to Betty.....


Very confusing.

if I remember well dark eyes can be corrected. so breed and cull the progeny.

 

[TexasBlues]

I have noticed some of my pullets have dark eyes. And both parents did not have dark eyes.

 

[TexasBlues]

I have noticed some of my pullets have dark eyes. And both parents did not have dark eyes.

This 17 week old pullet has a somewhat light eye, but there’s dark spot like imperfections on the iris. The rooster had similar spots.

 

[TexasBlues]

This one has a similar marbling effect on the iris

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Questions...
Dark eyes are a fault. Do I not breed from the hen or roo throwing the dark eye progeny? Even if throwing both correct and dark? Or do I just hard cull the dark eyes?

How is this gene passed down to some but not others?

For instance, if I keep correct eyes and cull the dark eye progeny from the same hen or roo, will the correct eye progeny have the gene also and it's just hiding? Could it still pop up in subsequent breeding and I just need to cull for it?

I'm 'assuming' Kong is passing it, as I see progeny from 2 hens with dark eyes. Betty and Angel so far (these are the 10- 12 week olds) and 3 pullets that are 20 weeks from Betty.

There is a possibility that Angel could be Betty's daughter as I don't know her dam for positive. I've just assumed she was from Joannie as she lays a very similar egg color. But I'm not so sure now. It seems to me, dark eyes would be a better indicator than egg color and shape.
If I'm guessing right here then... Betty would be my culprit as Angel was sired by King but all progeny now is Kongs pointing me to Betty.....


Very confusing.

I believe (though I don’t know eye genetics in chickens) that eye colour is similar to variation in the shade of brown eyes in people, controlled by many genes. Unlike blue vs brown which is one gene, the variation in shade is more complex. A bit like egg shade colour etc.

So I assume it’s good old fashioned selective breeding, culling bad progeny and keeping those with correct red/orange eyes.
Someone correct this if it’s wrong.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

This 17 week old pullet has a somewhat light eye, but there’s dark spot like imperfections on the iris. The rooster had similar spots.
View attachment 3929268

I’d see how they are as adults because eye colour is always slowly changing at this age. Could be a build up of melanin that will be evened out eventually.