International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[BlueTheBrahma]

White/BlackView attachment 4026846View attachment 4026847View attachment 4026848View attachment 4026849View attachment 4026850View attachment 4026851View attachment 4026852View attachment 4026853View attachment 4026854View attachment 4026855View attachment 4026856View attachment 4026857

Probably a cull

Big issue is the laced copper on his breast. Triangle type, tail looks higher than the others. I also don’t think his comb is right. It’s technically by all authority of the SOP correct, but I feel marans should have less sharp looking combs. His legs also look too close together from the early photos.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Cull

Copper worse than typical of your line, his tail is promising but his type isn’t the best.

Ok...he goes.

I hope I don’t come across as too blunt, but you have some fabulous birds so we may as well weed out the sub-par progeny.

Absolutely... I want complete honesty. I know where where my birds came from. If I needed to cull all these, I would've. My plan was to breed Poppy and Solo in or source new stock this year. But Yellow/orange is showing an option so far so that's a plus.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

White/green
I like this guy. Not the biggest but I like his copper the best.
View attachment 4026870View attachment 4026871View attachment 4026872View attachment 4026873View attachment 4026874View attachment 4026876View attachment 4026877View attachment 4026878

I see why you like him. Agreed, the best copper hands down of the bunch, his legs look further apart.

I’m thinking his comb might get a little too big, plus it has thumb prints, but if that’s our biggest complaints then you’ve got a good bird.

Brilliant long body, can’t wait for him to fatten up.

So your top three (not in order) are white/green, white/purple and yellow/orange.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Ok...he goes.

Absolutely... I want complete honesty. I know where where my birds came from. If I needed to cull all these, I would've. My plan was to breed Poppy and Solo in or source new stock this year. But Yellow/orange is showing an option so far so that's a plus.

I’d wait and see what the crosses to the BSMs look like before spending money on new birds.

Of course, new genetics is helpful, but again you’d be at the stage of getting all sorts of inconsistencies as the different genes mix. I’d say you establish some more consistency in your current gene pool before expanding it again, but it’s your call.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Can I also add how healthy and vibrant your young birds look. You’re clearly feeding them well, giving them the best start to life as breeding birds and allowing us to see their maximum potential.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I see why you like him. Agreed, the best copper hands down of the bunch, his legs look further apart.

I’m thinking his comb might get a little too big, plus it has thumb prints, but if that’s our biggest complaints then you’ve got a good bird.

Brilliant long body, can’t wait for him to fatten up.

So your top three (not in order) are white/green, white/purple and yellow/orange.

This is great. I'll hang onto these 3 for a bit longer and get some relaxed pics if possible in the meantime.

As always, thanks for your help, insight and guidance. It's very much appreciated.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Can I also add how healthy and vibrant your young birds look. You’re clearly feeding them well, giving them the best start to life as breeding birds and allowing us to see their maximum potential.

Only thing different is I switched from All-Flock last summer to an 18% chick starter/grower feed. I can't remember what the AF was (20%?). But the birds really seem to like the chick starter better so thinking I'll just keep them on it as I'm on constant hatch mode now.

Thank you for the compliment, my friend.

 

[Bantambird]

I kept a recessive white rooster this year, he was the biggest, chunkiest out of the roosters for the last hatching season (that I kept) and ended up loosing that eye in a fight, so One Eyed Jack is in the pen. There are others in the group, but if i was really feeling it, I have one small pen I could put them in as a pair for a while, but we are heading into the coldest time of year so I probably won't set them up anywhere separate until the weather is more conducive....

Also, my husband is reigning me in this year so I don't get to do a whole lot of extra hatching this year. he told me 3 weeks is what I get, so I am cramming all the hatching I can in that space. Since Jack is the boss, there is definately a very good chance he is going to cover most of the girls in the group. I was pretty sure she came from the other mottled looking hen I have had show up in the past, but that hen never had more than sparse mottling, that would get just a little more pronounced with each molt. This girl changed colors completely in the space of a year, from black to white!

 

[chickengr]

Ok...he goes.

Absolutely... I want complete honesty. I know where where my birds came from. If I needed to cull all these, I would've. My plan was to breed Poppy and Solo in or source new stock this year. But Yellow/orange is showing an option so far so that's a plus.

you have nice birds. don't risk by bringing anything unknown to your flock. it would take years to fix it.

 

[NanaK]

This girl changed colors completely in the space of a year, from black to white!

I know this was an amazing thing to see. I look forward to hearing what happens in the future. As always, I love to see any of your bird photos! You have a beautiful flock!

Also, my husband is reigning me in this year so I don't get to do a whole lot of extra hatching this year. he told me 3 weeks is what I get, so I am cramming all the hatching I can in that space.

This gave me a chuckle! I am always reigning in my hubby. He would have me running the bator all spring, summer and fall. Not to mention I have a few that goes broody regularly. We'd quickly be over run with chickens. He is the "big ole country boy" type but he turns to mush at the sight of baby animals.