International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[BlueTheBrahma]

A few pics of the current 6 bachelors. I did end up selling white/purple that @BlueTheBrahma called egg bound and not necessarily a cull at this stage.
Yellow/Orange still has that really nice tail on the left with White/Green's looking like it's getting high to me.
Both have real nice copper.
The 3 youngest I'm on the fence about so far being these are backcrossed to Kong from pullets. All 3 are over colored.

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White/GreenView attachment 4040519

Yellow/Orange
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How did Poppy integrate with the other boys? I know odd ones out are often bullied, but I think this is hens and maybe not so much boys.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

I know he’s overcoloured but the type in this photo looks great. It could just be a flattering photo so I’ll wait for more photos of him before I say more.

 

[wrathsfarm]

How did Poppy integrate with the other boys? I know odd ones out are often bullied, but I think this is hens and maybe not so much boys.

It wasn't too bad because he was already in Kongs coop to start, then I pulled him out first for a few days (can't remember exactly how long he was by himself) but then added the others so I believe he already at least knew them. Just needed to assert his dominance to the group.
I thought adding these last 3 was going to be the problem with them being a lot younger at that time, but it went fairly well. I think all 3 elders thought they were pullets at first. I seen alot of courting going on to start.

Even now tho, he seems to be the loner with no interaction with the others. Sleeps and keeps to himself, but I'm guessing it's because he's just that much more older, mature, and the dominate.

I'll be moving a spare coop here soon for him, Solo and a few others. Run is built, it just needs netting over it.

I think I'm going to delay my first hatch here a couple weeks to collect 2nd and 3rd week eggs from Solo who's in with Kong. Add them to the incubator with the F1/F2 Olives and then get her separated to Poppy, wait a month and then do a test hatch of BBS Silvers.
This all revolves around any incoming shipped eggs of course.

 

[wrathsfarm]

View attachment 4040898I know he’s overcoloured but the type in this photo looks great. It could just be a flattering photo so I’ll wait for more photos of him before I say more.

That's your boy double/red. I forgot to mention that in the post.

(2 red band from Gloria and 1 purple from Jessie the pullets) My concern is these are F2s, the pullets were backcrossed to Kong.

Gloria from Betty, all F1 boys were way over colored.

Jessie from Joannie, F1 boys were v shaped.

I set these pullet eggs because my main goal was pullets to keep the egg color gene in the flock. (If you recall I sold all cockerels and pullets during my heart attack) So that meant I would be starting over basically again hatching F1s again from them.

I didn't get any pullets from Gloria but got 3 from Jessie. These I'm excited to see what they lay coming from Joannie. Betty didn't lay a darker egg so I wasn't expecting much from Gloria's pullet anyway but I would've like to see the now unknown.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

That's your boy double/red. I forgot to mention that in the post.

(2 red band from Gloria and 1 purple from Jessie the pullets) My concern is these are F2s, the pullets were backcrossed to Kong.

Gloria from Betty, all F1 boys were way over colored.

Jessie from Joannie, F1 boys were v shaped.

I set these pullet eggs because my main goal was pullets to keep the egg color gene in the flock. (If you recall I sold all cockerels and pullets during my heart attack) So that meant I would be starting over basically again hatching F1s again from them.

I didn't get any pullets from Gloria but got 3 from Jessie. These I'm excited to see what they lay coming from Joannie. Betty didn't lay a darker egg so I wasn't expecting much from Gloria's pullet anyway but I would've like to see the now unknown.

Ah I remember, the one I said to watch when he was younger. It’s a shame so much copper has come in his breast because if I remember there wasn’t much before.

But like Chooks man used to say, “build a house before you paint it”

He’s got good type so his overcolouring shouldn’t disqualify him

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Just a photo I got of Napoleon today. His bigger tail feathers have fallen off, so I have no idea what his tail is going to end up like!

He’s still a bit over coloured, but that is to be expected from a Blue from what I understand.

I need to get some Vaseline on his legs, the entire pen has flared up with leg mites.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Ah I remember, the one I said to watch when he was younger. It’s a shame so much copper has come in his breast because if I remember there wasn’t much before.

But like Chooks man used to say, “build a house before you paint it”

He’s got good type so his overcolouring shouldn’t disqualify him

I'll be getting pics of all 3 here in a few weeks, they're 16 weeks today. Most all the pullets have pretty nice copper in the hackles compliments of Kongs over coloring, so I'll need to figure out that breeding program for pairings.... unless I back cross him to all the older 9 hens. If his type is still good by then, that would be a major plus.
Just thinking out loud on that....

 

[wrathsfarm]

Just a photo I got of Napoleon today. His bigger tail feathers have fallen off, so I have no idea what his tail is going to end up like!

He’s still a bit over coloured, but that is to be expected from a Blue from what I understand.

I need to get some Vaseline on his legs, the entire pen has flared up with leg mites.View attachment 4041038

He's beautiful...how old is he?

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

He's beautiful...how old is he?

He’s 30 weeks old believe it or not, he’s been a real slow grower, but I think that is in part due to mix ups with food I had! Hopefully he won’t take too much a toll from this.

Thinking about it, and looking back at photos, Loki was basically at the same stage of development at this age, so I guess mine are just slower to develop than yours.

Edit: Loki also had a huge squirrel tail at this age, so I’m still quite hopeful his tail is going to be much better.

 

[wrathsfarm]

He’s 30 weeks old believe it or not, he’s been a real slow grower, but I think that is in part due to mix ups with food I had! Hopefully he won’t take too much a toll from this.

What is your normal feed?
Do you have the vast assortment of feed types available like the US?

Thinking about it, and looking back at photos, Loki was basically at the same stage of development at this age, so I guess mine are just slower to develop than yours.

It seems like they suddenly just explode overnight in size. Poppy and Solo were slower than mine, also. I had a hard time gendering Poppy long after my usual at 2-3 wks old. @Bantambird actually helped me with him. Them small combs really thru me off, and I need them in my BCM flock to help with frostbite.

Edit: Loki also had a huge squirrel tail at this age, so I’m still quite hopeful his tail is going to be much better.

Any plans for more hatching eggs this year?

Now that I got the BBS Silvers, but didn't get any Blues, that's my new obsession....I want more Blues now.
Poppy of course is in hiding...