International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

Just ordered some BCM hatching eggs. Some arrive next week and the rest arrive late April. Shipped eggs won't have a great hatch rate and this is my first go with this breed. I ordered from breeders. I'm hoping to have good quality birds. I need help learning this breed standard. Does anyone have a good source to get me familiar?

I'm a Delaware girl through and through and that's all I do but I want to test the waters with this breed and the dark eggs.

I heard that this breed matures late? Is this true in all cases or some cases.

Also.. is it easy to tell the males from females at an early age? With Delawares those combs get pink fast. By 2-3 weeks I can tell the males easily. Are BCM the same or no?

Congrats on your incoming eggs. My boys comb up pretty early, by 2-3 weeks and the copper starts appearing earlier. This is probably due to my Sire having a good size comb and over coloring in his chest.
Some breeders that focus on smaller combs may make this a little more difficult with slower maturing lines. I've had my BCMs for 4 yrs now, so I've gotten pretty good at spotting the boys early.

Hatch day Easter Sunday March 31, 2024

April 16, 2024

If I can offer a bit of advice ...I would follow your breeders recommendations on incubation humidity as Marans eggs typically like a lower humidity known as 'Dry hatching' as the harder shells and darker pigment retains more moisture.
I've had good results doing this with 20-30% the first 18 days and not over 50% at lockdown with a calibrated external hygrometer is highly recommended also.

Best of luck with your hatch.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Congrats on your incoming eggs. My boys comb up pretty early, by 2-3 weeks and the copper starts appearing earlier. This is probably due to my Sire having a good size comb.
Some breeders that focus on smaller combs may make this a little more difficult with slower maturing lines. I've had my BCMs for 4 yrs now, so I've gotten pretty good at spotting the boys early.

Hatch day Easter Sunday March 31, 2024
View attachment 4084801

April 16, 2024View attachment 4084800View attachment 4084799

If I can offer a bit of advice ...I would follow your breeders recommendations on incubation humidity as Marans eggs typically like a lower humidity known as 'Dry hatching' as the harder shells and darker pigment retains more moisture.
I've had good results doing this with 20-30% the first 18 days and not over 50% at lockdown with a calibrated external hygrometer is highly recommended also.

Best of luck with your hatch.

Thanks for the advice. I'm in FL and it's horribly humid here. I only ever dry incubate because of that. With my Delawares I dry incubate and it stays around low 30%. I bump it up to 50% or so at hatch. Is it even possible to candle the eggs? It's hard or near impossible to see anything.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Thanks for the advice. I'm in FL and it's horribly humid here. I only ever dry incubate because of that. With my Delawares I dry incubate and it stays around low 30%. I bump it up to 50% or so at hatch. Is it even possible to candle the eggs? It's hard or near impossible to see anything.

Oh there ya go...I'm in Michigan.

I'm currently running 22 BCMs in the NR360 and 39 BCMs +17 OEs in Brinsea, no water.

A good candler will help but it depends on your Bator also. I've read the Maticoopx has a bright one.My 360s white lid throws a lot of wash so I use a blocker with a hole to help. I haven't tried the new Brinsea yet. But I recently just built a DIY candler that is super bright.
Pics taken were during the day standing at door of the barn with interior lights off and random egg.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Oh there ya go...I'm in Michigan.

I'm currently running 22 BCMs in the NR360 and 39 BCMs +17 OEs in Brinsea, no water.
View attachment 4084804

A good candler will help but it depends on your Bator also. I've read the Maticoopx has a bright one.My 360s white lid throws a lot of wash so I use a blocker with a hole to help. I haven't tried the new Brinsea yet. But I recently just built a DIY candler that is super bright.
Pics taken were during the day standing at door of the barn with interior lights off and random egg.

View attachment 4084807View attachment 4084806View attachment 4084805

Yeah I have the Nurture Right 360 with great hatch rates but don't like the egg candler. I use a flashlight from Olight. It works well for the Delaware eggs. I also have the Kebonnixs and I wanted to run my first hatch through it. They came out pretty good. Your DIY light is pretty good there.

I know you are up north but do you know how successful anyone in south FL is with breeding these marans? It's nasty here and I'm pretty sure this is a cold weather bird. I'm worried about the humidity.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

@Auntiejessi3 these are some buff Orpingtons my friend used to have. The cock is almost as wide as he is tall, proper English Orpingtons (though it is in England so you’d hope so!).

I think the hens were young so their feathers weren’t as loose around the legs as they are when older.

Unfortunately the fox got them before he could work with this good potential bloodline.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Yeah I have the Nurture Right 360 with great hatch rates but don't like the egg candler. I use a flashlight from Olight. It works well for the Delaware eggs. I also have the Kebonnixs and I wanted to run my first hatch through it. They came out pretty good. Your DIY light is pretty good there.

I know you are up north but do you know how successful anyone in south FL is with breeding these marans? It's nasty here and I'm pretty sure this is a cold weather bird. I'm worried about the humidity.

I can't help too much there, just like with all breeds they tolerate cold much better than hot, so I think your usually heat buster tricks would work.
@NanaK @Auntiejessi3 @TexasBlues might be able to help here.

Or if your on FB a local Marans group might be a good resource also.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I can't help too much there, just like with all breeds they tolerate cold much better than hot, so I think your usually heat buster tricks would work.
@NanaK @Auntiejessi3 @TexasBlues might be able to help here.

Or if your on FB a local Marans group might be a good resource also.

I live in Eastern Central Texas, hot and humid, and have a lot of heavy breeds (English Orps, Brahma, and Marans) they do pretty decent. I do wet the ground down so they can dig down to the cool dirt and have a fan (industrial grade outdoor rated) mounted in the run. Other than that, fresh cool water, electrolytes maybe once a week.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

I live in Eastern Central Texas, hot and humid, and have a lot of heavy breeds (English Orps, Brahma, and Marans) they do pretty decent. I do wet the ground down so they can dig down to the cool dirt and have a fan (industrial grade outdoor rated) mounted in the run. Other than that, fresh cool water, electrolytes maybe once a week.

Wow ok. They sound like a tough breed. Good to know. I had easter eggers out here a couple years ago and they weren't doing well. My Delawares do great but they have sparse feathering. I've wet the ground down too.. I need to put out a fan. I'm all for giving this a shot with these marans.

 

[TexasBlues]

I think the marans handle the heat well. They’re a hardy breed imo. I see my bearded chickens panting in the heat and the marans are cool and calm.

 

[wrathsfarm]

We definitely don't get the heat you Southerners get. Shade and fresh water, fans, electrolytes and frozen treats during the heat waves is our main go-to's.
One of our biggest issues is the nest (hot) boxes especially with the loungers/broodys. Fans set on low and I've done frozen water bottles buried in the bedding on one side seems to help, also. My nest boxes are good size at 14 x 14 so they can adjust themselves to the chill bottles.