International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[KF0002]

Quote:
Hatching Marans so far this year definitely is starting slow out for me, but I have nearly a dozen Marans eggs in the incubator now and over a dozen more to set tomorrow so I'm hoping my luck will get better. My LA pullets are proving to be good layers. My husband even made the comment today that I needed to "focus" on them as layers from now on because he loves the color of their eggs. They may end up replacing my Sussex hens as layers.

 

[Chooks man]

Quote:
No please don t tell me your lovely marans pullets are going to a layer.
they are first class breeders . use they daughter next year as layer but not them .

you need to breed them in all sort of combination to see witch one is throwing the best type marans .

only the marans eggs that get eaten in my farm are the deformed one NOT the $10/$15 egg . NO JAMES BOND in my place .all for the marans to be multiplied and prosper .

all the best with your marans eggs incubation .

Chooks man

 

[KF0002]

Quote:
Not my current black copper pullets, but more than likely after this year my splash marans hens will go to the layer pen. Their egg color isn't as dark as I would like and I only need them for this year to breed some blue coppers. I am going to work to improve egg color in the BBS. Right now the splash eggs are barely a 4, some probably more like a 3. I'm hoping Mud improves egg color in his blue copper daughters. And any black copper pullets I hatch and raise this year that don't make the cut for breeding, I will keep free ranging as layers. Only the best of what I raise this year will go into the breeding pens for next year. And any extra cockerels I raise this year that don't make the cut for next years breeding plans will all be processed and eaten.

 

[baunlee]

hey everyone. i will catch up later. Been quite busy- have my hands full taking care of this rooster that was in a fight with another roo he previously got along with. I think me removing another bird from their pen kind of set it off, a change in the dynamics.

On a positive note, it looks like he will recover fine. Also happy to report that my hens have started laying their first eggs.

YAYYYY.

They keep getting darker and darker every time I go out there AND I REALLY HOPE that does not stop. I have to wait and see what color their offspring lay to see if my current roo/hen combo is improving on the color right?! Since hen color alone only reflects HER mother and father combo right?? (sorry... just never paid attention in science class..hence that silly question so I regret my lack of attention to science now)

If im not pleased with the color of egg their offspring lays I might utilize my rooster that I have from another line???


ALSO- white leakage on birds
what is the easiest to work with ((now that I'm actually having success with my birds I should start researching for breeding.))

White on feet feathering?
White hairs in a small amount around the face?
White tips on tail feathers?
Infamous outer white wing feather?

I also have a sneaking suspicion one of these girls is eating eggs since I left two out there on purpose and came back to ZERO what else could it be.

 

[dvoice]

1/4 of the way to loading up incubator.
Next Gen eggs should be a little darker again hopefully

 

[Bantambird]

Sometimes white feathers on legs and wintips can be the result of damage to the feather follicle. Sometimes it is genetic! I have a beautiful hen that I use, who broke her wing as a chick. She has a white feathers at the point where the break healed up.

 

[KF0002]

1/4 of the way to loading up incubator.
Next Gen eggs should be a little darker again hopefully

Nice color! Hope you get a good hatch.

 

[KF0002]

hey everyone. i will catch up later. Been quite busy- have my hands full taking care of this rooster that was in a fight with another roo he previously got along with. I think me removing another bird from their pen kind of set it off, a change in the dynamics.

On a positive note, it looks like he will recover fine. Also happy to report that my hens have started laying their first eggs.

YAYYYY.

They keep getting darker and darker every time I go out there AND I REALLY HOPE that does not stop. I have to wait and see what color their offspring lay to see if my current roo/hen combo is improving on the color right?! Since hen color alone only reflects HER mother and father combo right?? (sorry... just never paid attention in science class..hence that silly question so I regret my lack of attention to science now)

If im not pleased with the color of egg their offspring lays I might utilize my rooster that I have from another line???


ALSO- white leakage on birds
what is the easiest to work with ((now that I'm actually having success with my birds I should start researching for breeding.))

White on feet feathering?
White hairs in a small amount around the face?
White tips on tail feathers?
Infamous outer white wing feather?

I also have a sneaking suspicion one of these girls is eating eggs since I left two out there on purpose and came back to ZERO what else could it be.

The color of eggs your pullets lay now is a reflection of her mother and father's genetics for egg color, yes. But the pullets will pass their genetics for egg color to their offspring, and if mated to a cockerel that hatched from a nice dark egg, their offspring should have nice egg color also.

Glad to hear your rooster will recover. Fights are ugly sometimes. I have seen many good roosters completely ruined and even killed so I feel you there.

On the egg eater, try to nip it in the bud as soon as you can. Egg eating is a learned behavior that is difficult to break chickens from once they start. And once a hen starts doing it, other chickens can learn the behavior from the egg eater. Other possible explanations for the missing eggs could be skunks, coons, rats, opossums and even snakes eat eggs (but its too cold for snakes now).

A few things you can do to resolve the problem of egg eating is to make the nest boxes dark. If a hen can't see the egg, they won't be able to eat them. Also feed extra calcium (oyster shell) and protein (fresh meal worms, crickets, boiled or scrambled eggs, etc). And give the chickens plenty to do to keep them busy (fresh deep wheat straw is a big favorite, or fresh dirt to dig and scratch in). Free range when and if you can. Provide lots of fresh greens and veggies when you can. Chickens love scraps from the kitchen (tomatoes, lettuce, bread, cooked peas and carrots, etc.) These are things you probably already know. Good luck! Egg eaters can be frustrating.

 

[Bantambird]

Are these better pics? It was warmer today and they got to go outside and play!

 

[dvoice]

Nice color!  Hope you get a good hatch.  
Thx, I figure at least 80 in, usually end up with 70-85% hatch with my homemade cabinet.