International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Chooks man]

I didn't say I killed them. I said I culled them. I didn't kill any of them. I just found them new homes. If you are not willing to part with any of them. How will you improve the lines? I think this is like the fourth time I have started over. It seems like a lot more.

I m not saying you killed /culled them .
I m jst saying it is a bad practice that all .

to improve the line a person need to;
1) gather some knowledge about they strain .
1) hatch a lot chicks 25 minimum of each hen/rooster combination
2) have a little spare coops and space .
4) balance out the breeding pens.
5) spend a lot time taking note /photos and observing them as they grow
6) don t mix many line at the start of breeding
7) knowing the Standard of the strain
8) select the best one of each generation and breed from them the rest go to the freezer or given/sold to people as layers .

that what I think is involve to improve any line of any animal

chooks man

 

[marchick]

I m not saying you killed /culled them .
I m jst saying it is a bad practice that all .

to improve the line a person need to;
1) gather some knowledge about they strain .
1) hatch a lot chicks 25 minimum of each hen/rooster combination
2) have a little spare coops and space .
4) balance out the breeding pens.
5) spend a lot time taking note /photos and observing them as they grow
6) don t mix many line at the start of breeding
7) knowing the Standard of the strain
8) select the best one of each generation and breed from them the rest go to the freezer or given/sold to people as layers .

that what I think is involve to improve any line of any animal

chooks man

Yes, I agree, It also helps to start with something you can work with. My first two tries where hatchery stock. I was told to start over with a better line so I did. Right now most of my birds are Bev Davis. All but one BCM hen that I liked she has good color. She is a little short in length but over all a nice hen to work with. She was not hatchery stock. My plan is to have two lines that I am working with. One Bev Davis and the other one just to play around with. I am hatching a few chicks from her with a Bev Davis Rooster. I can't wait to see how her chicks turn out. The one pullet with the rubbed nose is her chick.

 

[kcrandall]

I live in Oregon but I heard everyone ships these days? Even willing to buy an incubator if that's what it takes to make this happen.

Brian Parks with Fraiser Creek Farms (FCF) breeds Black Copper Marans (BCM) and he sells hatching eggs / chicks. He is located in Corvallis and he has a facebook page and website. I believe a few members of this thread got their start with FCF BCMs. I hear Brian has really nice birds that lay dark eggs. Just know going in that there are no perfect Marans, even Greenfire Farms.

Marans are genetically complex which makes them both challenging and rewarding to work with but you can have quality birds if bred properly. You have to understand that a show quality Rooster and Hen will most likely not produce show quality offspring. Also, poor breeding practices can result in the loss of type, body color and egg color in a single generation but it can take you several generations to restore these qualities. It's not impossible to have quality Marans but it's not easy either - That's why I chose to bred Marans. This forum and its members have helped me tremendously to improve my knowledge of Marans and how to breed. I suggest you spend some time reading this forum from the beginning - I know it's a lot to read but trust me there is no short cut with Marans. I spent about a year and a half reading, learning and researching breeders before deciding which breeder I wanted to go with. Ask yourself what you reasonably and realistically want from your flock then choose a breeder that most closely matches your wants / goals.

I wish you well in your search. Remember, the members of this forum are hear to answer your questions.

Take Care,
Keith

PS - I forgot to add that Marans egg shells are a little thicker than other chicken breeds so if you get hatching eggs ask your breeder for recommended temperature / humidity settings during incubation and at hatch. Also, know that there is always risk with shipped eggs (rough package handling, poor packaging, wide temperature flucuations, etc.) and breeders will not guarantee hatch rate.

A good breeders should be willing to disclose all faults of his / her Marans line so you know what you will be working with so you can formulate a plan to correct such faults if they show up in your flock.

 

[kcrandall]

I have a bad news. Jupiter (the cockerel from the Monique"s egg) died. he was fine yesterday morning but in the evening within 20 minutes his both eyes got swollen. he looked as he was boiling inside. I found him dead this morning. the veterinarian said mycoplasma but I think it must have been something viral as it happened fast. the vet is not an avian specialist. he is the best vet on the island but famous for dogs and cats. he started to follow the chickens but he is a human being who needs years of experience.

So sorry to hear about Jupiter!!

 

[chickengr]

without Jupiter there will be no birchen marans.

I think I will stick to bcm for now. from the first batch (6 chicks) 2 are boys, 2 girls for sure. the other 2 might be a boy and a girl but I need at least another week to be sure. their combs are strange, can be both male and female. the 5 chicks from the second batch still have small combs. it would be really great if they all are girls.

I how that those last 5 come from overmelanized flock with bad combs. mario is a comb fixer, marco as his son should be a comb fixer too. I hope that at least some of these little girls come from a hen with a nice comb.

luna's mother had a big, bent comb. luna has an S comb. maybe I got a daughter of hers with a big comb - the chicks I cannot tell if male or female. so the comb will be to work with first.

my 2 batches are from 2 different flocks. my friend bought a roo for new blood so that is a mystery. mario and RIP arapoula came from my friend's flock with another roo. so I shouldn't have many surprises if his new roo is pure. luckily the little cockerels are from my birds and they should have at least fairly good colours (better than my friend's roo, he has dark earlobes).

 

[WhiteCloverFarm]

you need to have a import license .and the Australian breeder should as well have the export license .
i m waiting for my export license ,going through the papers work .very .very hard .

chooks man

I will look into it.

 

[Red Banks]

Hello Everyone, I have missed you all. I can't figure out this new BYC. Where did my pictures go and my emails? Oh well..... that is what I get for being away so long. I sold 27 chickens today. I kept 9 BCM hens and Antonio! I have been very busy and my chickens have been on the back burner. I was getting 2 dozen eggs a day and just no time to do anything with them so...... I scaled down and kept only BCM. I will try to catch up on the thread..... I couldn't even find it. Chooks Man, Kfelton, KCrandall, chickengr, Braxton missed you all!

 

[Red Banks]

I m not saying you killed /culled them .
I m jst saying it is a bad practice that all .

to improve the line a person need to;
1) gather some knowledge about they strain .
1) hatch a lot chicks 25 minimum of each hen/rooster combination
2) have a little spare coops and space .
4) balance out the breeding pens.
5) spend a lot time taking note /photos and observing them as they grow
6) don t mix many line at the start of breeding
7) knowing the Standard of the strain
8) select the best one of each generation and breed from them the rest go to the freezer or given/sold to people as layers .

that what I think is involve to improve any line of any animal

chooks man

I am so glad to see you are still sharing your wisdom with us!

 

[Chooks man]

without Jupiter there will be no birchen marans.

I think I will stick to bcm for now. from the first batch (6 chicks) 2 are boys, 2 girls for sure. the other 2 might be a boy and a girl but I need at least another week to be sure. their combs are strange, can be both male and female. the 5 chicks from the second batch still have small combs. it would be really great if they all are girls.

I how that those last 5 come from overmelanized flock with bad combs. mario is a comb fixer, marco as his son should be a comb fixer too. I hope that at least some of these little girls come from a hen with a nice comb.

luna's mother had a big, bent comb. luna has an S comb. maybe I got a daughter of hers with a big comb - the chicks I cannot tell if male or female. so the comb will be to work with first.

my 2 batches are from 2 different flocks. my friend bought a roo for new blood so that is a mystery. mario and RIP arapoula came from my friend's flock with another roo. so I shouldn't have many surprises if his new roo is pure. luckily the little cockerels are from my birds and they should have at least fairly good colours (better than my friend's roo, he has dark earlobes).

one day you ll have your Birchen marans .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

Hello Everyone, I have missed you all. I can't figure out this new BYC. Where did my pictures go and my emails? Oh well..... that is what I get for being away so long. I sold 27 chickens today. I kept 9 BCM hens and Antonio! I have been very busy and my chickens have been on the back burner. I was getting 2 dozen eggs a day and just no time to do anything with them so...... I scaled down and kept only BCM. I will try to catch up on the thread..... I couldn't even find it. Chooks Man, Kfelton, KCrandall, chickengr, Braxton missed you all!

very nice to see you back .healthy and sound .

chooks man