International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[KF0002]

@kfelton0002
Thanks for adding that pic of the wing tag...I was wondering what they looked like

Here are what my wing bands look like. They are the zip bands style 890 but there are 3 different types available.

Edited to add a good video I found on Youtube to show you how to apply a wing band. You can wing band chicks as day olds or at any age, on up to mature birds. They dont fuss near as much as day olds and generally fuss less than with toe punching.

 

[pioneerchick816]

Here are what my wing bands look like. They are the zip bands style 890 but there are 3 different types available.

Edited to add a good video I found on Youtube to show you how to apply a wing band. You can wing band chicks as day olds or at any age, on up to mature birds. They dont fuss near as much as day olds and generally fuss less than with toe punching.

View attachment 1125476 View attachment 1125477 View attachment 1125478 View attachment 1125479

Thanks for the great pics & video! My internet sucks where I am so I'll watch it when I go into town soon. Appreciate the info

 

[KF0002]

Day old BCM chick with wing band.

 

[Chooks man]

Its been almost a year since ITL decimated my flock. I have since decontaminated and waited almost 4 months and am about to refurbish my coops. So, I am trying to decide how to repopulate. My goal is to have a BCM flock of between 100 and 200 for eggs and meat.

I have an OVA 100 and so I thought I should just purchase 8 dozen (hopefully) fertile eggs and start from scratch.

Questions:

1. Can anyone recommend a BCM breeder in Ontario, Canada?
2. Would I do better getting eggs from several breeders, or just from one?
3. Should I consider having an older group of roosters in the coop before the new hatchlings are introduced (at an appropriate age, of course), or just rely on cockerels from the eggs for future fertilization?
4. Ideally I'd like to get eggs from a breeder who has an ITL certificate, is that realistic?
5. If I can't get an ITL certificate, is it ok to just inoculate this first group (at the appropriate age), or would that introduce ITL into the coops again? (meaning I'd have to go through the whole decontamination procedure again)

I'm open to any and all suggestions, including "post question 2-4 in this other forum"...

I only can answer the 2 and 3 rd question .
if you can get fertile eggs from different breeders ,that ll give you the genetic diversity you need to build your flock .
it is nicer to breed the old with the young to keep your flock balanced . I do breed the older Rooster with a pullets/young hens and I breed the older hens with a cockerels . I only use a cockerels over a pullets if I m working with a crosses F1 X F1 or F1 X F2 .

good luck to you in finding a good and honest breeders ,
Love to see photos of your flock one day in the future .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

@craychixlay
here what I see in this photo.
solidly build BCM cockerel
gorgeous copper and great body marking
well colored hackle
wide @ the shoulder ,great asset
wide @ the rear .his daughter will be good layer of large eggs
love the thickness and the straightness of this legs . solid as the telephone post .well colored and feathered .

hasn got tail . even with a high tail he still have a truck load of great quality .

need to be mated to hen/hens with a long flat back and small ,thin pointed tail at the right angle
the back and tail are not sex linked ,they can be corrected from either side Sire or Dam.

good luck with your breeding program

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

@craychixlay
the hen in the front of the flock with her head high long back and thin pointed tail is a good much for him .
can you post some photos of her standing by her self please .I really like her .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

@craychixlay .
good start .
you have a nice strain there to work with
now you need to catch the pullets responsible for each egg .
you have to watch the first 20/30 eggs laid by the pullet to determine her genetic make up .

chooks man

 

[aart]

now you need to catch the pullets responsible for each egg .
you have to watch the first 20/30 eggs laid by the pullet to determine her genetic make up .

Do y'all use trap nests to accomplish this?

 

[Chooks man]

Hatched 3 more BCM chicks from Apollo and #60. One more is trying to hatch. I snapped a few quick pics when I got home so they hadn't gotten good and fluffed up. These have a lot less white on their face.

Chick #1
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Chick #2
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Chick #3
View attachment 1124851
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they hatch down is almost there .
what I really like about them is the color of they eyes .blue

hatch more of this pair please . a lot good thing going for them .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

Do y'all use trap nests to accomplish this?

yes I use a separate pen or trap nests to catch them .
for me is really important knowing the first 30 eggs ,they help me decide if the pullet is a breeder or a layer.

chooks man