International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[marchick]

I have set up my blue birchen pen. I'll get some pics when I get a chance, but the sun sets around 430 right now and it has been rather cold in Montana. A few cocks might loose a bit of their Combs to the cold this year! Anyway, I have Jack over 5 splash ( supposed to be from a birchen pen, but could be hiding copper too and I would not know) and two blue birchen. Jack is a silver birchen cock, I think there's some pics of him on here. He's from my original line out of Rodney Reeves, who had to cut back on birds due to health not long after I picked up some of his lovely birchen Marans four and five years ago. My biggest issue I've had in this line is the carnation comb, but I've got a handle on it now. Besides that issue, I've been pretty darned happy with them, but wanted blues too, so now I'm about to produce my own line of blue birchen Marans this year. Super excited!

I hope you are well now. I have been wanting Blue Birchen for a while but not enough room. I have trouble with my Marans roosters combs freezing. I have put up a heat lamp so I hope it helps.

 

[Red Banks]

It did get down to -30° F, but to be honest that's not abnormal for us in January. It did hit fast tho. My dummie birds like going outside, so once it got below zero, I had to shut them in. Not before they went and hurt their Combs, mind you....
Usually it has to get that low at least once in January. Sometimes it gets to -40. Marans are tough birds. They weather this stuff better than the legbars do.
If you ever come north, 55 and above count as t-shirt weather.

I lived in Alaska...... in Alaska 0 was flannel shirt weather. Very dry. I know what you mean but after all these years in the South and Southwest, I know I couldn't do it. Chickens are tough!

 

[KF0002]

The black hen IS alright. She just always looks like she is molting. Combs and tails are my problems! Tony2 with Zorretta and Sister soon. I have 7 more cockerels right behind him. We will choose 1 or 2 of them in the Spring/Summer that is why I asked if I need to keep Antonio.

I think she must be Antonio's favorite lady. You can always tell who the favorite is because of the festhers being worn from being topped by the rooster so much.

 

[snowbird]

Wow! Very nice! See I would have thought the white cloth would have made the eggs look lighter.

I am an antique Glass Dealer and this method is used with the crystal Glass, you can't see them but I use to table top lamps one on each side.

 

[marchick]

I think she must be Antonio's favorite lady. You can always tell who the favorite is because of the festhers being worn from being topped by the rooster so much.

Yep, I need to shut my mouth now!

 

[KF0002]

Wow! Very nice! See I would have thought the white cloth would have made the eggs look lighter.

White is always a good color for contrast. For example, sometimes a blue egg by itself in a picture looks pale and sometimes can look white. A blue egg next to a white egg really makes the blue pop.

 

[snowbird]

So the solid color cloth does a certain color work best? I would like to see pictures of your pullets.

Will try an get some pictures of the pullets in a few days when it warms up a little. We kept eighteen Pullets and ten Males.

 

[marchick]

I am an antique Glass Dealer and this method is used with the crystal Glass, you can't see them but I use to table top lamps one on each side.

Lol, I am an antique glass collector! Thanks Don for the photo help.

 

[marchick]

White is always a good color for contrast. For example, sometimes a blue egg by itself in a picture looks pale and sometimes can look white. A blue egg next to a white egg really makes the blue pop.

View attachment 1226736

Pretty!

 

[kcrandall]

Had to take care of the chicks so took pictures of Tony2. The hen in the picture is the one I want to cull. She is a dark egg layer but something wrong with her. She always looks this bad.
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You’ve done well @RedBanks...Tony2 is gorgeous!! You have taken several steps in the right direction with Tony2. Breed him to hens with good combs and I am sure you’ll end up with some stunning cockerels.

Don’t give up on the black hen, especially since she lays a dark egg. My Copper Splash Hen has a similar unkempt appearance, bad comb and so-so tail but she had great eyes, type, and mass. The only reason I bred her this past Spring is because she lays a #7- my thought was to preserve the dark egg genes and fix everything later. She gave me 4 very nice BLCM pullets that lay as dark (large eggs for pullets) as she does plus they have very good type, mass, tails and eyes - 2 have fairly decent combs. I made more progress than anticipated. Now I have more dark layers with better qualities to bred this Spring. I think these girls will pair up nicely with Otis.

Take Care,
Keith