International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Chooks man]

In the coming weeks I will choose two that I think are keepers. I won't divulge my choices. I will take good pics of each rooster and read the critiques. It will be a good lesson for me. Pics below are Tony2 at about the same age.View attachment 1278327 View attachment 1278328

Tony2 is a better one for sure . he is your main rooster for type/ body color/tail and mass .
now you need to find a 2 cockerel with a nice comb ,that what you need I think .

chooks man

 

[KF0002]

they do a same here in OZ .last marans where shown .most of them should not be there .

as a breeder I breed my chooks to comply to the SOP with a great pedigree and genetically sound .
I do not breed to please the judges .I have nothing to do with them .
my chooks are going to be shown this winter in 3 state NSW .QLD and WA by 3 different laddies .
trio of Wheaten NSW
trio of BC BLD
trio of Dark cuckoo QLD
Dominant white 2 pullet WA

let see how they do .still too young to select the final best .but those Ladies who want to show them are like you @kfelton0002 . they want to get right and win win .

Guess people enjoy different things is normal .

chooks man

My main goal is to breed to SOP, but since I've never even been to a poultry show I figured it would probably be beneficial for me to get my feet wet. It will also help me to see what the other birds look like, and it will help me to learn how the poultry show world works. Whether my birds win or lose, I think showing chickens sounds like fun from the show folks I have talked to. We have some beautiful birds here and I am very proud of them. Not only my Marans, but my Games and Cream Legbars too.

Here is a Cream Legbar pullet I am hoping to show. She hasn't reached POL yet so she is young, only about 5 to 5.5 months old. She still has some filling out to do.

 

[KF0002]

In the coming weeks I will choose two that I think are keepers. I won't divulge my choices. I will take good pics of each rooster and read the critiques. It will be a good lesson for me. Pics below are Tony2 at about the same age.View attachment 1278327 View attachment 1278328

I like to hear feedback because I am always judging my birds pretty hard. If left to my own devices I would cull too hard I think. So I like to hear the opinions of others so I don't miss anything. I'm getting better though. You have a good eye, so I know the birds you choose will be great!

 

[Red Banks]

I like to hear feedback because I am always judging my birds pretty hard. If left to my own devices I would cull too hard I think. So I like to hear the opinions of others so I don't miss anything. I'm getting better though. You have a good eye, so I know the birds you choose will be great!

I know exactly what you mean. I am very hard on my own stock. Learn to believe in them and yourself, you are a winner.

 

[Hensndoes]

My main goal is to breed to SOP, but since I've never even been to a poultry show I figured it would probably be beneficial for me to get my feet wet. It will also help me to see what the other birds look like, and it will help me to learn how the poultry show world works. Whether my birds win or lose, I think showing chickens sounds like fun from the show folks I have talked to. We have some beautiful birds here and I am very proud of them. Not only my Marans, but my Games and Cream Legbars too.

Here is a Cream Legbar pullet I am hoping to show. She hasn't reached POL yet so she is young, only about 5 to 5.5 months old. She still has some filling out to do.

View attachment 1278682 View attachment 1278681 View attachment 1278680

She is beautiful! I have only 1 clb but this year I will get a few more. The clb thread doesn't attract attention nor the likes of this thread so I'm not learning as much with this breed.

Kinda makes me feel bad but please forgive me! Both Chooks and you have shared legbar talk (hides under desk)... my girl is really quite small in comparison to my marans. The breeder she came from breeds for sop and health of the bird and openly states the eggs have a green tint to them (which they do but still blue next to my EE). They crossed C line into Reese. This is Penny before POL. I need to get new pics.

 

[KF0002]

I know exactly what you mean. I am very hard on my own stock. Learn to believe in them and yourself, you are a winner.

Aww thank you for saying that! You're a winner too my dear friend!

I don't feel much like a winner after today. We have had so much setback this winter raising chicks from my Legbars and Marans. I just looked through the younger chicks in the brooders, and I have exactly ZERO black copper pullets and only 2 blue copper pullets. The rest are cockerels, approximately 6-8 of them. I only have one Cream Legbar pullet, but she is a really good looking one at least. I only have 4 black copper pullets free ranging from my fall hatches. But there is still spring and summer to raise chicks, so all is not lost. I need to get cracking if I am going to raise some nice decent birds for the shows I want to attend to this fall.

 

[Chooks man]

I know exactly what you mean. I am very hard on my own stock. Learn to believe in them and yourself, you are a winner.

take it easy guys .you don t need to be hard neither soft on your self or your flock when come to selecting you future chooks breeders .

you need to have a formula ( a same as a judges do at the show) each trait have a point. the chooks with more point at the end of the day is a keeper .

here my formula;
1- Body type = Rectangular R=5 .Square S=0. Triangular T=0
2) Body carriage = long and Elegante LE=5 . Long and thin LT= 2. sloppy S=0
3) mass= thick and Heavy TH= 5 . Thin and light TL=0
5) body color = Well colored ( all the pattern are there .hackle ,saddle .lancet and shoulder) WC =5 .Absence of a Shoulder Marking ASM= 3 .
6) Head = Comb .wattle .eyes color .Ears lobe color .beak =2.5
7) Tail = shape/angle/length =3
8) Feet = Tall .Short . Feathered .Color =2
9) plumage/under fluff type = 2.5

9 post total of 30 points .
with this formula it is easier for me to evaluate the chooks properly and fairly ( no favorite ) if 2 or more score a same points,than I move to a more complex formula . I ll look at the little details .

hope this will help

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

Aww thank you for saying that! You're a winner too my dear friend!

I don't feel much like a winner after today. We have had so much setback this winter raising chicks from my Legbars and Marans. I just looked through the younger chicks in the brooders, and I have exactly ZERO black copper pullets and only 2 blue copper pullets. The rest are cockerels, approximately 6-8 of them. I only have one Cream Legbar pullet, but she is a really good looking one at least. I only have 4 black copper pullets free ranging from my fall hatches. But there is still spring and summer to raise chicks, so all is not lost. I need to get cracking if I am going to raise some nice decent birds for the shows I want to attend to this fall.

Spring is a best season to hatch a future breeders .a weather is good for them .

your CLbPullet is stunning . great show specimen . she ll make you proud

chooks man

 

[Hensndoes]

Aww thank you for saying that! You're a winner too my dear friend!

I don't feel much like a winner after today. We have had so much setback this winter raising chicks from my Legbars and Marans. I just looked through the younger chicks in the brooders, and I have exactly ZERO black copper pullets and only 2 blue copper pullets. The rest are cockerels, approximately 6-8 of them. I only have one Cream Legbar pullet, but she is a really good looking one at least. I only have 4 black copper pullets free ranging from my fall hatches. But there is still spring and summer to raise chicks, so all is not lost. I need to get cracking if I am going to raise some nice decent birds for the shows I want to attend to this fall.

I read somewhere (not sure if it was on this forum) a flock raiser ran numbers on using an incubator and a broody. The broody produced way more pullets. I wish I could find the study. The only thing I would think could discredit it would be if there were different cocks involved. Maybe one cock or one hen passes on more of a gender? Would have to experiment. Pretty sure there is a fine collection here that could toy with that if you have Broodies. I have one and plan to try this experiment myself just may take some time to do so. I'll let ya know.

 

[KF0002]

View attachment 1279160 View attachment 1279159

She is beautiful! I have only 1 clb but this year I will get a few more. The clb thread doesn't attract attention nor the likes of this thread so I'm not learning as much with this breed.

Kinda makes me feel bad but please forgive me! Both Chooks and you have shared legbar talk (hides under desk)... my girl is really quite small in comparison to my marans. The breeder she came from breeds for sop and health of the bird and openly states the eggs have a green tint to them (which they do but still blue next to my EE). They crossed C line into Reese. This is Penny before POL. I need to get new pics.

Thank you! Your girl is lovely too, and looks a lot like mine. My birds are Jill Rees line also from GFF. Their eggs are a greenish blue, not totally blue but not totally green either. Legbars will most definitely look small in comparison to Marans, they are a lighter breed. My Legbars resemble my Games in weight more than my Marans and are a leaner bird in build. Type-wise they are more like the Brown Leghorns that are in their genetic makeup. The Cream Legbar Club's website has the SOP for Cream Legbars, Crele Legbars, and White Legbars. You can print them out and read over them. They haven't been admitted by the APA yet but they will be hopefully soon. I will still be showing my Legbars to support the breed and get them out there.

There are several Cream Legbar groups on facebook you can join also. I have learned a lot from them. Good luck!