International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[kcrandall]

Please excuse my ignorance. What exactly are vulture hocks?

Hensndoes,

Vulture Hocks are stiff, straight and rather long feathers growing from the lower part of the thighs and projecting backward and downward. It’s a disqualification under the SOP.

Keith

 

[tjb]

You need to wait until they have developed all copper coloring to make a good decision.

At what age would that be? Please and thanks so much

 

[BobletFarmBirds]

OUrs are 10 months. Once their full copper saddle neck shoulders and full tails come in you can decide. Probably between 6-10 months, I think.

 

[kcrandall]

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Needing to cull down to one cockerel. I am a total newbie for BCM... which has the best trait?

TJB,

Welcome to the thread! Your cockerels are way too young to make an accurate determination. You won’t know a Cockerels true color until after his first adult molt at 18 months. If you can hold on to them until then that would be best. But, if it is necessary that you cut down now then there are a few things you can judge:

1. Type - We want a rectangular body tilted slightly toward the rear.
2. Eye Color - Green / Blue Eyes in juveniles will turn Orange-Red as an adult. Brown / Black Eyes will generally stay dark into adulthood.
3. Back - We want a long straight back tilting slightly from front to rear.
4. Leg Size - We want medium length legs well spaced.
5. Shank Color - We want a slate gray color with pinkish undertones.
6. Head - We want a strong, elegant looking head.
7. Beak - We want a horned colored beak.
8. Comb - We want a straight upright comb free from side sprigs, split posterior lobes. FYI, US SOP calls for 5 points.

I will caution you though that young cockerels change a lot until they are a year old so who looks good now may look bad as an adult. I had a Cockerel that developed a WryTail at 11 months old.

Keith

 

[Chooks man]

Got a picture of my oldest cockerel from Apollo and Sheraz (#60). High tail.. but otherwise he is a nice looking bird. He is about 6 to 6.5 months old. I might just be taking this boy to the show next month.

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He looks a lot like his sire.

Apollo
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if you want to show ,why you don t show your pullets .they are mile and miles better than him . you posted some stunning photos of your young pullets.
I find the cockerel has many fault .high tail .bad comb and folded wattles .the rest is great .
the chooks are your .entre any one you like .it is just my opinion that all .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

I tried my best to get some decent pictures of my pullets but they are too busy scratching and grazing. Here is one I managed to get. She is the cockerel's sister, also off Apollo and Sheraz.

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Most of the pullets behind her are Olive Eggers. The barred birds are Cream Legbar cockerels.

his sister will do better than him in the show .
she is stunning no major faults .she is better type and pretty too . here a name for her if you like SHAZIA daughter of SHIRAZ . she has a lot going for her . nice walker

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

This is the best shot I could get of Apollo. I couldnt get a good pic at all of him out in the run.
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He got a little frost bitten on the back of his comb but not bad enough to dub. He also doesnt normally look that "squirrel tailed" but he was aggravated thinking I was bothing his hens.

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They've been busy.

very nice eggs .
Apollo is thick and colorful . shame about his tail . but produced stunning pullets. what he produce is more important than how he look s .

chooks man.

 

[Chooks man]

Question-
Does anyone have a list of Marans genetic makeup? Is it the same for all chickens? Having a hard time understanding. It would be very helpful.

marans chooks breed has many varieties .each one has it own genetic make up .
if you are talking about the Black copper ?
they are ER/ER .second dominant family genetic .
they are copper based . s+/s+ for the roo and s+/- for the hen .
they need to have the Dermal inhabitor Id gene .this gene will keep they shank color slate /grey with a pinkish hues not full black .
they need to have the PTI1.gene this gene add feathers to they shanks.

they have more .
let me know what you want to know and I ll explain it to you .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

Hen 1
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Side sprigs and folded comb. Good copper and feet. Good badly shapenand angle. Keep or cull?

a problem with her comb is the rear part the Lobe is pushing forward causing the front of the comb to twist . the Lobe should pull back ward to stabilize the comb .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

A hen of production age is allowed to have a slightly lopped comb as long is it doesnt obscure the eye. The APA standard states that no single combed female in or near production with a slightly lopped comb should be discriminated against. Males however should not have a lopped comb.

if we want to get ready of the bent comb from our stock ,than we have to select the cockerel s dam with a straight comb at all the time .
bent comb is the easiest thing to fix .
breed the bent comb hen to a good solid straight comb rooster select the pullets with a straight comb and mate hem back to they sire . the majority of they progeny will have straight comb .
2 more back crossing if possible or just one back crossing and one Sibling mating to get a true inbred strain .bred for the straight comb .

chooks man