International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[OneMountainAcres]

How do you cook your roosters? I have been researching the best methods to cook older roosters that are tougher. Old timers are telling me the old pressure cookers are a god method, but there are more modern electric pressure cookers that are safer and user friendly.

Either overnight in the crock pot or the dog eats them. She eats a lot of raw A roo will never be as tender as a meaties but the crock pot seems to be the best way to go I think.

 

[KF0002]

Either overnight in the crock pot or the dog eats them. She eats a lot of raw A roo will never be as tender as a meaties but the crock pot seems to be the best way to go I think.

So just overnight on low in the crock pot? That would starve me to death smelling food cook all night. lol

 

[KF0002]

Maybe if I thin out my flock it will be enough but I think he wants my pens for pheasants.

Hopefully you all can come to a compromise and you both can get what you want. You can keep your Marans and he can get some pheasants.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

So just overnight on low in the crock pot? That would starve me to death smelling food cook all night. lol

Yep! It always hits me like a ton of bricks the next morning when I open the bedroom door lol

 

[KF0002]

Found a soft shelled egg from one of the free ranged hens/pullets. It was under their roost in the hen house.

 

[Hensndoes]

Novice question

So @kfelton0002 post about parasitic white has me wondering about my only FCM. He is a blue and he now at about 9 months has a tail feather that is white on the edges. Big fat white trim all along the edges of the feather. Is that parasitic white? Could his daily beat downs caused that? He now is king as we rehomed all but those who appreciated him and his future harem arrives in a few weeks.

Just cuz I always ask for your pics: His comb was so nice before frostbite stole his points. And his waddles.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Here are my New Year's babies. Some of these pictures are absolutely awful but they were being very uncooperative. Sorry for the overload of pictures.

These are the cull boys. Of course the won't be culled until I'm positive I have someone better. They wouldn't cooperate for a decent picture.

 

[KF0002]

View attachment 1315323 Novice question

So @kfelton0002 post about parasitic white has me wondering about my only FCM. He is a blue and he now at about 9 months has a tail feather that is white on the edges. Big fat white trim all along the edges of the feather. Is that parasitic white? Could his daily beat downs caused that? He now is king as we rehomed all but those who appreciated him and his future harem arrives in a few weeks.

Just cuz I always ask for your pics: His comb was so nice before frostbite stole his points. And his waddles.

Usually the white feathers are considered parasitic if they are still there once the bird molts out their juvenile feathers, and especially if they have white after their adult molt. If he has a white tail feather, pull it out and see if it comes back white. If it does, then it's parasitic white. If it comes back normal it may have been caused by damage as the feather was developing, so I've been told. Grab the feather firmly and yank it hard and fast. It should come out completely from the follicle. If you break it off, get a pair of pliers and pull it out. My opinion, likely it is parasitic white.

Parasitic white is very common in Marans. Many fellow breeders I am friends with struggle with it also, so you are not alone I assure you. It likes to show up under the hackles too so check there. I am trying my best to cull hard for parasitic white but it can be difficult because only the males show it but the females can carry it without any visible white. All 3 of my breeder males have parasitic white underfluff this year, but I plan to replace them with better males as I produce them. It is something to breed away from with diligent culling and careful breeding. I would replace him once you produce a better male with no white. That is where it gets tricky. A male can appear to have no white and then sprout a white tail feather or white fluff after his adult molt (at around a year to 18 months). Talk about maddening..

And yes frostbite is a major bummer. Nearly every male on my property suffered some degree of frostbite damage this year, the undubbed birds anyway. I'm sorry about your male's comb and wattles. I'm sure he's still a handsome fella!

 

[Red Banks]

Here are the boys..... 7 cockerels. No problem with color.

 

[Red Banks]

7 cockerels and Antonio (top right), Tony2 (bottom right). I have 9 males.