International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Red Banks]

The pullet in the front of the first picture was twice the size of any other pullet in that hatch. As you can see she is much more mature looking than the other pullets. I have 8 pullets, 4 months. I love the pullets!

 

[Red Banks]

They are yellow right now, so I'm thinking they will be orange as he matures. I do need more Redbanks birds. I hate that I only ended up with the 2. I would love to hatch some decent tailed birds this year that I can show and use as breeders. He does look small, you're right. I don't know if he just drew the genetic short straw or what. He isn't thin and we have de-wormed all the chickens. He is just a smaller bird, and probably will be late maturing like my FRF birds are. They are the same exact way.

Wish you were closer you could see if you wanted any of these cockerels.

 

[Red Banks]

They are yellow right now, so I'm thinking they will be orange as he matures. I do need more Redbanks birds. I hate that I only ended up with the 2. I would love to hatch some decent tailed birds this year that I can show and use as breeders. He does look small, you're right. I don't know if he just drew the genetic short straw or what. He isn't thin and we have de-wormed all the chickens. He is just a smaller bird, and probably will be late maturing like my FRF birds are. They are the same exact way.

He doesn't look thin at all but he does look compact.

 

[Red Banks]

I will get better pics with my phone on the next nice day. It has rained the past two days, it poured today. The pullet is very elegant looking, I agree. It is difficult to get good pics of the cockerel because he is constantly moving around the pen.

I ordered a new pressure cooker for my older cull cockerels in the bachelor pen. I ended up getting an Instant Pot 6 quart so I am looking forward to using it. I will have the big pen cleared out once the culls are butchered and can move the pair to that pen. Once I get them into a bigger pen I can hopefully get better pics.

I have thinned my Marans hens down some and I moved Sheraz, one of my original line A hens in with my Mashburn cockerel. He is on the smaller side, so he really needed to be paired with a big hen. Sheraz is my biggest hen. The Mashburn cockerel is overmelanized and Sheraz isn't my best colored girl but size, type, and correct underfluff (correcting parasitic white) are my priorities over color with that breeding.

Maximus x Queen will likely yield better tailed offspring I am hoping. Queen is my best tailed hen. Queen has parasitic white and so does Maximus so type and tailset are my priorities with that breeding.

I am also still setting Maximus and #8's eggs (I can't remember for the life of me what Chooks man suggested I name #8). My priority there is egg color and comb, #8's tail is looking higher these days but her eggs are dark and lovely. Her comb is lovely also. Even if she is a cheeky little girl.

I am also hatching all the line B (FRF) eggs I can. They don't hatch well (around 50% hatch rate lately) but their egg color is my best, even if SOP wise my line B trio are my worst.

Hopefully I can hatch a decent male or two this year like your two in your previous post.

Sorry to ramble! I like to have a sounding board for all my Marans related plans. My poor hubby doesn't understand Marans.

I like hearing your plans. I always fly by the seat of my pants. I am a terrible poultry person. You will be very successful! I know it.

 

[Red Banks]

The first pullet is just like Gabby, always talking.

 

[Red Banks]

They are yellow right now, so I'm thinking they will be orange as he matures. I do need more Redbanks birds. I hate that I only ended up with the 2. I would love to hatch some decent tailed birds this year that I can show and use as breeders. He does look small, you're right. I don't know if he just drew the genetic short straw or what. He isn't thin and we have de-wormed all the chickens. He is just a smaller bird, and probably will be late maturing like my FRF birds are. They are the same exact way.

I will send you pics of what I have. You tell me who to put with who and I will send you the eggs. Maybe we can solve the tail dilemma. I spell dilemma differently but BYC said I was wrong. Dilemna!

 

[baunlee]

haha that Gabby looks like my Gabby! shes so chatty

Looks like everyone is thinking about which roosters they want. Same here

 

[KF0002]

The pullet in the front of the first picture was twice the size of any other pullet in that hatch. As you can see she is much more mature looking than the other pullets. I have 8 pullets, 4 months. I love the pullets!View attachment 1316527 View attachment 1316528 View attachment 1316529 View attachment 1316531 View attachment 1316527 View attachment 1316528 View attachment 1316529 View attachment 1316531

So much hackle color! And I love their black color. You can just tell by looking at them how silky and soft they are! Very pretty girls.

 

[KF0002]

I will send you pics of what I have. You tell me who to put with who and I will send you the eggs. Maybe we can solve the tail dilemma. I spell dilemma differently but BYC said I was wrong. Dilemna!

I will definitely help. That sounds great!! I hope we do solve the tail dilemma because it is killing my soul! I just want to eat all these high tailed cockerels and get them out of my sight! lol

 

[Red Banks]

I will definitely help. That sounds great!! I hope we do solve the tail dilemma because it is killing my soul! I just want to eat all these high tailed cockerels and get them out of my sight! lol

Well... they have other good qualities. Can't throw the baby out with the bath water. Chooks man will be telling us to be patient.