International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Hensndoes]

Possums are opportunistic feeders, eggs and sleeping chickens are easier food chasing rats ( something possums like never really do unless it's a dead rat they are chasing lol ) possums are beneficial like raccoons, neither belong in your chicken habitat unless you don't like your chickens . Both once a learn, and

Nothing but a bear can get at my sleeping chickens. That is why I'm losing this discussion. My man isn't one to kill anything (except a suffering chicken). We built our coop and run and every inch of the coop is lined with hardware cloth. The only part of the run not hardware is the 4 ft section of slab rock. Would need a backhoe and dump truck to dig that thing out. Cost us $4k in material to build it. Now building the second coop and it's the same.

The cat did come back last night so he is taking the possum for a walk. There is about 1K acres of forest in our back yard and he hopes it finds more hospitable habitat

 

[renk777]

Just wondering about how my boy stacks up? He's about a year old. He got a little bit of frostbite this winter so his comb isn't as defined as it was but he's healed nicely. He recently had a squabble with another roo and lost some tail feathers. ...also in desperate need of a bath...so he's a bit bedraggled in appearance and has a bit of droppings on him from a hen...that is not a tan feather in his hackles. Not free ranging at the moment so I suppose the pics could have been better when he's in his element but I think I got enough for you guys to give an opinion if it's worth it to get some marans hens and see what he sires? I have the opportunity to get some from the same breeder through a friend. ..And he is wearing a crow-reduction collar as we live in a fishbowl setting Hoping to move within the next year...can't wait to take it off! <3

 

[KF0002]

So it's not just the barn cat eating the cat food caught this on the trail cam two nights ago. Set the trap and heard it go off about 9 last night. now I'm trying to convince my man that we should just dispatch it. He is opposed as he says they eat rats and thinks this thing would be beneficial. Well the barn cat also eats rats and I haven't caught the cat on cam since this thing showed up. And it's still out there in the trap.View attachment 1318610

It will also eat your chickens. Dispatch of it or take it off far, far away! You have to do what you have to do to protect your birds.

 

[renk777]

It will also eat your chickens. Dispatch of it or take it off far, far away! You have to do what you have to do to protect your birds.

I'm all for saving animals but I agree...if an animal is after my chickens, it's done. I was able to relocate some opossum last year within the 5 mile radius stipulation that we have but I didn't feel comfortable. I know I was introducing them into an area that probably already has an established population of them and animals can be cruel to each other due to competition. Unfortunately, our property is so small that dispatching properly and humanely would have the local authorities at my house in 2 seconds flat so it was my only option. But if I lived somewhere rural, anything legal that comes after my chickens would be humanely dispatched. For the record, if I found a nest of orphaned opossums, I'd hand rear them and bring to a rehabilitator for acclimation and release that's far away. There's a balance with life...we just need to figure it out That said, I'm dying to know if my boy that I posted above it correct enough to warrant getting some marans hens to breed. No response yet....are you guys familiar with the standard? Any chance you can weigh in on his quality? Thanks so much! His name is Jasper...I adore him even if he's an awful representation of the breed. He's a great roo either way. But I'm interested in getting some purebreeds as I'm not a fan of the 2 year plan with our hybrids. And if he's a decent enough example, then I think Marans is one of the directions I'd like to go

 

[KF0002]

Just wondering about how my boy stacks up? He's about a year old. He got a little bit of frostbite this winter so his comb isn't as defined as it was but he's healed nicely. He recently had a squabble with another roo and lost some tail feathers. ...also in desperate need of a bath...so he's a bit bedraggled in appearance and has a bit of droppings on him from a hen...that is not a tan feather in his hackles. Not free ranging at the moment so I suppose the pics could have been better when he's in his element but I think I got enough for you guys to give an opinion if it's worth it to get some marans hens and see what he sires? I have the opportunity to get some from the same breeder through a friend. ..And he is wearing a crow-reduction collar as we live in a fishbowl setting Hoping to move within the next year...can't wait to take it off! <3

The first thing that jumps out at me is his breast, he lacks the breast depth he needs for proper balance (the look of balance). This throws his bottom line off. His chest is also overcolored, but mated to dark hens with little color could balance that out. He also has quite a bit of shafting on his chest, but I struggle with all these things as well in my own birds. He does have a decent topline and good tail angle, however his tail and streamers are too long.

His color is lovely! That is his best quality, I think. His color and his tail angle alone would make him a keeper if he were mine. He needs to be mated to some big chunky and wide hens with deep breasts to balance out his more narrow and lean build. His comb isn't bad. I would like to see the posterior lobe of the comb to be lifted away from the back of the head a little more. His leg feathering and leg color look good. I can't tell much about his eye color, other than that it doesn't look dark.

Marans are a general purpose bird, so they should be big heavy, meaty birds. Their breast should be nice and deep and their carcass should be wide and full. They should have a brick shape to their body.

Did he hatch from a dark egg? If he did then that is a big plus and I would select for him big wide, heavy hens to pair him with. Select hens that are dark with little color in their hackles, and shorter tails if possible. His color is good, so that is a big plus since color comes mostly from the male. Chooks man has said, as well as Brenda Little on her website that it is more important for the male's color to be correct than the hen. And it is more important for the hens type (shape, size) to be correct than the male. Finding good females that complement your male can produce more balanced chicks.

The others may chime in where I fall short in my assessment, I hope I didn't miss anything.

Correct female Marans shape

Correct male Marans shape

 

[KF0002]

@renk777 I need to mention that crossing lines of Marans may cause your egg color to suffer until you start crossing related birds back to each other. If you have the opportunity to get Marans from a breeder, it may serve you better to get a male from her line when you get a few hens (or pullets, or chicks, whatever you decide to get) that way they will all be from the same line and you won't sacrifice egg color. Egg color with Marans is all about careful inbreeding within a related family because both the mother and father must carry the same genes for dark egg color for them to double up and be passed to the offspring, therefore the mother and father must be related in some way and from the same line. There are so many genes responsible for egg color in Marans that two different lines may not share all the same genes. Breeding within an already established line would be my advice if you have that option. Best of luck to you!

 

[KF0002]

@renk777 I think you would be very happy with a flock of Marans as they are one of my favorite breeds I have ever owned. They are very social and friendly, not aggressive or flighty. If you are breeding toward the standard of perfection for show they can get very challenging and even frustrating. But if you just want to own a flock for their beautiful rich russet and chocolate brown eggs, then they are definitely money well spent. My Marans make me very happy. Collecting their beautiful eggs everyday is one of the greatest pleasures of raising chickens I have ever experienced.

 

[KF0002]

 

[renk777]

View attachment 1319012

Out prepping the tractor for some chicks but thank you so much!!! I'll try to respond later. ..hosting Easter so a lot to do today!

 

[marchick]

One little Blue Copper chick this morning but no other pips that I can see.