International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[kcrandall]

Ah! Thanks! First time with any blues and Maran, so I thought the color was so different! Good to know it is a range and more about them. Next step:determine M/F!

@Acre4Me,

You SplashCM is definitely a Cockerel. Males combs and wattles are more pronounced than a Pullets when they’re young. As for the BLCM I’m leaning Cockerel based on the alert posture in pic #1 and the lighter colored comb in Pic #2.

Take Care,
Keith

 

[chickengr]

yes I have seen it .it is actually one of my favourite shade of splash . some are more greyish than others

chooks man

Hello @Acre4Me,

First, the blue coloring does not breed true. Blue is simply a dilution of black and can range from very dark to very light and all shades in between depending on how your breeding pens are setup. Breeders who prefer a darker blue will typically breed a BCM Cock to a BLCM Hen. This pairing will produce 50% BCM and 50% BLCM with the majority of the BLCMs being a darker blue. A BLCM Cock and BLCM Hen will produce 50% BLCM, 25% BCM and 25% SplashCM with the BLCM typically being a medium to lighter shade of blue.

Now for your chicks, the darker one is a BLCM with a nice dark blue (my preference) and the lighter one is actually a SplashCM with a faint blue tint. Blue Black Splash (BBS) Marans that hatch with predominantly yellow hatch down are Splash.

Best,
Keith

I thought the lighter one was splash but I didn't dare to say it loudly, lol.

 

[chickengr]

Ah! Thanks! First time with any blues and Maran, so I thought the color was so different! Good to know it is a range and more about them. Next step:determine M/F!

I agree with keith, they look like cockerels.

 

[BenTN]

Hello @Acre4Me,

First, the blue coloring does not breed true. Blue is simply a dilution of black and can range from very dark to very light and all shades in between depending on how your breeding pens are setup. Breeders who prefer a darker blue will typically breed a BCM Cock to a BLCM Hen. This pairing will produce 50% BCM and 50% BLCM with the majority of the BLCMs being a darker blue. A BLCM Cock and BLCM Hen will produce 50% BLCM, 25% BCM and 25% SplashCM with the BLCM typically being a medium to lighter shade of blue.

Now for your chicks, the darker one is a BLCM with a nice dark blue (my preference) and the lighter one is actually a SplashCM with a faint blue tint. Blue Black Splash (BBS) Marans that hatch with predominantly yellow hatch down are Splash.

Best,
Keith

Does this blue work like the laced birds where a black over a splash will produce 100% blue?

 

[Acre4Me]

@Acre4Me,

You SplashCM is definitely a Cockerel. Males combs and wattles are more pronounced than a Pullets when they’re young. As for the BLCM I’m leaning Cockerel based on the alert posture in pic #1 and the lighter colored comb in Pic #2.

Take Care,
Keith

Thank you! I figured at least one was a male. These were straight run, so always possible to get 2 males. I’ll likely sell them as we got 25 straight run chicks (10 breeds) and surely have more males in the batch. Of course, the tween wanted some blue birds, and the only other blues we got were Ameraucana, and tween may want to keep one of these.

 

[Chooks man]

Does this blue work like the laced birds where a black over a splash will produce 100% blue?

yes . black over splash will produce 100% blue.

chooks man

 

[marchick]

I had 7 White Marans hatch, 3 Blue Copper, 2 Black Copper and 1 Splash Copper Marans. Not a good hatch.

 

[Bantambird]

so I'm focusing on this blue boy for our possible fair entry this year, and here's a bunch of other brothers and sisters too, along with how those recessive whites are turning out! The white cockerels are finally being allowed to grow some saddle feathers, and their tails are slow feathering.

 

[Magnolia Hill]

View attachment 1799938 View attachment 1799939 View attachment 1799940 View attachment 1799942 View attachment 1799946 so I'm focusing on this blue boy for our possible fair entry this year, and here's a bunch of other brothers and sisters too, along with how those recessive whites are turning out! The white cockerels are finally being allowed to grow some saddle feathers, and their tails are slow feathering.

Thise are some nice silvers you have there!!

 

[Chooks man]

View attachment 1799938 View attachment 1799939 View attachment 1799940 View attachment 1799942 View attachment 1799946 so I'm focusing on this blue boy for our possible fair entry this year, and here's a bunch of other brothers and sisters too, along with how those recessive whites are turning out! The white cockerels are finally being allowed to grow some saddle feathers, and their tails are slow feathering.

healthy number of cockerels to select from . I m impressed .
the best one are not a blue Birchen ,too tall and leggy .
the best 2 cockerels are =

the first best one .is a cockerel far back between the 2 white pullets . great body type .great deep chest .and the most important thing he has a complete shoulder colour .

the 2 best is a cockerel in the front next to a white pullet. good body type , deep chest and a lot of silver on his shoulder .

I have been telling you guy the shoulder colouring is very very important .

chooks man