International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[KF0002]

Couldn’t get pics cause I left my third hand at work but, I believe he does have a split wing on his right side. His left wing had what looked like a emerging feather (apex or whatever they are called). Could he just be in his first partial molt? I don’t think he is going thru a full molt, he is only 8 mo old.

At around 6 months of age or so a bird should have shed their juvenile feathers and grown their mature feathers in. Those feathers stay until their annual molt which occurs at around 12 to 18 months old. I thought maybe the same thing was going on in my SW cockerel, that maybe he was still shedding juvenile feathers and growing in his new ones. So I waited and waited for the wings to right themselves and they never did. I noticed that his wings weren't right very early on, but thought he might outgrow it. I had never encountered split wing before but the moment I researched it, I knew that was what was wrong with my cockerel's wings. Your bird is highly suspicious for split wing, but you can wait it out a while and keep a check on it. Split wing makes the wing itself weaker and the bird doesn't hold the wing together right.

 

[marchick]

I will do my best to keep him happy. He will spend time with the bcm girls, then a few months with the legbar girls.

I am in the process of building a few bachelor pads for the off season. I have usually kept my pens “intact” but notice the hens seem stressed and tired. Maybe some time away will make their little hearts grow fonder haha.

Do y’all do anything special for single birds in the cold? Or just the standard keep the wind off of them?

We get real cold sometimes below 0 degrees. I put heat lights in this year. I am hoping to save my roosters from losing the tips of their combs. It probably won't help but have to try something. All my roosters last year got frostbite.

 

[Chooks man]

Yes that is correct.

OK than you make sure not to lose Maximus sire line .because does carry a proper copper pattern , Prince only carries one coppy of that gene Z from his sire ,the other Z is from Queens ,we can tell Z is lucking the quantity of copper but does have good quality

you don t want to end up with just one type of Z chromozome in your flock .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

View attachment 1963957 View attachment 1963951 View attachment 1963953
@Chooks man
What do you think of kfelton’s big boy over my two pullets? This would bring in new blood(not half sibling) and start to rectify combs.

Pics of my birds. High tailed hen in rear of pic 1 turned into owl/hawk food Monday. Only have the two pullets left. More netting is on order, ugh.

think is great idea .will do fine with your line .will be great help too .
chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

View attachment 1963955

Pic of kfelton’s big guy. She says he is a bit narrow.

he has what you need .long flat back .
nice lovely correct tail
great comb
good body type .
has enough colour to add to his pullets progeny .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

On closer viewing of big boy, he isnt as narrow appearing as he once was. The pecking order has shifted in the birds free ranging and he now finds himself feeling more macho I think. He appears to be holding himself "larger" today if that makes any sense at all. Also he has white in his foot feathers, white under fluff under his hackle and 2 tiny white spots of white in his plumage (on in the hackle, and a spot in one of his left wing coverts). I just want to be completely transparent on his qualities and flaws.

Here is some pics of his back and rear view, as well as his feet.

View attachment 1964106 View attachment 1964107 View attachment 1964108

@kfelton0002
your cockerel is not narrow from rear . well spaced miduim size legs ,well feathers .,wide and developped abdomen , nice Pyramid shape tail .viewed from rear .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

We get real cold sometimes below 0 degrees. I put heat lights in this year. I am hoping to save my roosters from losing the tips of their combs. It probably won't help but have to try something. All my roosters last year got frostbite.

lucky I don t have to deal with a cold .but I m dealing with a heat /bush fire /hot wind and smoke .
the chooks are fine .lost one CLB hens .and one Marneck chick . all good

chooks man

 

[KF0002]

@kfelton0002
your cockerel is not narrow from rear . well spaced miduim size legs ,well feathers .,wide and developped abdomen , nice Pyramid shape tail .viewed from rear .

chooks man

He was narrow looking up until yestersay I swear it. He held his feathers tighter and ran from the other males free ranging before. His tail almost looked pinched together just the other day. I was surprised to see how different he looked in just a few days time. Lol

 

[Chooks man]

I will do my best to keep him happy. He will spend time with the bcm girls, then a few months with the legbar girls.

I am in the process of building a few bachelor pads for the off season. I have usually kept my pens “intact” but notice the hens seem stressed and tired. Maybe some time away will make their little hearts grow fonder haha.

Do y’all do anything special for single birds in the cold? Or just the standard keep the wind off of them?

if you want your breeders chooks Hens/rooster to live longer keep them separated after thr breeding season .
mine they been with a cockerels/rooster for 3 months of this breeding season .now they are separated for 9 months .
I keep my resting roosters on wheat 11/12% protein .so they don t get fat and heavy .

chooks man

 

[KF0002]

OK than you make sure not to lose Maximus sire line .because does carry a proper copper pattern , Prince only carries one coppy of that gene Z from his sire ,the other Z is from Queens ,we can tell Z is lucking the quantity of copper but does have good quality

you don t want to end up with just one type of Z chromozome in your flock .

chooks man

That is fascinating! I have Prince penned very securely. Unless he keels over from natural causes he isnt going anywhere.