International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[ihatedarkroast]

Without seeing the pics at the time, I was only offering a possibility.
@Bantambird or @BlueTheBrahma know more than I do about genetics.

What I was suggesting is a BCM that does not show white (parasitic or recessive). Then suddenly a white feather appears could be stress related and not bad genetics especially after it's 18 month molt.
Hope I worded that right.

Oh ok. I posted some pics above though if it helps. Thanks for the info.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

 

[chickengr]

So, I have this BCM rooster who is about 2 years old now. At about a year, he developed a tiny white splash at the base of a single tail feather. This white splash has spread a little up the shaft and to the base of 3-4 other tail feathers. Is this what's called parasitic white? I take it that this is undesirable? I don't have a purebred flock so I probably won't cull him if it is. He doesn't attack people, and will let you pick him up, which is more important to me. But I wanted to know if it was that. I have no idea which hatchery he came from as I got him free from Craigslist as a chick.

injury can cause white feathers as well. maybe that feather got broken in the past.

 

[chickengr]

Stress causes this? I thought maybe it was just bad genetics?

not sure. if it stays after the next molt then it is parasitic white.

 

[Bantambird]

What our Greek friend has said is very true. Damage can cause white on the feathers. If it molts out during the next fall, it was damage. If it does not, it might be parasitic white. Sometimes, those white tail feathers don't pop up until the big adulting molt at 18 months.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

I always assume it’s genetics. That might be because I don’t have too many years of experience and lots of time studying genetics. My boy has white similar to this at the base of his tail and it came back after moulting, even though he has no more white on his body (he does have a little on his leg feathers).
It’s very interesting to here h that stress and injury can cause this, I never knew. I do know that roosters can loose black pigment with age, like a person going grey. This could also be the case, but I think genetics still affects this.
If you are breeding to the SOP, it can help to occasionally use older birds, this way you avoid passing any hidden parasitic white genes down. It’s a topic I want to understand more myself.

People have offered many good suggestions, I’d recommend that you wait until he moults to make a conclusion. If it comes back similar or worse, I’d be inclined to say it’s a genetic thing.

Stress causes this? I thought maybe it was just bad genetics?

 

[wrathsfarm]

@marchick what happened to your post about your hens foot? It looks deleted?
Did you make a new thread?

 

[marchick]

@marchick what happened to your post about your hens foot? It looks deleted?
Did you make a new thread?

I prefer to ask friends not strangers. I deleted so it wouldn't plug up the tread. Sorry everyone.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I prefer to ask friends not strangers. I deleted so it wouldn't plug up the tread. Sorry everyone.

Oh my, I'm very sorry for overstepping. Was truly just trying to help.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

If I’m being honest I think we go off topic a lot anyway, that’s part of why I like this thread. Yes, it’s a BCM thread but I don’t see why we can’t occasionally discuss other topics, especially if they are for the benefit of marans. Healthy birds result in healthy flocks, which helps improve the breed in a way.
I don’t want to overstep, I don’t actually know the ins and outs of BYC’s rules, but after 2000 pages, some talking about olive eggers, some about the weather, and plenty of me going off topic about Brahmas, I don’t think anyone will be too upset by poultry medical questions (if people are happy asking them of course).

This message is supposed to be entirely positive, basically saying I’m sure everyone is happy to help. I’m not great at wording things so excuse me if it sounds different than I intend.
(If people active on the thread decide that we should be more specific to the BCM SOP than I’m happy to take this down.)