Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[snowbird]

Quote: Wayne, The only time I have used the males with copper breast is when the females are overmelanized. If I have good colored females I will only use a male that has solid Black breast. If I were keeping BC males with the intention of showing down the road would only work with solid black breast. We all know that breeder fowl and show fowl are two different things. That is the reason any of these parti colored birds are so hard to raise a good colored show bird. We will always have a lot of culls in trying to raise a bird good enough to show.
If using the copper colored breast in a male I would not go avove 15-20 %
I would never use a female with any copper at all in the breast.

 

[OkieQueenBee]

Ok, here are some pictures of the BCM cockerel that we are questioning where this goldish hackle color came from. Not one to keep we are sure, but if his parents are true BCMs can this be an okay color variation?

All comments are appreciated.

 

[Broad St Farm]

Wayne, The only time I have used the males with copper breast is when the females are overmelanized. If I have good colored females I will only use a male that has solid Black breast. If I were keeping BC males with the intention of showing down the road would only work with solid black breast. We all know that breeder fowl and show fowl are two different things. That is the reason any of these parti colored birds are so hard to raise a good colored show bird. We will always have a lot of culls in trying to raise a bird good enough to show.
If using the copper colored breast in a male I would not go avove 15-20 %
I would never use a female with any copper at all in the breast.

Ok, for the life of me can't find the old posts from a long time ago. When I was starting it was recommended using copper chested males to use to add color to females. Then someone posted an alternative to using copper in the breast as males should be solid black per sop (which I agree). The alternative was using a male that has solid black but has the wide black stripe in the lower hackles or flames as some people called them. One of these days I will find the conversation.

 

[DMRippy]

I used a cock with copper on the breast and didn't see better colored pullets. I did get better color pullets with my blue copper cocks with light hackles. got some really nice color from those brothers from pink chick. would have loved to see what would have happen if breed back to sire or his brother. sadly they both died within months of each other. I did get some dark egg layers though.

I think people need to experiment and see what work with their birds. that can be the fun part of chickens.

the wait kinda sucks.....

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Wayne, Most likely I was the one that suggested using the BC male with the wide hackle Flame. The good colored BC Male will usually have a nice wide Flame. The Mahogany colored BC Male will have a real narrow Flame. In the past I have used the Mahogany males here at my place.
I believe that different lines have to be mated up different to reach our goals. If we are working with BC that have Wheaten bred into them it is a different ball game all together.

I suggest that we all do a lot of single mating and mark all the chicks and Band.

 

[snowbird]

Ok, here are some pictures of the BCM cockerel that we are questioning where this goldish hackle color came from. Not one to keep we are sure, but if his parents are true BCMs can this be an okay color variation?



All comments are appreciated.

I fail to see anything wrong type wise, he has plenty of shank and feet feathering.comb looks ok also.

Wayne or Vicki can comment on the Color better than myself.

 

[OkieQueenBee]

Here is a pic of a 7 week old BCM chick. Went out this evening to check on them and found it sitting on its feet with its head on the ground. Picked it up and it's neck just hung limp. We have had this before and none have died, just would like an idea of why this is happening.

 

[TulsaChick]

Here is a pic of a 7 week old BCM chick. Went out this evening to check on them and found it sitting on its feet with its head on the ground. Picked it up and it's neck just hung limp. We have had this before and none have died, just would like an idea of why this is happening.

I'm new at chickens - but my chicks left the warm house at 7 wks. Are they warm enough at such a young age?

 

[Zanna]

Ok, here are some pictures of the BCM cockerel that we are questioning where this goldish hackle color came from. Not one to keep we are sure, but if his parents are true BCMs can this be an okay color variation?



All comments are appreciated.

I have 2 young cockerals from one of this years test matings that also have this lighter colouring. They may be culls for other reasons but also interested in others experience if they have done any breedings with this colour and the results.

 

[OkieQueenBee]

I'm new at chickens - but my chicks left the warm house at 7 wks. Are they warm enough at such a young age?

These chicks are still in a brooder with a heat lamp and probably will be for the rest of the week. I have been unplugging the lamp during the day for the last week to help them get acclimated.