Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ChicagoClucker]

Oh man..seeing these photos, tells me that I more than likely have two boys out there. They are only a few weeks old. One is a beautiful splash! Well, I just hatched three more, will see if I get a girl.

Good Luck on your hatch and post some pics!

 

[forgetful]

The black one has color coming in on his wings and neck, so I am sticking to cockerel. He was very small at hatch compared to the blue, so maybe he is just late developer, but he is catching up.

In my last batch of black copper there was one that developed at a much slower rate than the rest, had a high percentage of white (most of my flock has one or two white primaries that I am trying to eradicate), and was overall smaller and less thrifty than the rest. He turned out to be a cockerel, and it was clear from about 4 weeks that he would be dinner no matter his gender. Your black copper's comb shows slightly more fleshiness than the blue copper pullet's, so if it is a cockerel it may not be your best choice to breed with. I'm trying to get ahold of some recent photos of my chicks since I'm not home, so that I could show you a comparison in comb and wattle maturity.

 

[Cynthia12]

Good Luck on your hatch and post some pics!

I think I will of my older ones..not that old, but will in about a week, to see if those combs are looking like boy or girl to you all. I got the eggs that I won during the Easter Hatch A Long from Michaelf. His eggs win in shows, there were beautiful!
Will post photos of the ones hatching, two blues are fluffing up, one is still a sleepy head, looks black. Got these eggs from someone here in the state.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I think I will of my older ones..not that old, but will in about a week, to see if those combs are looking like boy or girl to you all. I got the eggs that I won during the Easter Hatch A Long from Michaelf. His eggs win in shows, there were beautiful!
Will post photos of the ones hatching, two blues are fluffing up, one is still a sleepy head, looks black. Got these eggs from someone here in the state.

Congrats, and I love hatch time! Can't wait to see them.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

In my last batch of black copper there was one that developed at a much slower rate than the rest, had a high percentage of white (most of my flock has one or two white primaries that I am trying to eradicate), and was overall smaller and less thrifty than the rest. He turned out to be a cockerel, and it was clear from about 4 weeks that he would be dinner no matter his gender. Your black copper's comb shows slightly more fleshiness than the blue copper pullet's, so if it is a cockerel it may not be your best choice to breed with. I'm trying to get ahold of some recent photos of my chicks since I'm not home, so that I could show you a comparison in comb and wattle maturity.

I hatched out some BCMs before these, maybe you remember them. I purchased the eggs from a small breeding farm and 2 cockerels hatched. They both had side sprigs, I didn't even know what they were, but when I posted photos on this thread, someone noticed right away. I was grateful. But, I was so disappointed. They developed so fast compared to my current BBM. Here is their photo at a 1 month old, so I do understand when you are talking about comb and wattle development.

 

[forgetful]

Dang, sprigs are so disappointing. They can ruin otherwise wonderful birds. I'd like to see an update in a few weeks to see what the little chick turns out to be.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Dang, sprigs are so disappointing. They can ruin otherwise wonderful birds. I'd like to see an update in a few weeks to see what the little chick turns out to be.

Most definitely!

 

[Cynthia12]

I hatched out some BCMs before these, maybe you remember them. I purchased the eggs from a small breeding farm and 2 cockerels hatched. They both had side sprigs, I didn't even know what they were, but when I posted photos on this thread, someone noticed right away. I was grateful. But, I was so disappointed. They developed so fast compared to my current BBM. Here is their photo at a 1 month old, so I do understand when you are talking about comb and wattle development.

These are a month old? Wow, maybe my two out there aren't boys. They hatched the first part of this month. So close to a month. I hope a week won't make a huge difference..like a huge growth above their noggins.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

These are a month old? Wow, maybe my two out there aren't boys. They hatched the first part of this month. So close to a month. I hope a week won't make a huge difference..like a huge growth above their noggins.

LOL,I don't think they can grow that fast. I remember hoping the one that didn't develop his wattles yet was a pullet, he was a bit smaller than the other also. But the combs said it all. It was like they were on steroids, but it was actually organic feed. So I can see why everyone is saying they see 2 pullets on my BBMs. If I am wrong, I end up with 2 pullets, not so bad. But, Bhep had an auction on Lav Ams and BBMs and I really wanted a Lav Am and since it was a mix and match, I took a couple of BBMs too. So they are going in the incubator. Another shot at a cockerel, if my black boy turns out to be a pullet and perhaps a better breeder(taking advice from all of you) for my Olive eggers. I can't wait to hear what you have, hens I hope!

 

[Forevermore5413]

Black birds hatching out of a blue copper mating are NOT black copper Marans.  They are blue-bred blacks and are not for a BCM breeding program, but fine to use in a blue copper pen.  What color birds what your blue copper mated to?

A blue copper hen and you can't get black coppers? I guess someone lied to me.