North Carolina

[kidsbme3]

They are from a hatchery. I think we are going to keep Blondie for sure. The hen seems to prefer him anyway and Big Boy is slightly aggressive. Another no no for the BO!

 

[dutchbunny83]

This is a girl, right???
This coloring just started a few weeks ago (was solid black until then), now it's a bright irridescent blue, the photo really dulls it it's much brighter in person. I haven't seen that kind of color on a hen before, so just want to make sure I don't somehow have a rooster....
It's a blue copper Marans.
Also, shouldn't she be laying soon, she is 16 1/2 weeks?

 

[tammyfarms]

This is a girl, right???
This coloring just started a few weeks ago (was solid black until then), now it's a bright irridescent blue, the photo really dulls it it's much brighter in person. I haven't seen that kind of color on a hen before, so just want to make sure I don't somehow have a rooster....
It's a blue copper Marans.
Also, shouldn't she be laying soon, she is 16 1/2 weeks?

Dutch, Check out this site: http://www.copperhacklecoop.com/. BCM pullets shouldn't get their coppering until they are 3+ months old. I have a couple of BCM pullets that show the same beetle coloring, it is almost an irridescent color over the black feathers. I am no expert, but I would say her coloring is right on track.

As far as laying, mine are the same age and no eggs yet - although one of them was squatting when I picked her up last night which is a sign that it could be soon. Of course with the days being shorter, they might not start until Jan/Feb....

I am hoping for sooner rather than later!

 

[kidsbme3]

Ok so much for craigs list. These idiots keep thinking I'm posting pictures of hens and "cockerel" in the description means nothing to them either. Here is the link. http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/grd/4126728499.html Anywho... I have 3 6 month BO's I need to re-home. My boyfriend is asking $10 each but we can negotiate

I am just too attached to these 3 to stick in the freezer. Plus after dressing 24 others and having to get stitches the last go around. I DON"T WANT TO!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Okay thanks so much!
Ironically when she hatched I thought she was a rooster for the longest time.
I tried to GIVE it away and no one would take it. Haha I'm sure glad they didn't!
Have you tried those dummy eggs before? Last time mine just laid automatically, but I'm getting impatient thought I'd give it a try.
My Lav Orps are the same age, but I don't think they start laying until closer to 6 months.

 

[dutchbunny83]

kidsbme-- Pretty birds! I have a lavender orpington rooster I've been trying to sell forever as a pair and no takers. He's really sweet but if no one wants him before he starts crowing I would eat him haha.

 

[ramirezframing]

This is a girl, right???
This coloring just started a few weeks ago (was solid black until then), now it's a bright irridescent blue, the photo really dulls it it's much brighter in person. I haven't seen that kind of color on a hen before, so just want to make sure I don't somehow have a rooster....
It's a blue copper Marans.
Also, shouldn't she be laying soon, she is 16 1/2 weeks?

Most black birds or black feathers (tail feathers) will have a sheen to them. This sheen is normal and can vary in color. Your pullet is a black copper and not a blue as blue birds/ feathers won't have this sheen.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Okay thank you!
I bought them as blue copper marans hatching eggs off ebay and the other that hatched was clearly blue so I was assuming this was a blue one that hatched black.
When I just googled black copper marans I did find girls that look just like her.
Funny thing is I would never have ordered a black copper marans and she ended up being even prettier than the blue one was!
The eggs they hatched from were really dark so hopefully the ones she lays are too.
I don't breed or show or anything, so it doesn't really matter, I just like pretty birds to look at and pretty eggs

 

[ramirezframing]

Okay thanks so much!
Ironically when she hatched I thought she was a rooster for the longest time.
I tried to GIVE it away and no one would take it. Haha I'm sure glad they didn't!
Have you tried those dummy eggs before? Last time mine just laid automatically, but I'm getting impatient thought I'd give it a try.
My Lav Orps are the same age, but I don't think they start laying until closer to 6 months.

Fake eggs won't make a hen lay, just encourage the hen to lay where you want her to. And as a rule of thumb, the bigger the breed the longer it takes for them to mature and start laying eggs. So I wouldn't expect eggs at 4 months old from a marans or an orpington.

 

[ramirezframing]

When you breed blue to blue (even if there is a lacing or pattern) the offspring will be black, blue and splash (and if there was lacing or a pattern it will be there as well except with splash).