Raising Black Copper Marans for hatching chicks

[oregonkat]

I was thinking... I have a jersey Giant roo, an was wondering if it would be easier to breed with jersey giant hens?? I was going to show them in the fair though...
Thoughts??

I know nothing about Jersey Giants, but again if you are going to show them all the same rules apply. If your rooster meets all the criteria for an SOP Jersey Giant and you can handle him, then go for it! I had a great time at the last poultry show here, watching the kids with their fowl! Small little kids with these enormous roosters under their arms, so fun!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I wasn't going to show them... I was just going to raise them to sell.

I don't show mine either... I just figure if you're going to invest the effort to any specific breed better to do the breed justice instead of a disservice. If you're gonna do something, do it well... otherwise their are tons of $3 sexed chicks from certified disease free places all the time. My local feed store NEVER has FBCM... the only thing they ever get in is cuckoo, which to me are not on the same playing field.

Many people will buy them just for their egg color and to lay in their flock. These are who I sell my yearly grow out (culls) to. They don't care about a little "mossy" color on some feathers. Since hatch-ability fades with age of the hen I replace my oldest ladies or anyone showing undesirable characteristics like excessive brooding or other selecting in each generation ALWAYS for improvement of something. But others will want to buy for breeding and furthering the breed in it's GOOD genetic diversity because they are really excited about the breed and feeding their family but also meeting the SOP. The time and effort that goes into certain birds really shows. To me in a lot of cases, you get what you pay for.... How much are you thinking of selling your birds for? What is the high price you are looking for? Will YOUR market support it?

I discovered... rare is irrelevant... very few buyers for my Swedish Flower. But popular counts big time and Silkies sell all day long! Marans are popular enough to support some sells... so it depends on what your goals are.... The black copper is beautiful with it's beetle green sheen. Blue or Splash seem the easiest to get right and are still gorgeous!

Jersey Giants... gonna be too heavy on my feed bill, grow to slow for eating, lay later than others since they are still growing... Pretty birds, not super sell-able in my market... defeats the purpose UNLESS it's a breed YOU love. Solid black is easier to breed (quality) than copper, to ME.

It's convenient that have a JG roo, If he is a mature and great rooster maybe it will good to work with him... Are his shanks and eyes the correct color?

My true suggestion.... do what you love! But genetics and nutrition are important, make it part of the fun.

So to answer your question... yes, there is a lot you need to know, but it can be an adventure.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

one of my BCM pullets on the top. Pretty good olive color, no? Why would crossing a blue egg layer and a Marans not deliver an olive egger

That is pretty good olive for gen 1.

I wonder if it changes whether the blue egg gene comes from the mum or the dad.

When I sell generation one crosses, I cannot guarantee egg color. Maybe that will change with experience or time.

 

[oregonkat]

That is pretty good olive for gen 1.

I wonder if it changes whether the blue egg gene comes from the mum or the dad.

When I sell generation one crosses, I cannot guarantee egg color. Maybe that will change with experience or time.

Do you ever keep any of your gen. one crosses? Have you found that a blue/brown egg or vice versa produces anything other than a green, be it pale or on the more olive side? This is very interesting to me as olive, avocado, sage green eggs are something that I am pursuing in my own silly way.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Do you ever keep any of your gen. one crosses? Have you found that a blue/brown egg or vice versa produces anything other than a green, be it pale or on the more olive side? This is very interesting to me as olive, avocado, sage green eggs are something that I am pursuing in my own silly way.

No I haven't... but I have gotten pics back because I always request to know and to be honest the only one I did so far was an EE, so that SURELY has heavy impact on my outcome...

Have to check it out with my true AM LF once mature enough again... Going for bantam OE with my Silkies cross bantam Am's, maybe in the next season.

Also, I did get a female gen 1 AM cross FBCM and her egg was darker than of my other FBCM! But her comb gave her away!