Wing It Ranch

[BlueTheBrahma]

The blue colour when on extended black typically has a darker head (and shoulder/saddle on males). When it’s a blue copper you ideally want the copper to replace this so that the blue itself is pretty even across the board (though each feather should be laced darker). I’ve seen many blue coppers without copper, a lot of the time these are hatchery birds or even hybrids being called blue copper marans.

Mine have always grown copper in early on, at the same time as the black coppers, but my line is fully coloured so that helps a lot.

That’s all I can really say on the matter, but here are some examples of my blue coppers at various ages:

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

They'll be 12 weeks on Tuesday. I had a Blue Copper Marans pullet that died shortly after she started laying due to a a reproductive issue. She never got any copper either. Maybe you're right, just hatchery quality.

Speaking of coloring, the lighter Blue actually has darker spots. I don't know enough about chicken genetics (yet) but I'm assuming this would make sure more of a splash or something?

You can kind of see the darker spots in these photos:
View attachment 4112254
View attachment 4112255

She’s a blue, those tiny black specs on some feathers are just random, though I can’t see I’ve seen them before. A splash is much paler and has much less even colouring. I’d like to see how these grow out because either they are hatchery quality or you might have solid blue marans (which aren’t a typical variety but can technically happen).

 

[WingItRanch]

If you haven't already seen it, here's my member interview just published today:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/byc-member-interview-wingitranch.1662209/

 

[WingItRanch]

Got my new nest boxes installed and painted! Also my partner built me a strong stand for my rain water barrel. He doesn't often get involved in my chicken escapades so that was a nice help!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Got my new nest boxes installed and painted! Also my partner built me a strong stand for my rain water barrel. He doesn't often get involved in my chicken escapades so that was a nice help!
View attachment 4114586

Turned out great, well done!!

 

[WingItRanch]

Well, I'm not happy. I went out to collect eggs and the nest boxes were a complete mess. It appears the pullets broke some eggs and ate them. There was yolk and egg shell evidence. I was only able to collect 2 good eggs and 2 cracked eggs. I'm averaging 8 per day so who knows how many they ate.

Not sure what to do. I can't keep them out of the boxes because the hens still have to lay. They're finally integrated well so I don't want to remove them from the coop. I added a couple more fake eggs hoping they'll peck at those and decide they don't like it.

This weekend I'll collect eggs every hour but can't do that during the work week....

 

[thistlewick]

That is a huge bummer -- do you have any neighbors you trust to collect for you?

 

[WingItRanch]

That is a huge bummer -- do you have any neighbors you trust to collect for you?

No, unfortunately I haven't really met any neighbors. The nearby properties all have long private drives with a lot of "private property" signs.

I was worried about this happening when I noticed the pullets digging and moving eggs. Now I worry it will become a habit. I got more chickens to get more eggs and can't sell a single one from today! Ugh!

 

[ChaosMom]

No, unfortunately I haven't really met any neighbors. The nearby properties all have long private drives with a lot of "private property" signs.

I was worried about this happening when I noticed the pullets digging and moving eggs. Now I worry it will become a habit. I got more chickens to get more eggs and can't sell a single one from today! Ugh!

I’m so sorry! Considering the stakes, I think I would separate them again and try again later, which I know is completely frustrating.

 

[WingItRanch]

No cracked eggs yesterday! I think the extra fake eggs helped. It also convinced my hens to lay in the new boxes! This weekend I'll just check for eggs every couple hours. I need to catch this behavior before it turns into a habbit of egg eating.

For the first time I actually watched an egg come out of a chicken "live." It was both cool and disturbing...