International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[TheBajan]

One of my four and a half week old cockerels is crowing! He sounds broken but it's so cute! (yes... I'm a total newbie)

Also, @Chooks man , so far, your "guesses" as to gender are right on target. The few that you didn't indicate, I guessed at and somehow, we both managed to be correct! I'll get more pics posted over the next week. I've been away for a few weeks visiting my mother and when I came home I was pretty stunned at how much they have grown!

 

[snowbird]

Hi I have been reading along and learning a great deal. You guys are so respectful and generous with your knowledge ..its really helpful and encouraging to a newbie.
Could I ask- what is everyone's method of grouping your flock as they are growing? Hatch mates all together? Til what ages? Do you separate pullets from cockerels? At what ages? Do you ever mix all ages together? What age do you start putting breeding pairs together?
Have to figure out who to put where, and this will help me a great deal. Fall is here!

I have a small group of BC Marans at present. I single mate everything I hatch . I have a large amount of cages set up for single mating and for the Males. I separate the Pullets and cockerels at about four months. I have some large brooder pens where the young go after they leave the initial brooder .Soon as weather permits they all go into growout lots. I myself do like to use the young Pullets until they are mature.

 

[Chooks man]

One of my four and a half week old cockerels is crowing! He sounds broken but it's so cute! (yes... I'm a total newbie)

Also, @Chooks man , so far, your "guesses" as to gender are right on target. The few that you didn't indicate, I guessed at and somehow, we both managed to be correct! I'll get more pics posted over the next week. I've been away for a few weeks visiting my mother and when I came home I was pretty stunned at how much they have grown!

that is really cute .my earliest crowing cockerel chicks was aged 11 days .crow only ones and I was lucky I was standing there . never forget him . he is long time going but still in my mind . super cute .

love to see photos .
chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

I have seen 4 mo cockerels mating pullets who are not ready to mate. that affects laying ability.

cockerels should not stay with a pullets after 4 months old . they disturb they growth pattern .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

I have a small group of BC Marans at present. I single mate everything I hatch . I have a large amount of cages set up for single mating and for the Males. I separate the Pullets and cockerels at about four months. I have some large brooder pens where the young go after they leave the initial brooder .Soon as weather permits they all go into growout lots. I myself do like to use the young Pullets until they are mature.

100% with you on no breeding from a young pullets.
I let them pass a year old before I breed them .
young pullets breeding is very dangerous practice .

chooks man

 

[RoosterML]

I need feed back on these 2 roosters.
I will put them in 2 Separate post to make it easier.
This is my oldest and also my favorite he is 6 months old, he is really good with the ladies also with the day old chicks running around.
I know before you said his comb is to big. I love his coloration.
Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[RoosterML]

This is my #2, he is younger at about 4 1/2 months old. I don’t like the blonde I see on his neck. His head/neck look alittle small compared to his body. (To be fair he still does have some time to grow) His body/chest is already the same size as #1 which is why I like him. They are from 2 different breeders.

 

[Chooks man]

I need feed back on these 2 roosters.
I will put them in 2 Separate post to make it easier.
This is my oldest and also my favorite he is 6 months old, he is really good with the ladies also with the day old chicks running around.
I know before you said his comb is to big. I love his coloration.
Thank you in advance for your help!

absolutely stunning copper . complete body pattern and uniform copper .
head is good .
eyes correct color .
comb not straight at front with extra little point ..good texture .need to be refine .
wattles ,good size but are not free from folding
body type good but a little square . his back could be a little longer .
tail is not complete .
legs well feathered but I can see some parasitic white in there .correct me If I m wrong .
apart part of his chest is over colored .should be a black tie at the front .

his copper is so special ,he could be bred just for that quality .very hard to find a correct colored BC rooster .

chooks man

 

[Chooks man]

This is my #2, he is younger at about 4 1/2 months old. I don’t like the blonde I see on his neck. His head/neck look alittle small compared to his body. (To be fair he still does have some time to grow) His body/chest is already the same size as #1 which is why I like him. They are from 2 different breeders.

first . in this photos the cockerel look older than 4 1/2 months old . his spures are well developed .I think he is more of 6 months old . or he is just from a giant blood line .

any way . he is lesser quality to the first cockerel .has more melanin { make is darker } his copper is not uniform throughout his body like the first cockerel .

chooks man

 

[RoosterML]

first . in this photos the cockerel look older than 4 1/2 months old . his spures are well developed .I think he is more of 6 months old . or he is just from a giant blood line .

any way . he is lesser quality to the first cockerel .has more melanin { make is darker } his copper is not uniform throughout his body like the first cockerel .

chooks man

No , rooster #2 his hatch date is April 17 under 5 months old. Like I said he is big compared to my #1 which is why I like him.
Rooster 1 hatch date March 3 so he is just over 6 months.

it could be a giant blood line because the hens that go with #1 are alittle smaller but much more beautiful.
Hens that go with roo#2 are much bigger but not as pretty.