Creating bantam marans!???

[Clap p 1]

Any updates? I had this same genius idea today apparently lol. I'm sure SOMEONE has bantam marans now in 2021

My daughter wants some so I started this spring on my bantam Marans project. I used what I had but it was hilarious to watch my bantam cochin roo ride my black copper Marans hen. I expected him to grow "high o Silver, away". That didn't work out even when the hen tried to help by laying down.
So, I went the other way and put a young cockrel in with my bantam cochin hens. Between the hens and incubator we hatched 10 eggs. (I quit incubating or letting the hens sit when I got three black chick s.) Two of them have developed copper heads but are both hens. The third is three weeks old so no copper yet but defiantly a cockrel. Red comb and waddles already.
Honestly I am surprised to have gotten black copper at all.
I am also surprised the chicks are smaller than other chicks hatched at the same time. It shows I have some autosomal dwarf genes working for me not just sex linked dwarf genes. I just hope my cockrel is big enough to breed my Marans hens.
I also put my bantam cochin rooster in with some Marans pulletts, hoping he would get lucky before they were full grown. I'm still hoping but they are not laying yet and my experience with Marans is they won't lay until January. But I'm still hoping, they just turned 6 months. That would give some sex linked hens.
I'm hoping to get bantam size hens one way or the other next spring. Then comes the hard part of working on confirmation and egg color of course. I think that's mainly what my daughter want. She's jealous of my dark eggs. I'm jealous of her blue eggs from her bantam Ameraucana so it all works out.

 

[FatChicksDigMe]

My daughter wants some so I started this spring on my bantam Marans project. I used what I had but it was hilarious to watch my bantam cochin roo ride my black copper Marans hen. I expected him to grow "high o Silver, away". That didn't work out even when the hen tried to help by laying down.
So, I went the other way and put a young cockrel in with my bantam cochin hens. Between the hens and incubator we hatched 10 eggs. (I quit incubating or letting the hens sit when I got three black chick s.) Two of them have developed copper heads but are both hens. The third is three weeks old so no copper yet but defiantly a cockrel. Red comb and waddles already.
Honestly I am surprised to have gotten black copper at all.
I am also surprised the chicks are smaller than other chicks hatched at the same time. It shows I have some autosomal dwarf genes working for me not just sex linked dwarf genes. I just hope my cockrel is big enough to breed my Marans hens.
I also put my bantam cochin rooster in with some Marans pulletts, hoping he would get lucky before they were full grown. I'm still hoping but they are not laying yet and my experience with Marans is they won't lay until January. But I'm still hoping, they just turned 6 months. That would give some sex linked hens.
I'm hoping to get bantam size hens one way or the other next spring. Then comes the hard part of working on confirmation and egg color of course. I think that's mainly what my daughter want. She's jealous of my dark eggs. I'm jealous of her blue eggs from her bantam Ameraucana so it all works out.

That sounds like a wonderful plan! Yeah when I used to have my light brahma hen and silkie roo I couldn't help laughing at the poor guy when she walked off with him still on her back

 

[MountainMarans2012]

My daughter wants some so I started this spring on my bantam Marans project. I used what I had but it was hilarious to watch my bantam cochin roo ride my black copper Marans hen. I expected him to grow "high o Silver, away". That didn't work out even when the hen tried to help by laying down.
So, I went the other way and put a young cockrel in with my bantam cochin hens. Between the hens and incubator we hatched 10 eggs. (I quit incubating or letting the hens sit when I got three black chick s.) Two of them have developed copper heads but are both hens. The third is three weeks old so no copper yet but defiantly a cockrel. Red comb and waddles already.
Honestly I am surprised to have gotten black copper at all.
I am also surprised the chicks are smaller than other chicks hatched at the same time. It shows I have some autosomal dwarf genes working for me not just sex linked dwarf genes. I just hope my cockrel is big enough to breed my Marans hens.
I also put my bantam cochin rooster in with some Marans pulletts, hoping he would get lucky before they were full grown. I'm still hoping but they are not laying yet and my experience with Marans is they won't lay until January. But I'm still hoping, they just turned 6 months. That would give some sex linked hens.
I'm hoping to get bantam size hens one way or the other next spring. Then comes the hard part of working on confirmation and egg color of course. I think that's mainly what my daughter want. She's jealous of my dark eggs. I'm jealous of her blue eggs from her bantam Ameraucana so it all works out.

What Color Bantam Cochin Rooster did you first use to cross with BCM Hens?

 

[Clap p 1]

What Color Bantam Cochin Rooster did you first use to cross with BCM Hens?

I used what I had, and it didn't work, he's just too small, the girls supprised me and started laying in September so I've had lots of infertile eggs. But to answer you question, he is partridge.
now the great news. The one bcm colored too I got from bantam hen is 5 months old and amazing. Yes he has major flats but also some traits better than bcm father. I've got him in with bcm hens right now and eggs in the incubator. Half of the hens hatched will be bantam. Of course the genetic shuffle love to play with statistics so I may have to hatch 100 eggs and get 1 or none, or hatch 100 and get 100.
The f1 roo is so nice my daughter has gotten into it now and supper excited. She is such a pragmatist she has been like " oh great, mom is playing with genetics again" and just watching. But now she is all in and building new coops to help with the space needed. 2 at my place and 4 at hers.

 

[MountainMarans2012]

I used what I had, and it didn't work, he's just too small, the girls supprised me and started laying in September so I've had lots of infertile eggs. But to answer you question, he is partridge.
now the great news. The one bcm colored too I got from bantam hen is 5 months old and amazing. Yes he has major flats but also some traits better than bcm father. I've got him in with bcm hens right now and eggs in the incubator. Half of the hens hatched will be bantam. Of course the genetic shuffle love to play with statistics so I may have to hatch 100 eggs and get 1 or none, or hatch 100 and get 100.
The f1 roo is so nice my daughter has gotten into it now and supper excited. She is such a pragmatist she has been like " oh great, mom is playing with genetics again" and just watching. But now she is all in and building new coops to help with the space needed. 2 at my place and 4 at hers.

Wow that's great.
I used to have a Bantam Partridge breeding pair 7 years ago now sorry I sold them off.
I had been working on Bantam Marans then passed the torch to another gal to work on.
I sent her with with what I thought was LF Marans eggs and she hatched out a tiny black pullet.
I might have some Marans carrying dwarfism. Now looks like I'm still working with the Mini Marans.
I quess now I will continue and help a few other local gals that want them for their kids 4-H projects.

 

[Clap p 1]

Wow that's great.
I used to have a Bantam Partridge breeding pair 7 years ago now sorry I sold them off.
I had been working on Bantam Marans then passed the torch to another gal to work on.
I sent her with with what I thought was LF Marans eggs and she hatched out a tiny black pullet.
I might have some Marans carrying dwarfism. Now looks like I'm still working with the Mini Marans.
I quess now I will continue and help a few other local gals that want them for their kids 4-H projects.

Great . Maybe we can share . I didn't mention that I saved a hen that has started laying. Her eggs are a 2+ and so much darker than moms. After talking about it yesterday I took a ton of pictures and set down with the sop. As well as giving a good way to critique it gives a record of where we have come from. Now I need to get egg pictures too.

 

[MountainMarans2012]

Great . Maybe we can share . I didn't mention that I saved a hen that has started laying. Her eggs are a 2+ and so much darker than moms. After talking about it yesterday I took a ton of pictures and set down with the sop. As well as giving a good way to critique it gives a record of where we have come from. Now I need to get egg pictures too.

I'm in Central California.
Looking into purchasing a Black Serama Rooster with red Hackles.
Might be a genetic mistake since Seramas are a mix of colors genetically.
Are you on Facebook? Here's a link to a group specializing in Bantam Marans projects and LF Marans projects.
Love this group everyone is helpful. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2010057989009788/?ref=share