International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[BlueTheBrahma]

Good morning beautiful chicken tenders! Question.. I am getting ready to hatch HB Marans' FBCMs and I would like to vent sex them. I have heard (mainly just from Cackle's website) that they can be difficult to sex, but I can't find why. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to this for BCMs? I can't see anywhere where they are different to any other vent for sexing. Also, I am attempting to choose the pick of the litter, so to speak. Anything specific I should look out for when doing so? I will be keeping all of the chicks for at least the first week and then they are going to new homes after that, so I will be able to see if anything off putting develops, but I don't expect there to be much due to the careful breeding from Holly's stock. I will be keeping just one pullet that I am hoping to get as close to SOP as possible. Thank you! Pics of her flock and eggs for your viewing pleasure. <3

It looks like you’re getting some excellent stock (maybe I mean eggcellent), I wish you luck.

I assume it means they are difficult to feather sex, as the differences in feathers is only clear at around 5-10 weeks depending on the strain. There is no reason why the internal anatomy is any different compared to any standard largefowl. I don’t do vent sexing, so I don’t have any first hand knowledge, but there is no reason I can think from a genetic point of view why it would be any different.

Feel free to keep us updated!

Hope this helps, and again, good luck.

 

[MayBerg]

What is

Good morning beautiful chicken tenders! Question.. I am getting ready to hatch HB Marans' FBCMs and I would like to vent sex them. I have heard (mainly just from Cackle's website) that they can be difficult to sex, but I can't find why. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to this for BCMs? I can't see anywhere where they are different to any other vent for sexing. Also, I am attempting to choose the pick of the litter, so to speak. Anything specific I should look out for when doing so? I will be keeping all of the chicks for at least the first week and then they are going to new homes after that, so I will be able to see if anything off putting develops, but I don't expect there to be much due to the careful breeding from Holly's stock. I will be keeping just one pullet that I am hoping to get as close to SOP as possible. Thank you! Pics of her flock and eggs for your viewing pleasure.

Good morning beautiful chicken tenders! Question.. I am getting ready to hatch HB Marans' FBCMs and I would like to vent sex them. I have heard (mainly just from Cackle's website) that they can be difficult to sex, but I can't find why. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to this for BCMs? I can't see anywhere where they are different to any other vent for sexing. Also, I am attempting to choose the pick of the litter, so to speak. Anything specific I should look out for when doing so? I will be keeping all of the chicks for at least the first week and then they are going to new homes after that, so I will be able to see if anything off putting develops, but I don't expect there to be much due to the careful breeding from Holly's stock. I will be keeping just one pullet that I am hoping to get as close to SOP as possible. Thank you! Pics of her flock and eggs for your viewing pleasure. <3

I don't know Who or what HB is, but those are some stunning eggs. Congratulations !

 

[4xhennifer]

It looks like you’re getting some excellent stock (maybe I mean eggcellent), I wish you luck.

I assume it means they are difficult to feather sex, as the differences in feathers is only clear at around 5-10 weeks depending on the strain. There is no reason why the internal anatomy is any different compared to any standard largefowl. I don’t do vent sexing, so I don’t have any first hand knowledge, but there is no reason I can think from a genetic point of view why it would be any different.

Feel free to keep us updated!

Hope this helps, and again, good luck.

Thank you! I will be vent-sexing and was very confused by Cackle's disclaimer. Maybe they're just really shy

 

[TexasBlues]

Good morning beautiful chicken tenders! Question.. I am getting ready to hatch HB Marans' FBCMs and I would like to vent sex them. I have heard (mainly just from Cackle's website) that they can be difficult to sex, but I can't find why. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to this for BCMs? I can't see anywhere where they are different to any other vent for sexing. Also, I am attempting to choose the pick of the litter, so to speak. Anything specific I should look out for when doing so? I will be keeping all of the chicks for at least the first week and then they are going to new homes after that, so I will be able to see if anything off putting develops, but I don't expect there to be much due to the careful breeding from Holly's stock. I will be keeping just one pullet that I am hoping to get as close to SOP as possible. Thank you! Pics of her flock and eggs for your viewing pleasure. <3

Are you planning on making your selections in the first week? Is that correct?

 

[4xhennifer]

Are you planning on making your selections in the first week? Is that correct?

That’s correct. I wanted the new owners to have a chance to bond with their littles as soon as possible so I thought a week would be fair.

 

[TexasBlues]

I don’t how much can be differentiated at 1 week besides any obvious health or color defects.
Maybe separate the chicks from the darkest of eggs and keep those.

 

[4xhennifer]

I don’t how much can be differentiated at 1 week besides any obvious health or color defects.
Maybe separate the chicks from the darkest of eggs and keep those.

Yes, that was definitely the plan.. but hopefully I won't lose track of them in the incubator lol.

 

[NanaK]

Thank you! I will be vent-sexing and was very confused by Cackle's disclaimer. Maybe they're just really shy

I have read Marans are more difficult to vent sex than most other breeds.

Hatcheries usually offer 90% accuracy on most breeds of chicks. I have noticed some only offer 80-85% accuracy on Marans. So it must be difficult for even professional vent sexers.

I have also read it is very easy to injure a chick if vent sexing is not done properly. So be very careful.

If you could keep them until 3-4 weeks you would have a much better chance at visually sexing them and getting a hen for yourself.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Yes, that was definitely the plan.. but hopefully I won't lose track of them in the incubator lol.

Those are lovely eggs.

I use hatching bags to separate.

 

[4xhennifer]

I have read Marans are more difficult to vent sex than most other breeds.

Hatcheries usually offer 90% accuracy on most breeds of chicks. I have noticed some only offer 80-85% accuracy on Marans. So it must be difficult for even professional vent sexers.

I have also read it is very easy to injure a chick if vent sexing is not done properly. So be very careful.

If you could keep them until 3-4 weeks you would have a much better chance at visually sexing them and getting a hen for yourself.

I spoke to a few breeders about this and they said they don't know where that is coming from. They are no different than any other vent. Maybe it is outdated info and they just kept it up on the site? I'm not sure. I did call and they said they do not have any more information on this.

I have a few folks that are happy to have me keep them until they are feathered and started so I think I will definitely try to keep as many as I can to let those combs develop as another fail-safe, because I am definitely nervous about vent sexing and if I feel even the slightest hesitation that I am causing injury, I am not going to continue.