International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[wrathsfarm]

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About the clean legs: they show up occasionally. I tend to select for the light feathering, and don't keep anything with heavy feathering. This means I get occasional clean legs. It's like walking a tightrope. Marans have the feathers only on the outside of the leg, and outside toe, avoid full feathered legs, no vulture jocks, middle toe feathering is frowned on, so sometimes you veer too light.
Jack turned out to be a chunky lug and I love him. One Eyed Jack.

Wow...he IS massive. How old is he?

Thank you for the info. More curious than concern. Leg feathering seems easy to breed, I'm more focused on getting type/mass into the BCMs but I seem to be good with leg feathering where it's suppose to be. But I tend to like the light feathering myself more than heavy, also.

I remember posting pics quite awhile ago of a hen that I thought had too much feathering and @chickengr corrected me that it wasn't too heavy.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I did end up with some super nice blue color in my pullets this year. You can see them peeking around Jack.

I so read this as...

"I'm going to end up with some super nice blue color in my pullets next year. You can see them peeking around Poppy !!"

 

[Bantambird]

Wow...he IS massive. How old is he?

Thank you for the info. More curious than concern. Leg feathering seems easy to breed, I'm more focused on getting type/mass into the BCMs but I seem to be good with leg feathering where it's suppose to be. But I tend to like the light feathering myself more than heavy, also.

I remember posting pics quite awhile ago of a hen that I thought had too much feathering and @chickengr corrected me that it wasn't too heavy.

He is a spring cockerel, probably from one of the first hatches in February. I just separated out the pens tonight, and turned on the lights so hopefully I will start getting eggs in about 2 weeks.

 

[wrathsfarm]

He is a spring cockerel, probably from one of the first hatches in February. I just separated out the pens tonight, and turned on the lights so hopefully I will start getting eggs in about 2 weeks.

Could you explain your process a little more and the reasoning for your hatches starting in January?
Are you selling chicks that early or is it more towards earlier POL and cockerels?

I've been thinking I want to start early also, I haven't sold any chicks yet and only sold 1 dozen of hatching eggs this year. The money I made was in my POL's and mainly selling the boys around 20 weeks.
So starting earlier makes sense if I can manage it.

 

[Bantambird]

Could you explain your process a little more and the reasoning for your hatches starting in January?
Are you selling chicks that early or is it more towards earlier POL and cockerels?

I've been thinking I want to start early also, I haven't sold any chicks yet and only sold 1 dozen of hatching eggs this year. The money I made was in my POL's and mainly selling the boys around 20 weeks.
So starting earlier makes sense if I can manage it.

I start early because the fair is in August so my daughter can have a chicken to show. Even so, marans are still too small to show well as pullets and cockerels at an August fair. I get calls for birds peaking in February/March. People tend to want the chicks when it's still cold out so when weather finally starts warming up ( last frost date here averages mid May) the chicks can transition outdoors coinciding with decent temps.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Not all males will show silver?

I'll try to get pics of her soon.

They will be half silver, but there is no reason why you couldn’t keep one to breed coppers if the type was good.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

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About the clean legs: they show up occasionally. I tend to select for the light feathering, and don't keep anything with heavy feathering. This means I get occasional clean legs. It's like walking a tightrope. Marans have the feathers only on the outside of the leg, and outside toe, avoid full feathered legs, no vulture jocks, middle toe feathering is frowned on, so sometimes you veer too light.
Jack turned out to be a chunky lug and I love him. One Eyed Jack.

Classic white rooster. I generally think white roosters have two classic looks: the white leghorn and the white marans (or similar).

I never used to be a fan of white chickens, that why I have mainly coloured varieties, but these white marans people have been posting are convincing me.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Classic white rooster. I generally think white roosters have two classic looks: the white leghorn and the white marans (or similar).

I never used to be a fan of white chickens, that why I have mainly coloured varieties, but these white marans people have been posting are convincing me.

Same, never been a fan of white or even Splash. But now that I've got him and found out I can actually use him I like him.

When I had the chance to get splash chicks I was all..."Ok, cool" neat bonus with Blues also. I didn't hatch either so now I'm on this quest to really have them now....

I'm finger crossing Poppy is hiding blue so I get 50/50 from Solo.. that would be neat.

 

[wrathsfarm]

They will be half silver, but there is no reason why you couldn’t keep one to breed coppers if the type was good.

Could you explain further on this?
So Poppy x BCM....we don't know if he's hiding Black or Blue.

Will just his daughters show Silver leakage or both?

And then what?
Just keep back crossing BCM x BCM til Silver is gone?
Any idea how long this takes?
Let's say I do eliminate the Silver in a certain hatch, (they all hatch Pure, males and females. Is it possible for the Silver to still pop up in later progeny? Like its recessive?

Edit...oops, one more. What about if he's hiding blue also or would that just throw 50/50 blue black into it?

And what about the recessive white, where would that play into all of this?

Sorry for so many questions.

 

[chickengr]

Classic white rooster. I generally think white roosters have two classic looks: the white leghorn and the white marans (or similar).

I never used to be a fan of white chickens, that why I have mainly coloured varieties, but these white marans people have been posting are convincing me.

in my place white chickens would be a lunch invitation for hawks, eagles, etc.