International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[BlueTheBrahma]

So in simple terms, Recessive x Recessive would be pure?

And just a matter of choice whether one wants Recessive in their flock or breed it out.
Much like @Bantambird says it's just a occasional bonus but she doesn't actively breed them. A 4th bonus color if you will.

Yes to all this. Mostly just something to consider, definitely focus on the BCMs and BSMs at the moment.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Yes to all this. Mostly just something to consider, definitely focus on the BCMs and BSMs at the moment.

Absolutely, I'm really excited for this hatch tomorrow of Solo eggs. It's only 10 but there's 6 more under another broody.

 

[Bantambird]

Yep, I spot nothing that stands out, maybe @Bantambird will know of the silvers have different hatch down than coppers. All your hatch tomorrow, I assume, will be just the same little penguins we all love. You’ll see the differences when their hackles grow in.

you are correct, the silvers and the coppers do look the same at hatch. Plus, mine tend towards slow feathering, so it can take even longer before ground color shows!

 

[Bantambird]

It is true that I don't actively breed the whites, but I also don't eliminate them. I like the surprise, but I understand if it isn't for everyone. I especially loved the hen that went from black silver (birchen) to mottled, to pure white! She will always be intriguing to me. I am not sure how she did that.

 

[chickengr]

Here are the eBay photos of the (silver?) cuckoos I’ve been looking at. These aren’t the same as the pullets I’ve got coming. They are a bit blurry.

The tails are high (but English marans should have higher tails than French) but small and tidy. Eggs aren’t as good but not terrible. See the silver hackles on the boys, that’s what’s intriguing me. I also just get a sense of size from them.

these boys are light cuckoo/double barred (french sop). english cuckoo are dark/single barred.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

these boys are light cuckoo/double barred (french sop). english cuckoo are dark/single barred.

There’s a complication of terminology there: dark cuckoos are in fact double barred, they have to be to breed true. They are called dark as they are extended black underneath, the lighter ones are silver birchen underneath (and this is also an English standard variety as well as French).

I understand the confusion though as single barred birds are often called dark cuckoos.

This is at least according to the English standard and breeders here, if other standards (maybe the Oz standard chooks man described) is different, I apologise.

Edit: to clarify my confusion was more how to tell the difference between the two, when dark cuckoos can so easily be poorly bred to be too light.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

A second broody!
I think we all know what that means.
Maybe some olive eggers too…

 

[wrathsfarm]

View attachment 4093060A second broody!
I think we all know what that means.
Maybe some olive eggers too…

Yes !!!

 

[Tstraub]

View attachment 4093060A second broody!
I think we all know what that means.
Maybe some olive eggers too…

They always say you can’t convince a hen to go broody but I’m a firm believer that a broody hen absolutely can talk her friends into joining her.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

They always say you can’t convince a hen to go broody but I’m a firm believer that a broody hen absolutely can talk her friends into joining her.

I think you can easily convince some silkies. Even potatoes make appealing babies to them. But that’s silkies for ya. And yes, I think they do convince each other to time it just as they all started laying reliably.