4 months is too young to make a judgment on whether or not he is worthy of breeding. A lot can change, they don't really mature until a year old or more. Lightly feathered toes/shanks can be worked with when used over hens with more feathering. Middle toe feathers are considered a fault only...
Why did you think they were Blue Copper Marans? Were they sold to you as that? The male looks like Black Copper to me. The hen, well I don't know what she is. From the second photo you posted, she looks like some sort of production (hatchery) red bird like a New Hampshire or red sexlink. I don't...
The problem is not the breed, but trying to integrate birds of such widely different age groups. Also, if your Marans are broody, they may see the new birds as threats. I would advise not to put young 2 month old chicks in with older birds regardless of breed as you are looking for trouble. You...
I don't know anything about that auction, but I would think, just like anything else, once something is yours, whether you purchased or won a raffle or were given a gift, you are free to do with it as you please. You do not say what breed these chicks are, but most chicks by 2 weeks of age would...
You can easily check shipping just by putting the items in your cart. Then there is a place to calculate shipping. Just don't pay for the order unless you want it. I do that all the time on websites.
Those prices do not include shipping. Of course everybody's shipping will vary depending on where you live. By the time I add in shipping (and the pads from Cutler Supply, they are not included in the box price), they cost me close to $5.50 each.
Where are you finding $2-$3 chick boxes? Please tell me! I need to order some more right now. The cheapest I have found is around $5.50, that includes the pad for the bottom, from Cutler Supply. They are the 25-chick boxes. Maybe they are cheaper if you buy a huge quantity. I've only been buying...
6 months is more for culling for type. You can cull for other things earlier, like excessive breast color, comb sprigs, no foot feathers, wry tail, hump back; there are a whole list of faults that can show up earlier.
Frequently the coppers will not have the copper on their necks. They would still genetically be blue or black copper, however. The copper hackles come from breeding selection. Not sure how much of that the hatcheries do. I've also read that hatchery Marans will not lay as dark as from a breeder...
Now you have me curious. Not that I'd order from a hatchery, just wanted to see what it says. Under the breed description, it states "Please note: The color blue in all poultry does not breed true!" So they could send black or splash or if you are lucky, blue!
Your last question has been answered many, many times but I realize it is hard to read back with so many posts!
Blue birds do not breed true to color. When breeding blue to blue, you will get 3 colors: blue, black, and splash. The blue gene dilutes black to blue. Two blue genes (homozygous blue)...
I can see the comb on the hen better now. It is funky, but not a pea comb. They look blue copper to me. If you hatch chicks from them, you should get blue, black and splash. If you get anything else, you'll know there is a mix of something else in their background.
From the photo, they both look like they have pea comb, not a straight single comb like a Marans should have. They are mixed breed birds, not pure Marans of any color.
Not only are people making new colors when the established varieties in the SOP are so in need of work still, but they don't know enough about the breed to even spell it right.
My rant for the day