Back in the 70s I think 77 we had a 3 yr old black Copper Marans that hatched out a big clutch of eggs. she went back under the barn way back where you could not get to the eggs. When she was out during the day and some of the other chickens laid a few eggs in her nest as she had a little variety, and was a good mom. We did not know til she hatched the eggs about the nest we thought something got her. It was a pleasant surprise I was in grade school at the time, but recently I got back into chickens and incubated copper marans eggs I got from a friend, really love their look.
I have one rule with roos for me personally; if they attack/bite hard, they move up in the culling timeline to how long it take me to heat up the scalding water. If they bully, hog food, or pounce on heads to bread rather than dance, they also move up, though not quite as fast; usually the Friday or Saturday of that week. I have two amazing roosters and both look after their girls in top notch fashion. Only one of them crows. I'm hoping their offspring inherit their demeanor.
I am right there with you. Although I have not moved into cleaning my own birds for meat. I do cull if aggressive towards me or the kids I believe we will be raising meat chickens in the next year or so. I have a friend that is doing it this year so I am planing on watching his mistakes and learning.
I might add, BCM's mixed with Americaunas' will make you the perfect Olive Eggers. The light blue of the Americauna mixed with the Dark chocolates. Note 1. Yes, I have a huge BCM Roo and close to SOP (Standard of perfection) but, he's got slight bleeding of his colors in his chest and a little halo on his Cackle. However, he's a good breeder for really dark eggs. Note 2: The demeanor of bcm's is by far the best I have seen also. My 1.5 year old BCM roo "Ben" He is super chill. So, what he said as far as temperament is not a joke. Note 3: Given the right environment, they are good mothers. Note 4: Again, very sought after for the eggs. If you find a breeder that sells SOP level birds or egg's, expect to pay about $20 a chick or up to $85/dozen fertilized eggs. Note 5 a negative: I have found that they can sometimes be a little tough to get to laying age. It may of been because I started working on growing my flock in the winter. But, I had a couple die off on me at around the 1-8 week age. So, I consider them a little fragile until they come of age. Once they are all grown up, I find them to be very hardy. Note 6: They are my favorite breed also, you won't lose money on them unless you just don't take care of them. If you are new to chickens, I would not consider this breed. They require a good amount of attention at the early stages of their life. That is purely my opinion. Side note 7: Black Australorps are my second favorite breed and they lay a lot more egg's per year. Side note 8: Most Hardy breed I have is the Bard Rock and they are very dependable layer. Side note 9: Black Australorps, Bard Rocks and Buff Orphingtons are very amazing new chicken tender birds. The BCM is again, in my opinion, not for beginners. Great Video brother!
Had a barred rock rooster that jumped at me and landed in the soup pot. I have a cuckoo maran rooster he tells me to stay away from the hens with his dance but never attacked. Had black copper maran roo was very nice.
Good to know about their temperment....might try and get some next year. The black australorp roosters i have now are pretty chill so far...friendly and no attacks......yet
I haven’t had the black australorp rooster yet. I had a friend that had some blue australorp that became mean after they matured. So I am not sure about the roosters. I love the hens.
@@HolloHomestead good to know about hte blues....yeah the black australorp hens are absolutely sweeties...super nosy/friendly....always hanging around and will fly up and sit on me without any offering of treats lol ....-take care
Both of our australorp roosters turned mean after they matured even though we raised them from eggs and handled them often. They attacked us and our kids so they had to go.
Nice presentation, video and audio. Enjoyed the info. Never heard such quiet roosters. I had a very mellow Russian Olaf (named himCogburn), but he would crow all day. The Orlaf hens didn't lay enough for me, so I got rid of that crew after 2 years. I now have Cherry Eggers (RIR breed) and an Americuna. I really want copper maran now.
Do do really love my Black Coppers They can get loud if they feel like they have competition. So I usually only run the one large rooster and then a couple of silkie roosters.
I don’t have a Welsummer rooster anymore. But I did have one and he was mean as a junk yard dog. I only had the one so I don’t know if that is typical of the breed but I had to get rid of him.
@@HolloHomestead I guess that narrows it down to which breed defends the best between black Australorp and black copper morans for my coop two rooster now. Thank you very much for the quick reply , it was very helpful.
Good to know about the Roosters! Unfortunately, we are in suburbia and can’t keep Roos. We nearly got Maran hens last spring but decided to get Speckled Sussex instead for the egg production. They are awesome, sweet tempered birds and I’m happy we chose them. My number one for hens, easily! Although, when it’s time to get more chicks it will be Black Copper Marans for sure but we will ALWAYS have some Sussex.
Yeah the marans are definitely not the best feed to egg conversion chicken. For that I love the ISA brown. They are a light bird good temperament and lay a lot of large eggs.
I grew up on a farm as oldest. All chores were mine, and have had best luck with flock raising from babies. Recently had to deal with very aggressive black rooster, (belonging to neighbor)and would try to run up on me from behind. I wasn't afraid of him, but got to point I was carrying broom around. He would literally see me across yard and come running at me, a got into batting position with broom. Rooster no longer with us.
lol I understand. I just won’t deal with an aggressive rooster. I don’t need them to be my friend and want me to pet them. But if they attack me any time I come close he has to go.
We just got our first cock on Saturday -- a Black Copper Maran, whom we named Copper (original, huh?). He is establishing his place as rooster right now. He faces down most of the Wyandotte hens. He began crowing yesterday -- about six notes, then he's quiet for the rest of the day so far. He hasn't left the coop for the run yet. Hope that will happen as he gets curious and more confident. Glad to hear they are gentle. We've handled him several times and he has been very quiet. In our town one can have as many as 25 chickens but no cocks. Glad we live out of town.
My black copper maran rooster is named Brownie. 😂 He got his name before I knew what he was. He looked like a monarch butterfly when he was a chick. He started to be a bit aggressive, so I would scoop him up and hold him and just pet him until I could feel him relax. (And he hates my Wyandotte chicken 😂😂😂. She cockles in the morning and bosses everyone around. She tries to take all his jobs. 😂
I've never had any Maran's but this year am getting a BBS Maran and a Golden Cuckoo Maran (along with a Blue Orpington, Speckled Sussex, Mottled Houdans, Austra White, Cream Legbar, Green Queen, Salmon Faverolle and 2 Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantams. And I have 1 Olive Egger).
I was surprised to come across this video because I happen to have an order of 21 female and 2 male Black Copper Maran chicks that will be here un a couple days. Thanks for sharing your encouraging thoughts that go along with my hopes that I chose a good all-around breed to be the bulk of my flock. BTW, I had a Welsummer cock that was a holy terror and the Polish cocks I have now are useless, so glad to hear your recommendations about these boys.
I got a rooster from Greenfire Farms once that was absolutely evil and would attack anything that moved. And the Rhode Island Red I have now is the chillest rooster I've ever seen. So, it depends on the line they come from and getting your stock from a proper breeder who selects against aggression.
Was it a BC Maran rooster? My husband was also gungho on having BC Marans (I was happy with just austrolorps) and he got 6 chicks from a lady who bred them from Marans she got from Greenfire Farms. Out of 6, we only got 2 females and out of 4 roosters, one only was docile-ish (only because he's at the bottom at the pecking order). The alpha rooster, one that had the most beautiful feather, I called him King Edward, was super evil. We hand raised these chickens from the first week of their lives but that didn't matter apparently. King Edward would stalk me or husband and slammed his whole body at us when we're not looking. At first I thought I scared him but after 3-4 times, I knew he just didn't like humans. He didn't even like other chickens.
Thanks for this vid. We’re new to roo keeping and find ourselves with three (a beautiful buff Orpington and two cuckoo Orpington). Have been challenged but not full on attacked, thankfully. How long does the Blk Copper Maran take to pass rooberty?
I have to say I have had I believe 4 or 5 black copper roosters and have never been challenged. I have owned them all from chicks and I use to think that made a big difference but I have raised Rhode Island Red from chick to be attacked at a year and a half ish. Same with cream leg bar only his attack is to a lesser degree. I love to Orpington chicken but unless your breeding them I would just get me a black copper rooster.
My BCM isn't a joy to have around other people. He minds his pkace with me but loves to nail anyone who isn't watching out for him. But he protects the flock and that is his purpose
Do you house the roosters in the same hen house at the same time? And if yes or no tell me what you do. Thank you for sharing this with us. 💕NonnaGrace 🐓
Yes my hens run with the roosters all the time. The only time I separate is if they are getting bare backs or if I am trying to breed a specific breed I may separate all other roosters if I happen to have others at the time. And this may be just my roosters but I have never seen them aggressive toward chicks.
I am very happy to hear that these roosters are nice. I love their coloring, just drawn to them from the start. I also love the hen egg colors! This is a beautiful chicken with good eggs. The worry was that the roosters might be aggressive. Not that I am scared of any rooster, however mean, but it is nice to be able to be friends with the and enjoy their company too. I also like that they are good guardians of the flock! An important quality. I would love to keep some. Curiously, the Black Copper Maran seems to be more popular than the regular Copper Marans - I wonder why? Egg color?
Yes I originally got a silver cuckoo Marans but her eggs aren’t that dark so I got a couple BCM. Eggs are much darker. Also ended up with a roo and he’s not terrible but he definitely bites me every now and again and runs at me when my back is turned.
@sarahdore7884 I have have several and knock on wood I haven’t had a bad one yet. On the other hand I had several Rhode Island reds and haven’t had a good one yet 😂
@@HolloHomestead I still love him, he protects his girls well and breaks up fights between them. I’ve never had a rooster before so honestly I was expecting worse, but he’s not exactly a cuddle bug haha
I am not an expert on roosters, but I suspect for aggressiveness/chillness is probably a mix of breed traits and flock traits (lineage and socialisation). Chickens learn from each other, they pick up good habits and bad habits. I don't have any BCMs. I do have one cross that is 3/4 wheaten maran and 1/4 white plymouth rock (she is my forever baby girl). I have a small flock of all different breeds because they are basically pets, with benefits. My cross lays a darker brown egg with speckles, similar to the one shown. The white plymouth rock genes must be strong, my cross has a buff/ginger neck frill, and white/buff body. She has only gone broody once. I do have a buff orpington, and she goes broody at the drop of a hat. If I got her a clutch of fertile eggs, she would be a top mother, her personality is chill and super friendly. Even when broody, she does not peck, just fluffs up and tells you off.
It could definitely be part of the way I give them there space but I have never had a good Rhode Island Red lol. I believe the black copper is just a little more chill than some of the other breeds I have had.
@@HolloHomestead RIRs, girls and boys, are reportedly a bit more aggressive with other breeds. I have passed on the RIR for that reason, I like a chilled and harmonious flock (I don't have any roosters, just the girls). All but one of my hens are chilled, the eldest (who now thinks she is the boss) is only aggressive around food/treats, and at the cat, who is scared of her.
I've got a black copper boy that was a stinking handful for a while. He was wanting to jump me anytime I got in striking distance. And he was the sweetest of them all when he was young before the hormones came along. Took a while but he has finally settled down and don't have any problems with him anymore. His big brother was a huge help with that too. Rooty is my number one. Very thoughtful and calculating bird. But he covered my back when Chester was being so bad and kept an eye on him and would jump him and kick his butt anytime he started to make a move on me. None of them like to be held or handled much at all but still spoiled none the less. Rooty is in my face all the time wanting treats and insists that I bite almonds in half before giving them to him. Gets pissed and may even bite me if I don't. lol Not often I test him. That honker will pull a blood blister in a hurry. lol He did hit me in the back one time. I yelled at him before turning to face him. Thought it was his little brother again but when I turned to face him he backed up looking hurt. I sure was when I realized who it was cause I instantly knew why he hit me. He was protecting a young bird I had just introduced to the flock and it was screaming like I was killing it when I picked it up. Felt bad for yelling at Rooty for doing his job. But we got past it and I'm more mindful he knows what I'm doing with any of the other birds he watches over. No issues like that since. Got my hands on some Blue Coppers this year. Man I'm enjoying those birdies a pile too. Sure nuff beautiful birds, same awesome characters. That's my goal with the Marans, to wind up with all three colors, Black, Blue and Splash. On the other side of the fence I've got Self blue Ameraucana's, Boy that's a whole nother ball of wax but another kind of awesome bird that's a joy to have around.
He'll be fine. They're awesome birds. Really not hateful by nature. Hand feeding treats to them goes a long ways even if they do just turn around and feed it to the girls. They seem to like it that way.
When a hen begins to set , she needs to be confined in a snake proof enclosure with a nest of the eggs that you want her to incubate . She is not a bad mother if she goes to a different nest in a row of nests . When chickens had full run of the farm with bars and sheds and bushes they could select a private nest site . They don't have that option in a chicken house .
I have a blue wyandotte who’s way broody .Tried to get her out of nest and have bloody pecks on my hands. Today she waited for other hens to lay then moved to that favorite nest where there were 10:31 5 eggs. I felt sorry for her, so I fed her a treat and feed, and set water in front of her. What do I do? These are my first chickens. Chicken math got the best of me. We have 25 birds now. And husband built coops from an old shed. The. Put runs in and THEN made 2 more runs. Our layers and Mr. Henry , I let out in our back yard everyday. But Wilma Wyatt just sits on one of two nests. I have t seen her outside or at the feeders and the waters. Help this worried ol lady please.
Well I always allow mine to hatch out assuming you have fertile eggs. I thinks it’s just cruel not to let them be Mom’s. Lol. That being said you need to mark how ever many eggs you want her to hatch. And then pull all the rest everyday. You can mark them with a sharpie. I just figure out 21 days out and write the date on them that they should be close to hatching. That way I keep getting reminded as I pull the other eggs.
We have 14 of these BCM varmints, and they eat Double the feed of our Transylvania Nacked Necks! They are indeed docile, and live to gobble feed and scraps. If I were to slip and fall in the pen, they would likely eat all of the scruanny meat off my bones. Hogs with wings!
They are a heavy bird for sure. For how good they are on feed my number 1 would be ISA BROWN. They are a super nice bird and lay a lot of eggs small frame.
@@HolloHomestead hehe, dark egg laying birds eat more, hence they cost more. Sell your eggs for more. BCM eggs are worth twice as much as your typical bard, rir, orphington.. etc. That dark ink cost money to produce. Read up on that, I never realized it, but yes. Those very dark eggs will cost you more in feed.
If I let her have chicks now, she and chicks would be back in my art studio. I’ve was ill last winter, then we bought chickens. In June I fell backwards out of one of the runs & ripped my left arm wide open.Months later I’m dealing with the injury. But have managed to make a lot of feathered friends. I’m finally well enough to spoil the chickens everyday. I’d like Wilma to have chicks in the spring. I want my studio back. I’ve not done any art work since last November !! I adore our chickens, but truly need my art back, I’m blissful with my feathered friends, though the paintings and creativity is so very spiritual. Thank u for writing back. I appreciate your input. 🙃🙏
Were your roosters from hatchery or a breeder? Some say that makes a difference. Breeders being better. I’m new and my Mystic Black Copper Maran was great with people but killed three of my hens. Two of them in one day. It was definitely him and not a predator. Had to dispatch him. He was from a hatchery.
Honestly I bought Quattro the Black Copper Maran off Craigslist and Specks the Cream legbar of of a Facebook group. I have no clue where they got them from. Any others I have currently are mixes from my own birds. I have bought hatchery birds with very little problems. I don’t show birds all I really just want them to produce eggs, chicks and not attack me lol.
Typically, no rooster will ever hurt a hen. Even my most hated breed the RiR's won't do it. What I do know is that roosters as well as pullets in established flocks sometimes do not like or sometimes won't accept new birds into the coop/run if they think something is wrong with the bird. And sadly, yes, if some of your flock gets sick. Whether you know it or not, your flock will kill off sick members of the flock. They have a very keen sense and if they think a bird is sick or not well. They will kill them. They do this for self preservation. It is not always pecking order. This goes for all types of chickens, not just BCM's. When this occurs, you separate until you know for sure that the birds that are being bullied are not sick. If they are not sick. Then you segregate and slowly introduce them into the flock. While what I have said is not always the case, sometimes you might just have a rooster that is trying to dominate a hen(s), hence (pecking order) If he can't impose his dominance, he very well may kill them. In this instance, move him out and put him in a kennel with blanket over the top. This will reset the pecking order. Remember, he's the top dog. You can always hit the reset button. Remove him for a week or two (I call this a reset). A new pecking order will be established. If after you have done all this and he goes back to his old ways. Cull and make chicken noodle soup. But at least you tried. If you don't have the time for all that. Cull him and be done with it.
The Easter Eggers look like hawks and black chickens look like crows. A high contrast color chicken is spotted by predators. Air and ground. White chickens bring in the predators.
Until now, my roos were aggressive as fuck towards humans as well, yes BCM roos, I made soup of them,.. rn I am incubating them from a rooster with way better temperament from 1 adress...after this incubation my next round is from 2 other adresses, where at least one of them has the chillest BlackCM rooster I ever saw. the other one is a Blue copper rooster and hens.. So I will have unrelated flocks soon, with hopefully better characters
Yeah I can’t keep aggressive roosters. Made up my mind along time ago. I do believe that the breed makes a big difference on what the likelihood of the being mean.
My Black Copper Maran is my favorite too. She follows me around the house like a little penguin. She loves to cuddle and watch Matlock.
😂
Thabks for the info. I dont have chickens yet, but hopefully this year so this kind of information is helpful
Good luck
Back in the 70s I think 77 we had a 3 yr old black Copper Marans that hatched out a big clutch of eggs. she went back under the barn way back where you could not get to the eggs. When she was out during the day and some of the other chickens laid a few eggs in her nest as she had a little variety, and was a good mom. We did not know til she hatched the eggs about the nest we thought something got her. It was a pleasant surprise I was in grade school at the time, but recently I got back into chickens and incubated copper marans eggs I got from a friend, really love their look.
I really didn’t know how broody they were. They sit usually twice a year since they matured.
Love the Maran Rooster! They will sacrifice their lives to protect the hens! Mine did.
They have won me over. Best I have seen all around rooster.
@@HolloHomestead that's what I'm looking for where I live but also want darker eggs for all my future hens.
Being black might help scare off crows
Most roosters will die for his lady’s. Normal
I love my black copper maran hen she has so much personality and her eggs are the best imo
It’s a toss up between them and silkies on which is my favorite. I love them both.
I had one copper mauran rooster that would only attack me. I had to start carrying around a trash can lid to shield myself..
😂
I have one rule with roos for me personally; if they attack/bite hard, they move up in the culling timeline to how long it take me to heat up the scalding water. If they bully, hog food, or pounce on heads to bread rather than dance, they also move up, though not quite as fast; usually the Friday or Saturday of that week. I have two amazing roosters and both look after their girls in top notch fashion. Only one of them crows. I'm hoping their offspring inherit their demeanor.
I am right there with you. Although I have not moved into cleaning my own birds for meat. I do cull if aggressive towards me or the kids I believe we will be raising meat chickens in the next year or so. I have a friend that is doing it this year so I am planing on watching his mistakes and learning.
Wow that is amazing you have a quiet rooster. I didn't think it was possible. Definitely breed him. What kind of rooster is he?
@@HolloHomestead PLANNING, not PLANING. Planing is what you do to wood. 😉
BREED, not BREAD. 😂😂
How do you humanely kill a chicken? Chop its head off or is there a more humane method? That would be very hard for me to do.
So happy to see this! I have been debating this breed and it always comes back to the Marens
I highly recommend the Black copper. The Black copper roosters are the nicest short of a silkie rooster.
I might add, BCM's mixed with Americaunas' will make you the perfect Olive Eggers. The light blue of the Americauna mixed with the Dark chocolates. Note 1. Yes, I have a huge BCM Roo and close to SOP (Standard of perfection) but, he's got slight bleeding of his colors in his chest and a little halo on his Cackle. However, he's a good breeder for really dark eggs. Note 2: The demeanor of bcm's is by far the best I have seen also. My 1.5 year old BCM roo "Ben" He is super chill. So, what he said as far as temperament is not a joke. Note 3: Given the right environment, they are good mothers. Note 4: Again, very sought after for the eggs. If you find a breeder that sells SOP level birds or egg's, expect to pay about $20 a chick or up to $85/dozen fertilized eggs. Note 5 a negative: I have found that they can sometimes be a little tough to get to laying age. It may of been because I started working on growing my flock in the winter. But, I had a couple die off on me at around the 1-8 week age. So, I consider them a little fragile until they come of age. Once they are all grown up, I find them to be very hardy. Note 6: They are my favorite breed also, you won't lose money on them unless you just don't take care of them.
If you are new to chickens, I would not consider this breed. They require a good amount of attention at the early stages of their life. That is purely my opinion.
Side note 7: Black Australorps are my second favorite breed and they lay a lot more egg's per year.
Side note 8: Most Hardy breed I have is the Bard Rock and they are very dependable layer.
Side note 9: Black Australorps, Bard Rocks and Buff Orphingtons are very amazing new chicken tender birds. The BCM is again, in my opinion, not for beginners.
Great Video brother!
Good comments for sure. I do like the Black australorp they are a great bird for sure. I have been thinking of getting some of them again.
Also, the white French Bresse and the German Bielefelders are super nice and docile, as well. They just aren’t easy to find.
@@HolloHomestead
Had a barred rock rooster that jumped at me and landed in the soup pot. I have a cuckoo maran rooster he tells me to stay away from the hens with his dance but never attacked. Had black copper maran roo was very nice.
U take good care of ur chickens. Their fevers shine brightly in the sun. Ya got it going sir
Kindly,
Holyn
I’ll subscribe too
Thanks
Good to know about their temperment....might try and get some next year. The black australorp roosters i have now are pretty chill so far...friendly and no attacks......yet
I haven’t had the black australorp rooster yet. I had a friend that had some blue australorp that became mean after they matured. So I am not sure about the roosters. I love the hens.
@@HolloHomestead good to know about hte blues....yeah the black australorp hens are absolutely sweeties...super nosy/friendly....always hanging around and will fly up and sit on me without any offering of treats lol ....-take care
@@MiniatureChickenChannel Black austrolorp hens are so sweet too. Love the breed
Oh yeah the hens are great. Never had the roosters so not sure about them.
Both of our australorp roosters turned mean after they matured even though we raised them from eggs and handled them often. They attacked us and our kids so they had to go.
Nice presentation, video and audio. Enjoyed the info. Never heard such quiet roosters. I had a very mellow Russian Olaf (named himCogburn), but he would crow all day. The Orlaf hens didn't lay enough for me, so I got rid of that crew after 2 years. I now have Cherry Eggers (RIR breed) and an Americuna. I really want copper maran now.
Do do really love my Black Coppers
They can get loud if they feel like they have competition. So I usually only run the one large rooster and then a couple of silkie roosters.
Mine is super loud but maybe that’s why. My neighbors also have roosters and they crow. It doesn’t bother me a bit but he absolutely loves to crow
I love them too especially hens. Unfortunately my black copper maran had to go to the freezer camp...lol
😩
Good info thank you.
Wish you had a welsummer rooster comparison.
I don’t have a Welsummer rooster anymore. But I did have one and he was mean as a junk yard dog. I only had the one so I don’t know if that is typical of the breed but I had to get rid of him.
@@HolloHomestead I guess that narrows it down to which breed defends the best between black Australorp and black copper morans for my coop two rooster now.
Thank you very much for the quick reply , it was very helpful.
Your welcome
Good to know about the Roosters! Unfortunately, we are in suburbia and can’t keep Roos. We nearly got Maran hens last spring but decided to get Speckled Sussex instead for the egg production. They are awesome, sweet tempered birds and I’m happy we chose them. My number one for hens, easily! Although, when it’s time to get more chicks it will be Black Copper Marans for sure but we will ALWAYS have some Sussex.
Yeah the marans are definitely not the best feed to egg conversion chicken. For that I love the ISA brown. They are a light bird good temperament and lay a lot of large eggs.
I agree with you about the Copper Maran roosters! New subscriber here! 👍🙏
Thanks we appreciate it.
I grew up on a farm as oldest. All chores were mine, and have had best luck with flock raising from babies. Recently had to deal with very aggressive black rooster, (belonging to neighbor)and would try to run up on me from behind. I wasn't afraid of him, but got to point I was carrying broom around. He would literally see me across yard and come running at me, a got into batting position with broom. Rooster no longer with us.
lol I understand. I just won’t deal with an aggressive rooster. I don’t need them to be my friend and want me to pet them. But if they attack me any time I come close he has to go.
We just got our first cock on Saturday -- a Black Copper Maran, whom we named Copper (original, huh?). He is establishing his place as rooster right now. He faces down most of the Wyandotte hens. He began crowing yesterday -- about six notes, then he's quiet for the rest of the day so far. He hasn't left the coop for the run yet. Hope that will happen as he gets curious and more confident. Glad to hear they are gentle. We've handled him several times and he has been very quiet. In our town one can have as many as 25 chickens but no cocks. Glad we live out of town.
Yeah hopefully he will stay gentle. All of my black coppers have been but I have heard stories lol.
My black copper maran rooster is named Brownie. 😂 He got his name before I knew what he was. He looked like a monarch butterfly when he was a chick. He started to be a bit aggressive, so I would scoop him up and hold him and just pet him until I could feel him relax. (And he hates my Wyandotte chicken 😂😂😂. She cockles in the morning and bosses everyone around. She tries to take all his jobs. 😂
I've never had any Maran's but this year am getting a BBS Maran and a Golden Cuckoo Maran (along with a Blue Orpington, Speckled Sussex, Mottled Houdans, Austra White, Cream Legbar, Green Queen, Salmon Faverolle and 2 Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantams. And I have 1 Olive Egger).
Sounds like your well on your way to that beautiful egg basket. Nice colors in that group
The D’uccles are my most favorite chickens. Super friendly with huge personalities. Ours also gives us a tiny egg almost every day.
I was surprised to come across this video because I happen to have an order of 21 female and 2 male Black Copper Maran chicks that will be here un a couple days. Thanks for sharing your encouraging thoughts that go along with my hopes that I chose a good all-around breed to be the bulk of my flock. BTW, I had a Welsummer cock that was a holy terror and the Polish cocks I have now are useless, so glad to hear your recommendations about these boys.
Thanks for watching in my book you cannot go wrong with the black copper.
I got a rooster from Greenfire Farms once that was absolutely evil and would attack anything that moved. And the Rhode Island Red I have now is the chillest rooster I've ever seen. So, it depends on the line they come from and getting your stock from a proper breeder who selects against aggression.
Yeah I guess that is my first trait that I look for. If they are aggressive they got to go. Period. I just don’t deal with it.
Was it a BC Maran rooster? My husband was also gungho on having BC Marans (I was happy with just austrolorps) and he got 6 chicks from a lady who bred them from Marans she got from Greenfire Farms. Out of 6, we only got 2 females and out of 4 roosters, one only was docile-ish (only because he's at the bottom at the pecking order). The alpha rooster, one that had the most beautiful feather, I called him King Edward, was super evil. We hand raised these chickens from the first week of their lives but that didn't matter apparently. King Edward would stalk me or husband and slammed his whole body at us when we're not looking. At first I thought I scared him but after 3-4 times, I knew he just didn't like humans. He didn't even like other chickens.
What breed did you cross with the BCM to get the olive egg? Was the BCM male or female?
So the black copper was the male. The female was most likely a road island red or an isa brown.
@HolloHomestead Two brown egg layers won't produce an olive egg. Has to be a blue egg layer with a homogeneous gene. To guarantee the olive egg.
I’m excited!! My order will b here the 29th and I’ve got Easter eggers along with partridge cochin.
This is my first time with Easter eggers I have had cream legbars in the past for blue eggs.
That should be a really nice docile group of birds.
Thanks for this vid. We’re new to roo keeping and find ourselves with three (a beautiful buff Orpington and two cuckoo Orpington). Have been challenged but not full on attacked, thankfully. How long does the Blk Copper Maran take to pass rooberty?
I have to say I have had I believe 4 or 5 black copper roosters and have never been challenged. I have owned them all from chicks and I use to think that made a big difference but I have raised Rhode Island Red from chick to be attacked at a year and a half ish. Same with cream leg bar only his attack is to a lesser degree. I love to Orpington chicken but unless your breeding them I would just get me a black copper rooster.
Same as most chickens about 6 months
My BCM isn't a joy to have around other people. He minds his pkace with me but loves to nail anyone who isn't watching out for him. But he protects the flock and that is his purpose
Just I have just been lucky with mine. As I am typing I am looking over my shoulder now. Lol
Do you house the roosters in the same hen house at the same time? And if yes or no tell me what you do. Thank you for sharing this with us. 💕NonnaGrace 🐓
Yes my hens run with the roosters all the time. The only time I separate is if they are getting bare backs or if I am trying to breed a specific breed I may separate all other roosters if I happen to have others at the time. And this may be just my roosters but I have never seen them aggressive toward chicks.
I am very happy to hear that these roosters are nice. I love their coloring, just drawn to them from the start. I also love the hen egg colors! This is a beautiful chicken with good eggs. The worry was that the roosters might be aggressive. Not that I am scared of any rooster, however mean, but it is nice to be able to be friends with the and enjoy their company too. I also like that they are good guardians of the flock! An important quality.
I would love to keep some. Curiously, the Black Copper Maran seems to be more popular than the regular Copper Marans - I wonder why? Egg color?
I think out of all the marans the black copper lay the darkest. But all of them are dark.
Yes I originally got a silver cuckoo Marans but her eggs aren’t that dark so I got a couple BCM. Eggs are much darker. Also ended up with a roo and he’s not terrible but he definitely bites me every now and again and runs at me when my back is turned.
@sarahdore7884 I have have several and knock on wood I haven’t had a bad one yet. On the other hand I had several Rhode Island reds and haven’t had a good one yet 😂
@@HolloHomestead I still love him, he protects his girls well and breaks up fights between them. I’ve never had a rooster before so honestly I was expecting worse, but he’s not exactly a cuddle bug haha
My Australorpe Rooster (dominant) & my Plymouth Barred Rock are both nice to Human beings.
Do you sell Fertile eggs Black Copper Marans ??
I don’t right now. I lost my rooster. I have one that is growing out hope he will be half as good as Quattro.
I am not an expert on roosters, but I suspect for aggressiveness/chillness is probably a mix of breed traits and flock traits (lineage and socialisation). Chickens learn from each other, they pick up good habits and bad habits.
I don't have any BCMs. I do have one cross that is 3/4 wheaten maran and 1/4 white plymouth rock (she is my forever baby girl). I have a small flock of all different breeds because they are basically pets, with benefits. My cross lays a darker brown egg with speckles, similar to the one shown. The white plymouth rock genes must be strong, my cross has a buff/ginger neck frill, and white/buff body. She has only gone broody once. I do have a buff orpington, and she goes broody at the drop of a hat. If I got her a clutch of fertile eggs, she would be a top mother, her personality is chill and super friendly. Even when broody, she does not peck, just fluffs up and tells you off.
It could definitely be part of the way I give them there space but I have never had a good Rhode Island Red lol. I believe the black copper is just a little more chill than some of the other breeds I have had.
@@HolloHomestead RIRs, girls and boys, are reportedly a bit more aggressive with other breeds. I have passed on the RIR for that reason, I like a chilled and harmonious flock (I don't have any roosters, just the girls). All but one of my hens are chilled, the eldest (who now thinks she is the boss) is only aggressive around food/treats, and at the cat, who is scared of her.
I've got a black copper boy that was a stinking handful for a while. He was wanting to jump me anytime I got in striking distance. And he was the sweetest of them all when he was young before the hormones came along. Took a while but he has finally settled down and don't have any problems with him anymore. His big brother was a huge help with that too. Rooty is my number one. Very thoughtful and calculating bird. But he covered my back when Chester was being so bad and kept an eye on him and would jump him and kick his butt anytime he started to make a move on me. None of them like to be held or handled much at all but still spoiled none the less. Rooty is in my face all the time wanting treats and insists that I bite almonds in half before giving them to him. Gets pissed and may even bite me if I don't. lol Not often I test him. That honker will pull a blood blister in a hurry. lol
He did hit me in the back one time. I yelled at him before turning to face him. Thought it was his little brother again but when I turned to face him he backed up looking hurt. I sure was when I realized who it was cause I instantly knew why he hit me. He was protecting a young bird I had just introduced to the flock and it was screaming like I was killing it when I picked it up. Felt bad for yelling at Rooty for doing his job. But we got past it and I'm more mindful he knows what I'm doing with any of the other birds he watches over. No issues like that since.
Got my hands on some Blue Coppers this year. Man I'm enjoying those birdies a pile too. Sure nuff beautiful birds, same awesome characters. That's my goal with the Marans, to wind up with all three colors, Black, Blue and Splash.
On the other side of the fence I've got Self blue Ameraucana's, Boy that's a whole nother ball of wax but another kind of awesome bird that's a joy to have around.
Well I just got another Black Copper Rooster fingers crossed that he has a good temperament. He is young right now but seems calm.
He'll be fine. They're awesome birds. Really not hateful by nature. Hand feeding treats to them goes a long ways even if they do just turn around and feed it to the girls. They seem to like it that way.
When a hen begins to set , she needs to be confined in a snake proof enclosure with a nest of the eggs that you want her to incubate . She is not a bad mother if she goes to a different nest in a row of nests . When chickens had full run of the farm with bars and sheds and bushes they could select a private nest site . They don't have that option in a chicken house .
I agree. Most of the time now days I try and separate them and have had good luck when they don’t have options.
I have a blue wyandotte who’s way broody .Tried to get her out of nest and have bloody pecks on my hands. Today she waited for other hens to lay then moved to that favorite nest where there were 10:31 5 eggs. I felt sorry for her, so I fed her a treat and feed, and set water in front of her. What do I do? These are my first chickens. Chicken math got the best of me. We have 25 birds now. And husband built coops from an old shed. The. Put runs in and THEN made 2 more runs. Our layers and Mr. Henry , I let out in our back yard everyday. But Wilma Wyatt just sits on one of two nests. I have t seen her outside or at the feeders and the waters. Help this worried ol lady please.
Well I always allow mine to hatch out assuming you have fertile eggs. I thinks it’s just cruel not to let them be Mom’s. Lol. That being said you need to mark how ever many eggs you want her to hatch. And then pull all the rest everyday. You can mark them with a sharpie. I just figure out 21 days out and write the date on them that they should be close to hatching. That way I keep getting reminded as I pull the other eggs.
Wear gloves 😊
We have 14 of these BCM varmints, and they eat Double the feed of our Transylvania Nacked Necks! They are indeed docile, and live to gobble feed and scraps. If I were to slip and fall in the pen, they would likely eat all of the scruanny meat off my bones. Hogs with wings!
They are a heavy bird for sure. For how good they are on feed my number 1 would be ISA BROWN. They are a super nice bird and lay a lot of eggs small frame.
@@HolloHomestead hehe, dark egg laying birds eat more, hence they cost more. Sell your eggs for more. BCM eggs are worth twice as much as your typical bard, rir, orphington.. etc. That dark ink cost money to produce. Read up on that, I never realized it, but yes. Those very dark eggs will cost you more in feed.
Beautiful chickens!
Thank you!
My silkie rooster was aggressive. 😂
I have never had an aggressive silkie 😂
Sir you you have a nice breed of bcm.please avail me a breed of BCM.thank you
They are nice.
Won’t show subscribe button!!!
If I let her have chicks now, she and chicks would be back in my art studio. I’ve was ill last winter, then we bought chickens. In June I fell backwards out of one of the runs & ripped my left arm wide open.Months later I’m dealing with the injury. But have managed to make a lot of feathered friends. I’m finally well enough to spoil the chickens everyday. I’d like Wilma to have chicks in the spring. I want my studio back. I’ve not done any art work since last November !! I adore our chickens, but truly need my art back, I’m blissful with my feathered friends, though the paintings and creativity is so very spiritual.
Thank u for writing back. I appreciate your input. 🙃🙏
Man that sucks to be down that long. Hope you get back at it.
I have a sweet rooster. Easy to handle
I hope my newest one will be nice. He is right now.
Were your roosters from hatchery or a breeder? Some say that makes a difference. Breeders being better. I’m new and my Mystic Black Copper Maran was great with people but killed three of my hens. Two of them in one day. It was definitely him and not a predator. Had to dispatch him. He was from a hatchery.
Honestly I bought Quattro the Black Copper Maran off Craigslist and Specks the Cream legbar of of a Facebook group. I have no clue where they got them from. Any others I have currently are mixes from my own birds. I have bought hatchery birds with very little problems. I don’t show birds all I really just want them to produce eggs, chicks and not attack me lol.
Typically, no rooster will ever hurt a hen. Even my most hated breed the RiR's won't do it. What I do know is that roosters as well as pullets in established flocks sometimes do not like or sometimes won't accept new birds into the coop/run if they think something is wrong with the bird. And sadly, yes, if some of your flock gets sick. Whether you know it or not, your flock will kill off sick members of the flock. They have a very keen sense and if they think a bird is sick or not well. They will kill them. They do this for self preservation. It is not always pecking order. This goes for all types of chickens, not just BCM's. When this occurs, you separate until you know for sure that the birds that are being bullied are not sick. If they are not sick. Then you segregate and slowly introduce them into the flock.
While what I have said is not always the case, sometimes you might just have a rooster that is trying to dominate a hen(s), hence (pecking order) If he can't impose his dominance, he very well may kill them. In this instance, move him out and put him in a kennel with blanket over the top. This will reset the pecking order. Remember, he's the top dog. You can always hit the reset button. Remove him for a week or two (I call this a reset). A new pecking order will be established. If after you have done all this and he goes back to his old ways. Cull and make chicken noodle soup. But at least you tried. If you don't have the time for all that. Cull him and be done with it.
The Easter Eggers look like hawks and black chickens look like crows. A high contrast color chicken is spotted by predators. Air and ground. White chickens bring in the predators.
Yeah white chickens are just asking for it. You have to try way too hard to keep them alive. In my opinion
Until now, my roos were aggressive as fuck towards humans as well, yes BCM roos, I made soup of them,.. rn I am incubating them from a rooster with way better temperament from 1 adress...after this incubation my next round is from 2 other adresses, where at least one of them has the chillest BlackCM rooster I ever saw. the other one is a Blue copper rooster and hens.. So I will have unrelated flocks soon, with hopefully better characters
Yeah I can’t keep aggressive roosters. Made up my mind along time ago. I do believe that the breed makes a big difference on what the likelihood of the being mean.
Im from indonesia
Thanks