French Black Copper Moran

[ninnymary]

I'm thinking of getting a dark chocolate egg layer. Welsummer is not available but the Moran is. Anyone have experience raising them?

Does it really take 8-9 months for them to start laying?

Mary

 

[seedcorn]

Friend of mine uses isabrowns. They are a darker brown egg-how dark do you want? He loves them due to feed conversion and egg size.

 

[ninnymary]

Friend of mine uses isabrowns. They are a darker brown egg-how dark do you want? He loves them due to feed conversion and egg size.

I had 2 Isa Browns. Their eggs were average brown. I want a dark egg like the kind Welsummers and Morans lay which is pretty dark. The Welsummer is a better layer than the Moran but they are not available so thinking of subbing the Moran for it.

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

I had Black Copper Marans. Never again. Meanest birds I've ever had.

 

[so lucky]

I had Black Copper Marans. Never again. Meanest birds I've ever had.

I agree, Thistle. The rooster that constantly attacked me was a black copper Maran. I had two hens but only got about an egg per day from them together. The hens weren't particularly mean, but they sure weren't friendly.

 

[canesisters]

My FBCM rooster was a BEAST!!! But the hens were ok. I didn't like the feathered feet, just seemed that they would've been wet & cold all winter.
I have a cuckoo marans that lays nice dark eggs.
They start laying at the same age as any other 'heritage' breed - 4-6 months.

 

[Beekissed]

Had a copper maran cockerel here once I had picked up with various roosters for free to can up, kept him around a bit to get some size on him. The only rooster in my whole life that dared to lay a beak on me...bit me in the leg as I was walking away.

Two can play at that game, so the next time he came around the corner of the coop I laid him OUT. Thought I had killed him, so threw him over in the woods with a big ol' heave. Later on that evening I saw a bird come walking up the yard all crooked necked and staggering a little. From then on he was referred to as the undead rooster...and he kept a wide space between he and I until the day he was big enough for eating. Never offered to make fight at any human after that, so it does show that a mean rooster can be converted to a plain ol' human fearing rooster in one training session if one is firm enough.

I'd wait until you get a chance for Welsummers....try to contact actual breeders of those and they may sell you some chicks that you wouldn't find at hatchery. If not chicks, they may have fertilized eggs to sell you can put under a broody this season.

When the majority of folks tell you the BMs are mean birds, I'd listen. I've not listened before and had to kill certain breeds each time I got them in a flock due to temperament.

 

[ninnymary]

Bee, I don't want to do chicks anymore. Been there, done that.

I do see Welsummer occasionally. My problem is that I want certain breeds all the same age. I've even looked to find 2 in one place and 2 in another and still can't find what I want.

I'm going this morning to see a Black Astralorp, Light Brahma, Speckle Sussex. These are all in one place and breeds I'd like. Will also decide between a Moran (which I think is pretty much out based on reviews here) and an Easter Egger, or Black Mottled Java. Leaning towards the Java unless the Easter Egger is really pretty. We'll see which of the two catch my eye. He has no Welsummers.

Mary

 

[AMKuska]

I'd wait. Copper Moran's are meaaaaan

 

[Sam BigDeer]

Had a copper maran cockerel here once I had picked up with various roosters for free to can up, kept him around a bit to get some size on him. The only rooster in my whole life that dared to lay a beak on me...bit me in the leg as I was walking away.

Two can play at that game, so the next time he came around the corner of the coop I laid him OUT. Thought I had killed him, so threw him over in the woods with a big ol' heave. Later on that evening I saw a bird come walking up the yard all crooked necked and staggering a little. From then on he was referred to as the undead rooster...and he kept a wide space between he and I until the day he was big enough for eating. Never offered to make fight at any human after that, so it does show that a mean rooster can be converted to a plain ol' human fearing rooster in one training session if one is firm enough.
.

Beekissed, that anecdote gave me a good ROTFL moment; been there,seen similar as he goes chucklin' and snickerin' off into the kitchen with coffee mug in hand....
Loved it!! Sam