Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[omas biddies]

Haaaaa. Me to my kids are calling me the crazy chicken lady

 

[Peach Mom]

I am writing to ask for help with a French Black Copper Marans rooster that has developed very red, kinda swollen, sore looking legs and feet. He has also lost a few feathers on the underside of his neck and it too is red, and I noticed, drawing some pecks from the girls. It really does not look like scaly leg mites. So far I treated with a poultry wound spray which did not help a bit and may have made it worse. I've read that sometimes BCM roos can sometimes get red legs in the spring do to increased fertility so I posted here to see if anyone that knows the breed could help. Thanks!!!

 

[Runawaylobster]

Haaaaa. Me to my kids are calling me the crazy chicken lady

i can so identify with that... LOL!!

 

[Wynette]

Haaaaa. Me to my kids are calling me the crazy chicken lady

Funny, I know many, many "crazy chicken ladies."

I am writing to ask for help with a French Black Copper Marans rooster that has developed very red, kinda swollen, sore looking legs and feet. He has also lost a few feathers on the underside of his neck and it too is red, and I noticed, drawing some pecks from the girls. It really does not look like scaly leg mites. So far I treated with a poultry wound spray which did not help a bit and may have made it worse. I've read that sometimes BCM roos can sometimes get red legs in the spring do to increased fertility so I posted here to see if anyone that knows the breed could help. Thanks!!!

Peach, the reddness in the legs that accounts for fertility is something different than what you are seeing, I believe. Check this thread - is this what you see in your male?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/244582/feather-legged-cock-bird-with-inflamed-feather-shafts

Also, if your hens are picking at him (which they will when they see blood...) I would separate him immediately...chickens are cannibalistic, and they can peck another chicken to death if/when they see blood. It's not a good place for him to be if he's getting pecked at.

Also check for mites; you need to wait until dark, typically, to see them; bring a flashlight to the coop, and shine it right near his vent - you can typically see them scurrying about there, if he has them. And, if HE has them, THEY ALL do and will need to be treated.

 

[bribre]

Has anyone else noticed that the marans are really dirty birds? I have 9 marans (8 hens and 1 rooster ) plus 5 other hens of different breeds. I find the marans are always filthy and never clean them selfs... Where I leave the winters are rainy and muddy but my other breeds are always clean.

Just curious if anyone else has noticed this or if it's just my marans...

 

[blackbirds13]

Has anyone else noticed that the marans are really dirty birds? I have 9 marans (8 hens and 1 rooster ) plus 5 other hens of different breeds. I find the marans are always filthy and never clean them selfs... Where I leave the winters are rainy and muddy but my other breeds are always clean.

Just curious if anyone else has noticed this or if it's just my marans...

My Marans are no less or no more dirty than any other of the birds I've kept.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Has anyone else noticed that the marans are really dirty birds? I have 9 marans (8 hens and 1 rooster ) plus 5 other hens of different breeds. I find the marans are always filthy and never clean them selfs... Where I leave the winters are rainy and muddy but my other breeds are always clean.

Just curious if anyone else has noticed this or if it's just my marans...

I'd do an indepth health check. My Marans are just as clean as the rest of the birds except their muddy foot feathers (NW Oregon mudland here). Our eggs are always relatively clean and people remark on that with the hatching eggs. I've gotten FILTHY eggs for hatching from some people.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
They seem to LOVE the mud. I have read several posts about the Marans are always in the mud. Mine are in covered runs now so I don't see that much. My WL are the dirtiest birds even with their eggs in BOTH pens.... go figure.

 

[bribre]

Ok thanks for the replies it must just be my birds... It doesn't help that I just started them on FF and love to up in the dish and fling it everywhere... lol

 

[omas biddies]

I am sorry to hear that..Well I NEVER heard that before