Given a flock of Black Marans

[Saintbubbles]

This past week I was offered, for free, a chicken tractor and six hens if I wanted them. My wife and I did some research over the weekend and decided to take them. The same neighbor had just given us three dozen eggs from another flock and the eggs were incredible. The eggs gave me the taste for it and the price hooked me. We have a large back yard and live in the country so we have plenty of space.

I now have an A-frame chicken tractor, six Black Maran hens, water and grain feeders. They also gave me around 30 lbs of feed.

I found backyardchickens.com on Reddit. It looks like this a better place for newbs to ask questions.

Two of the three kids have taken an interest in taking care of the chickens. They are teenagers so we will see what happens.

I'm located in Lafayette, LA. How well do Black Maran's do in this climate? Do I need to do anything special this summer to keep them cool? Anything else I need to know about raising chickens in the heat here would be appreciated.

I look forward to the adventure. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Welcome to our eggcelent flock here at BYC

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC
This link may help with your question
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/788391/keeping-chickens-cool-in-summer-heat

Here are some links to key resources:

• List of guides on how to use the site - announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3
• Great resource for beginners = https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/learning-center.11/
• Good starting point for browsing the site - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/
• Interesting feedback on how members manage their flocks -https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archives
• Excellent source of local information - Find your State's thread.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
They should do okay there. There are lots of ways to keep your chickens comfortable in the heat including providing shade, a wading pool, feeding frozen fruit, misters and fans.
Good luck with the flock. What a deal!

 

[Bamabexchicks]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! Wow! How nice to get lovely chickens and a set up to keep them. You are in the right place for information and super nice folks to answer questions you may have! Someone will come along soon to answer your question about Marans and heat.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yes here is THE best place for helpful information and a friendly vibe!

Lots of shade for chickens in summer.

I am in a dry desert like climate so not great with humid areas and advice.


I would wonder if the short run will allow enough breeze in summer.

Congrats on a free flock!

 

[KLIL]

Hello from down under Australia and welcome to BYC!
You are going to love it here.

Feel free to pop by and share your daily updates for 2019 too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flock-life-journeys-2019.1286370/

Lovely to meet you and hope to speak more.

 

[Eggscaping]

[QUOTE="I now have an A-frame chicken tractor, six Black Maran hens, water and grain feeders. They also gave me around 30 lbs of feed. [/QUOTE]

Wow! Lucky you!! You're right...you will learn lots and lots from the knowledgeable, friendly folks here! Please keep us posted with how it's going. Lovely birds!

 

[Animals45]

Welcome to backyard chickens so glad you joined the flock! Feel free to ask questions and answer questions! Make yourself at home! Hope you enjoy this site as much
as we all do here!​