I am so frustrated with my Marans!

[lildinkem]

Marans are definitely one of the breeds that needs some better breeders. Alot of inbreeding to keep supposed desired lines true. I find myself with that same choice. To mix lines and get a better healthier birds or stay true to those valueable lines. And I believe my original, non feathered legged lines are my healthiest cause of my lack of trying to isolate lines and choosing better birds for their conformation instead.
My best reccomendation is to keep culling and buying eggs and get a few that are of quality and breed. Or get out of Marans, they are darn expensive. I could have bought a decent used car for the money I paid for eggs. But, I am closer to having healthy birds and that will make me and people happy to raise and own.

 

[blackdotte]

Hatching mailed eggs is always a gamble, if you get an average of 10% success consider yourself lucky.
Marans like any breed need to be culled firstly for thriftiness ,vigor & vitality. If you hatch out every egg even those from poor birds, mollycoddle every chick, in order to sell everything you can for big $$$ you will have problems.
But you already know that, don't you?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
I definitely do not live near a big city. I have to travel 50 miles round trip to pick up birds from the post office. I do not mind it a bit, because it's worth it to me. The last bird I had sent to me cost around $50 for express shipping. Most post offices accept shipped birds (some do not, so it's good to check beforehand). If you buy from a reputable breeder then the birds are generally in good health and will survive the stress of shipping.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Easier said than done in shipping adult animals. If you live no where close to a cargo office then shipping is a nightmare. I have received some guinea pigs from the other side of the country. Cost was amazingling high by the time I finished paying for the cage, animals, and the flight charges.

Poultry are (can be) shipped via US Mail; delivered right to your door, or the Post Office if you prefer.​

 

[Chicken Fruit]

I dont even LIKE marans. I thought I would, but after investing all the time and energy into them they pecked all my other chicks (from the same batch) almost naked, they were flighty (they FLEW everywhere, even with their wings trimmed) and made all the other chicks and chickens on edge.

Plus they were MEAN, they pecked my hands whenever i had to get ahold of them....

UGH... I dont know HOW people can keep those stupid birds.

 

[tellynpeep]

Quote:
Thanks! I feel better about my lousy hatch rate now! My Welsummers are hatching today... maybe I'll have better luck here!

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Quote:
Thanks! I feel better about my lousy hatch rate now! My Welsummers are hatching today... maybe I'll have better luck here!

At first I didnt like my welsummers, but the older they got the better they got. Theyre 11 weeks now and really quite sociable. The rooster is really friendly, and actually still very quiet. He doesnt try often to crow... lol.

I bet you'll like them.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
Because properly bred marans aren't like this (above). My birds are sweethearts it's WHY i fell in love with them. They are very peaceful birds, I brood them even with my coturnix quails (and button quails). When I first got marans I got them from a swap, I was more interested in the crosses, but there was added in some pures... and when those sweethearts hatched I was hooked. If you got birds like that you're really not seeing how true marans are...

 

[lildinkem]

In defense of Marans. I have Birchen Black Silver and Black Copper. And initially I thought they were more aggressive then my other breeds, so I named my cockerels after old school wretlers, like " Gorilla Monsoon ".
My Gorilla is a very smart boy. He is gentle with the pullets, and I seen one of my older pullets picking on a 2 month ole and Gorilla came over and pecked at that pullet. To say " SEE HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?" After that moment, my view of Marans had changed. Their still a mutt breed to me, but I like them for the dark eggs, and now for their intelligence. IF there is such a thing for a chicken.

 

[cariboujaguar]

L&Schickens I am SO sorry this happened, I can NOT imagine your frustration. That being said, if you decide you don't like them, let me buy them? At least you could recoop some costs maybe

? Keep us in mind for eggs, we can pick up a bunch down in CA or OR and you can bet your button we will be much more careful then the US post office... it sounds like some breeders need to send double the order, it's not fair to spend good dollar on 12 eggs and only get 1 chick

I am so sad for you!

My Marans are not friendly, but not mean, I wouldn't call them flighty, they're easy to catch and are warming up to us... one of them is laying an egg that is light light brown, I need to find out who she is and cull her immediately...