International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[marchick]

I need some help on tagging. Last year didn't go so well. What worked good and how did you keep track? I bought some new bands size 12 and 14. I also bought a toe punch.

 

[Old Man Tom]

I need some help on tagging. Last year didn't go so well. What worked good and how did you keep track? I bought some new bands size 12 and 14. I also bought a toe punch.

Even after you toe punch and tag you have to build trap nests and maybe roll out boxes. You have to be able to match the egg to the hen who layed it and the cock who covered the hen. Some people know there hens well enough to place egg to hen. It all sounded so fun to start. Now it becomes a lot of work. I made a brooder. Not big enough. I bought a brooder. Better!! Got an Incu from my uncle. Building a hatcher from a wine cooler. It is very time consuming so you gotta love it. Will not have my first ever hatch until March. Everything so far is from chics that I bought. I can see here this takes years and years. And for sure it is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get! GOTTA LOVE IT TOM

 

[marchick]

Even after you toe punch and tag you have to build trap nests and maybe roll out boxes. You have to be able to match the egg to the hen who layed it and the cock who covered the hen. Some people know there hens well enough to place egg to hen. It all sounded so fun to start. Now it becomes a lot of work. I made a brooder. Not big enough. I bought a brooder. Better!! Got an Incu from my uncle. Building a hatcher from a wine cooler. It is very time consuming so you gotta love it. Will not have my first ever hatch until March. Everything so far is from chics that I bought. I can see here this takes years and years. And for sure it is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get! GOTTA LOVE IT TOM

I am going to do 3 hens to one rooster in two pens. Maybe I will be able to tell eggs apart. I hope! The large main pen will just be a holding pen. I am not planning on selling. Just for my own love of the breed. I have one pen to raise a few chicks in.

 

[KF0002]

I need some help on tagging. Last year didn't go so well. What worked good and how did you keep track? I bought some new bands size 12 and 14. I also bought a toe punch.

I toe punch when it is beneficial, most of my chicks are toe punched at hatch. Leg bands are okay but I've had many birds to lose leg bands and that is frustrating. With my Marans their wing webs are big enough at hatch to wing band them right out of the incubator, unlike my smaller breeds like the Legbars and Games that need to grow for a week or two before wing banding. You can wing band Marans at any age from day old to maturity and it is a permanent means of identification that will stay with the bird all its life. Wing banding can be intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it you can do it in your sleep. There is very little pain because you are going through a thin layer of skin. There are some good videos on youtube to help and I order my wing bands and pliars to apply them from Woods Enterprises online, Ebay has them also. I use the Zip style.

 

[marchick]

I toe punch when it is beneficial, most of my chicks are toe punched at hatch. Leg bands are okay but I've had many birds to lose leg bands and that is frustrating. With my Marans their wing webs are big enough at hatch to wing band them right out of the incubator, unlike my smaller breeds like the Legbars and Games that need to grow for a week or two before wing banding. You can wing band Marans at any age from day old to maturity and it is a permanent means of identification that will stay with the bird all its life. Wing banding can be intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it you can do it in your sleep. There is very little pain because you are going through a thin layer of skin. There are some good videos on youtube to help and I order my wing bands and pliars to apply them from Woods Enterprises online, Ebay has them also. I use the Zip style.

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I will look it up! Should I have a name put on them?

 

[KF0002]

Got some experience bathing a Marans just now. Of course this particular cockerel isn't a show candidate, but I got to practice and the cockerel got a bubble bath. Win - win! The reason for the bath in the first place is because there was a leftover cereal and milk incident. I quite often throw leftovers and table scraps off the back porch to the chickens and cat. This cockerel just so happened to walk right under it. It is below freezing outside so I had to clean him up. He is in the laundry room in a pet taxi drying now. He was very calm in the tub and talked happily the whole time.

 

[KF0002]

I will look it up! Should I have a name put on them?

You can put your name or farm name on them if you want. The next set of bands I buy I plan on putting my name on them for when I start showing.

 

[Amanita]

Got some experience bathing a Marans just now. Of course this particular cockerel isn't a show candidate, but I got to practice and the cockerel got a bubble bath. Win - win! The reason for the bath in the first place is because there was a leftover cereal and milk incident. I quite often throw leftovers and table scraps off the back porch to the chickens and cat. This cockerel just so happened to walk right under it. It is below freezing outside so I had to clean him up. He is in the laundry room in a pet taxi drying now. He was very calm in the tub and talked happily the whole time.

View attachment 1219469

Any tips? A couple of mine are getting kind of muddy from playing in the garden and then running over each others' backs...
I'd like to wash them but I don't want it to be a traumatic experience, for them or me!

 

[KF0002]

Any tips? A couple of mine are getting kind of muddy from playing in the garden and then running over each others' backs...
I'd like to wash them but I don't want it to be a traumatic experience, for them or me!

Warm water, dawn dish soap, a cup, bath towel, and a warm place to dry. A little dish soap goes a long way. Make sure to rinse well. I used the cup to get the back and the head. I didnt submerge the bird, I let him stand in the tub and kept the faucet running. When I added the soap, I squirted a very small amount in the cup, filled the cup up with water to dilute and mix the soap, then poured the soapy water over the bird. After I was satisfied he was clean, I used the cup to rinse him with water. Squeeze gently as much water from the feathers as you can. Then wrap the bird up in a towel to absorb the excess water. You can blow dry on low heat or let the bird dry naturally in a warm place. He will preen himself and replenish the oils removed by the dish soap.

If I were doing multiple birds for a show during warm weather I would have had tubs set up outside, one tub with soapy water, one with just water to rinse, and another tub with water and a little vinegar to help remove the soap. Several breeders who show have recommended this but Im sure I will develop my own routine. For cold weather I really liked my bathtub method. Clean and sanitize your bathtub after of course.

For show prep, an old toothbrush to scrub feet and witch hazel or vetRx applied to the face with a wash cloth to make the red pop. Trim beak and nails. Spray dry cloth with show shine and wipe dry bird with cloth, repeat for touch ups. I am eager to start showing poultry. First I have to breed show quality birds.

 

[KF0002]

Here is the finished product, all dry after his bath. Pardon the ugly old pet taxi. We use it a lot outside. Gotta love the gentle and calm nature of Marans.