International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[KF0002]

This does get discouraging at times. I feel the same way! I spend a lot of money to give eggs away. I actually still have 4 hens and a rooster left. The guy backed out since I hadn't vaccinated for Maricks. I think he will have a difficult time finding them vaccinated. It was funny I had 4 people wanting them all at the same time. Yet they are still here!

Ughh that gets on my nerves! You have people blowing your phone up wanting them, but when it comes time for them to come get them its this reason or that reason they cant come.. or "I cant get them until next week," stringing you along forever. Only to back out completely. Drives me crazy!

This one time I had a lady message me looking for a rooster and said that a friend of hers knew me and told her I had chickens. I immediately offered to give her a rooster for free because at any given time I have many extras around. She said she could come on such and such date. Well when the date came, then she couldnt come until another date because she didnt have a ride. No big deal, its a free rooster. Well when that date came, she couldnt come again because she didnt have a ride and wanted to know if I would bring the rooster to her... a 30ish minute drive one way from me. Um no.. I will not drive an hour total to and from your house delivering a free rooster to you.

 

[chickengr]

You have worked hard, I hope this is the line that does it for you.

I am getting ready to clean house. I think I am going to give away Antonio and the old hens.... I guess I have to keep Gabby. Any of the younger hens with a serious flaw, high tail, knock kneed etc will go as well. I spend a lot of money feeding chickens to give eggs away. Not to mention the nuisance they are with the garden and porch. I guess it is my turn to be discouraged.

why do you give the eggs away?

I feed my chickens whole corn, wheat, barley and oats + eggs, fruits, vegetables. this way they eat well and healthy, lay a lot of eggs and it is cheep. they feed themselves, dogs, cats and me of course.

 

[Hensndoes]

Geez. I'm glad I haven't had issues getting rid of birds. Each time I've posted on the Facebook group for our states bird and farm enthusiasts and they've gone in minutes. And I've gotten to collect money for them last time.

I remember having too many eggs last year when I switched jobs and my customer that bought 4-5 dz a week wasn't so convenient. I ended up selling them to the local owned market for $2.25/dz because I wouldn't lower my price and bring down the market rate. Hope I don't have to do that again. By my calculations I need to sell 1,750 dozen just to break even on the material costs of the coop.

 

[Red Banks]

Geez. I'm glad I haven't had issues getting rid of birds. Each time I've posted on the Facebook group for our states bird and farm enthusiasts and they've gone in minutes. And I've gotten to collect money for them last time.

I remember having too many eggs last year when I switched jobs and my customer that bought 4-5 dz a week wasn't so convenient. I ended up selling them to the local owned market for $2.25/dz because I wouldn't lower my price and bring down the market rate. Hope I don't have to do that again. By my calculations I need to sell 1,750 dozen just to break even on the material costs of the coop.

I can sell my eggs to the farmers market for $2 a dz. but I give them to my friends and my friends return the favor with something I need down the road. I enjoy giving the eggs. I didn't mean to make it sound bad because it is not but I do have way too many eggs and could still give them to my friends with less chickens. I feed Gus the dog an egg once or twice a day. Everyone around me sells eggs for $4-5 a dz. I am the only crazy woman that gives them away.

How about last year when eggs were 99 cents in the grocery store!

 

[Red Banks]

The Marans have claimed the woodpile. Even though everyone is free ranging together, this is their territory lol

View attachment 1445447

Such a pretty picture! Lots of good bugs in the wood pile.

 

[Hensndoes]

I can sell my eggs to the farmers market for $2 a dz. but I give them to my friends and my friends return the favor with something I need down the road. I enjoy giving the eggs. I didn't mean to make it sound bad because it is not but I do have way too many eggs and could still give them to my friends with less chickens. I feed Gus the dog an egg once or twice a day. Everyone around me sells eggs for $4-5 a dz. I am the only crazy woman that gives them away.

How about last year when eggs were 99 cents in the grocery store!

I didn't think it sounded bad. I just remember thinking "well this is an odd complaint- my hens are laying more than I can get rid of!"

This just goes to show our different markets. People up here in New England like to pay for local. Heck I don't think they are cheaper than $4 in the grocery.

 

[marchick]

Geez. I'm glad I haven't had issues getting rid of birds. Each time I've posted on the Facebook group for our states bird and farm enthusiasts and they've gone in minutes. And I've gotten to collect money for them last time.

I remember having too many eggs last year when I switched jobs and my customer that bought 4-5 dz a week wasn't so convenient. I ended up selling them to the local owned market for $2.25/dz because I wouldn't lower my price and bring down the market rate. Hope I don't have to do that again. By my calculations I need to sell 1,750 dozen just to break even on the material costs of the coop.

Yep it sucks! I can't sell 1 1/2 year old hens for less than the price I gave for them straight run as chicks. Ouch! I mean any run of the mill chicken should sell for $20 for a hen.

 

[chickengr]

if I finally learn to eat my chickens I will have no problem with getting rid of them. I am getting a big deep freezer. I just need my brain to start functioning, lol.

 

[Magnolia Hill]

Does anyone have a good example of shafting?

 

[KF0002]

Does anyone have a good example of shafting?

Shafting is when the quill/vein down the middle of the feather is lighter or a different color than the rest of the feather.

This is a picture of my best cockerel when he was younger. He has both copper leakage and shafting.