International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[marchick]

This happens more often than we think. The band moves up the thigh and can't be seen until the leg is swollen.

I hear about this a lot. I have also heard of a case where it was long hair wrapped around the leg that got infection. Crazy!

Oh no! Now I have to worry about my long hair! Lol If it seems impossible they can get hurt by it! Lol

 

[Punkybrewster]

I culled down to

next year's hens (molting) and pullets all housed together.

The 3 new cockerels penned together

Lovesong and Moonshine chicks penned together.

I let them all out to free range for the day but left the 3 cockerels penned.

A loose dog dug under the fence and killed them all.

3 new cockerels are alive because they were penned.

1 pullet from the dark egg hatching group and 1 cockerel from Lovesong (Great Song) showed up the next day.

Words can't explain...
Going out to the chicken village and seeing those great big empty pens makes me sick to my stomach.

My Marans that I've worked for years on.
I think I done lost my mind for a couple of weeks there.

Animal control took the dog.
It was from down the road. The woman is pretty belligerent. I am a peaceful person but considering there were other complaints made about this dog that I didnt know of, we will go to court for this one.

I am heartbroken.

 

[Punkybrewster]

How did I not hear any noise until near the end?!

I about gave up but did not make any decisions until I had control of my emotions. It took quite a few days I'll admit.

I have Greatsong. He is Lovesong and Jr progeny.

I have a pullet hatched from a very dark egg.

I have 3 beautiful cockerels from THE champion line.

So I contacted a customer who bought fertile eggs from me this past spring and bought tiny chicks from those hatched birds. My line.

Lessons I have learned:

-Don't be so smug in your set up that you think nothing can happen.

- Utilize all pens and split them up. Free range pens on different days. If anything happens, you have another pen of birds.

- Keep the gun loaded and by the back door at all times.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Greatsong.
Jr sire, Lovesong dame.

Tail is a little high and lacks mass but nice small tail and he has a pretty face. He is still young. Nice leg color.

very skittish right now. I will get better photos.

 

[marchick]

I culled down to

next year's hens (molting) and pullets all housed together.

The 3 new cockerels penned together

Lovesong and Moonshine chicks penned together.

I let them all out to free range for the day but left the 3 cockerels penned.

A loose dog dug under the fence and killed them all.

3 new cockerels are alive because they were penned.

1 pullet from the dark egg hatching group and 1 cockerel from Lovesong (Great Song) showed up the next day.

Words can't explain...
Going out to the chicken village and seeing those great big empty pens makes me sick to my stomach.

My Marans that I've worked for years on.
I think I done lost my mind for a couple of weeks there.

Animal control took the dog.
It was from down the road. The woman is pretty belligerent. I am a peaceful person but considering there were other complaints made about this dog that I didnt know of, we will go to court for this one.

I am heartbroken.

I am so sorry! How heart breaking! They should pay big for that! They need to keep their dogs contained. I wouldn't back down! Please don't be surprised though if you get less than positive responses from ignorant people. I have gotten into arguments with people on the rescue group page. They think they are just chickens. The dogs life is more important. Just go buy more chickens they say. They don't work years to breed a line of Marans. They don't spend thousands of dollars in feed and supplies. They don't clean out buildings and haul buckets of water daily in the heat and cold. Sending love and praying for you and this situation. Again I am so sorry!

 

[Punkybrewster]

#182 pullet.
Mr.Good Comb sire, dark egg laying dame.
Hatched Jan/Feb 2023.

Did NOT inherit a good comb. Haha

Long and lean, very friendly since the massacre.
Not good type.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I am so sorry! How heart breaking! They should pay big for that! They need to keep their dogs contained. I wouldn't back down! Please don't be surprised though if you get less than positive responses from ignorant people. I have gotten into arguments with people on the rescue group page. They think they are just chickens. The dogs life is more important. Just go buy more chickens they say. They don't work years to breed a line of Marans. They don't spend thousands of dollars in feed and supplies. They don't clean out buildings and haul buckets of water daily in the heat and cold. Sending love and praying for you and this situation. Again I am so sorry!

Thank you @marchick .

I took it hard.

Animal control says the judge is very sympathetic to dogs killing livestock.

It all those years of work that tears me up.

 

[Punkybrewster]

3 cockerels.

Blue band is your favorite @chooksman. I don't like his copper though. Nice type. He is smallest of the 3

Orange band is huge. He has the nicest copper. Overcolored chest.

Green band, don't like his color, nicest comb?

 

[NanaK]

@Punkybrewster

I don't know what to say. I am so very very sorry you have to deal with this. That's a tough situation. My eyes teared reading your post and my heart breaks for you.

I am not a vengeful person but what is right is right. I would most certainly follow up for damages. Not just the birds but any other damage the dog did such a fencing, etc. I would also make sure it is mentioned these were breeders not just for the table or eggs. They were a source of income. Now all that must start over.

About the dog, if they picked it up she will have to probably pay a fee to get it back. That's how it happens here. 2nd time is a fine and the fee. Sometimes people don't go and get them. That is sad for the dogs.

I am out in the country. We have no leash laws here but you are expected to keep your animals on your own property or they can be picked up. I have had hogs, lambs, goats, turkeys, ducks, lots of dogs and cats show up here. We've been here for over 30 yrs. There has only been 1 dog I wanted to shoot. He tried to bite me.

It is not the animals fault. It is the owner's fault. I really dislike people who do not take care of their animals. It is cruel to let a dog run at large.

Do you know any of the people who also complained about this dog? Maybe you can talk with them to build a better case.

Once that is all behind you, move forward. You know what you have. And you have chicks! A pullet hatched from a dark egg! Some boys! And you have way more knowledge this time! It will be even better than before! I know it will!

Hey....we will want pics of these babies growing up, the egg when the pullet starts to lay, etc.

 

[Punkybrewster]

@Punkybrewster

I don't know what to say. I am so very very sorry you have to deal with this. That's a tough situation. My eyes teared reading your post and my heart breaks for you.

I am not a vengeful person but what is right is right. I would most certainly follow up for damages. Not just the birds but any other damage the dog did such a fencing, etc. I would also make sure it is mentioned these were breeders not just for the table or eggs. They were a source of income. Now all that must start over.

About the dog, if they picked it up she will have to probably pay a fee to get it back. That's how it happens here. 2nd time is a fine and the fee. Sometimes people don't go and get them. That is sad for the dogs.

I am out in the country. We have no leash laws here but you are expected to keep your animals on your own property or they can be picked up. I have had hogs, lambs, goats, turkeys, ducks, lots of dogs and cats show up here. We've been here for over 30 yrs. There has only been 1 dog I wanted to shoot. He tried to bite me.

It is not the animals fault. It is the owner's fault. I really dislike people who do not take care of their animals. It is cruel to let a dog run at large.

Do you know any of the people who also complained about this dog? Maybe you can talk with them to build a better case.

Once that is all behind you, move forward. You know what you have. And you have chicks! A pullet hatched from a dark egg! Some boys! And you have way more knowledge this time! It will be even better than before! I know it will!

Hey....we will want pics of these babies growing up, the egg when the pullet starts to lay, etc.

Thank you for the kind words. They mean a lot.

Now that my head is on straight, I've bought a new notebook and have entered the 4 cockerels and 1 pullet as the first entries with all of their info.

As the chicks grow, I will wing band them and start recording their info.

The wonderful woman that I got them from allowed me to pick the chicks so of course I'm 90% sure of pullets.
I also gave her tips for breeding and selections. It's very important to pass it on.

I will say, the cockerel she is using for breeding is beautiful. He looks very much like his father (Mr. Good Comb) and has a nice personality.

The hens are beautiful and most were chunky. I have hope!

I'm sitting out here hanging out with them, giving extra vitamins and they seem to be on the mend.

My1 brahma survived too. She's an odd hen. She roosted with the Marans even when I did have brahmas over the summer.

My heart aches.

This time of year I had culled down to the important ones. Only the breeders and a few pullets to check their egg color. Some I had for 4-5 years.

Lovesong, Moonshine, Big Mama, Betty White leg band.....
Ugh

But their progeny are in the brooder. All their genetics are there. Good and bad. I just need to sort it all out.