Maran chicks update.

[RebeccaBoyd]

My daughter Rosie's 6 new maran chicks have been here a week and are thriving! This is the first time i've brooded chicks myself and these guys are sooo friendly. It's really refreshing being able to interact with them and not worry about a angry momma hen out for blood just because you looked at them. Sadly I did loose the little lavender Ameracuana chick last night. I got her feet better but i think there was more wrong with her as she just would not eat on her own. It is heartbreaking as i spent every 2 hours for a week using a eye dropper to water and feed her. We have been taking the maran's outside to explore for a hour or so during the day weather permitting and they love it. Toothy is very curious about them and sticks by close watching. Well watching me i should say. The first day i took them out they were terrified of grass and were shrieking loudly. I'm trying to wrangle and calm panicky chicks when from behind me i hear a growl. Turn around and there is toothy giving me a evil glare. I do think he thought i was hurting them and about whipped me over them. Here are some pictures we took yesterday during play time.

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh they are just adorable!! They look like they were having a lot of fun.

Sorry about the one you lost however, never easy to lose them.

 

[N F C]

Nice looking youngsters, thanks for sharing pictures!

 

[drumstick diva]

love the photos, never get tired of seeing them.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I love these little guys. It appears i have 4 little cockerels out of the 6, yay me lol. Why do the little guys have to have the sweetest personality out of the bunch. Only going to keep 1 boy and I believe that will be George. He's the biggest boy and has the most feathered feet and legs which i think you want with marans plus he's a snuggler. As long as he behaves i can't get rid of the one that hops up and naps on my shoulder for a few minutes each day. The 2 little pullets Daisy and Holly are already wicked smart. They be smaller than their brothers but when treats are passed out they use their brains and speed to their advantage. Daisy is easy to pick out when they are all in a group as she's the oddball and has clean legs. She may never be a total lap chicken but she is very jealous when someone else is getting one on one attention. She catches me holding one of the others and stops whatever she's doing and runs them off and proceeds to sit in my lap telling me off in chicken speak for a minute or two before hopping back down.

 

[Safarimom]

Awe, there so sweet! I love the picture with the one that is jumping! This is my first time ever owning chickens. I have a variety of 7 different breeds that hatched in June 2019. Last week my white Marans named Daisy was the last of them to lay her first egg. I loved finding it in the nest box. It is not as dark as some of the photos that I have seen, but it is darker then my other brown eggs. I wasn’t expecting the speckles either. I blew out all of their first eggs and have them in a basket next to my desk. She also has a great personality.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Awe, there so sweet! I love the picture with the one that is jumping! This is my first time ever owning chickens. I have a variety of 7 different breeds that hatched in June 2019. Last week my white Marans named Daisy was the last of them to lay her first egg. I loved finding it in the nest box. It is not as dark as some of the photos that I have seen, but it is darker then my other brown eggs. I wasn’t expecting the speckles either. I blew out all of their first eggs and have them in a basket next to my desk. She also has a great personality.View attachment 2067509View attachment 2067510

That is a pretty girl and a lovely egg. I didn't know they came in white. My guys are 7 weeks old today and will update later with new pictures. I'm loving these guys. I dont know if its where i'm raising them myself without a momma hen or if it is just maran personality but i've never seen such friendly and inquisitive chicks. Honestly between the chickens and the horses it's helping me keep my sanity during the social distancing. I preferred to stay at home before, but now that i have to....it's driving me nuts.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

7 week old pictures.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Now for a general flock update. I have a agonizing decision to make in the upcoming weeks. My whole family has fallen in love with the marans. My mother thinks they are beautiful and enjoys their personalities as well. My dad has suggested that while he loves Toothless it makes more sense to only keep the marans instead of having a mixed breed flock. My daughter only agree's to this if my grandfather will take Toothless and Henrietta and Nugget. He wanted them back in the fall and she wouldn't give them up. Due to the virus and staying home I have not had a chance to bring this up with him. I want to have this conversation in person and not over the phone. With my current marans i have 4 cockerals and 2 pullets. Only 1 of the boys will stay. If we go to a maran only flock in the fall will try to find at least 2 more pullets and build up from there. I understand my dad's point of view, marans are slightly hard to find in my area. Where these came from hatching eggs are sold for 48 a dozen and chicks are 7 unsexed when hatched. It would be nice if not only as pets the chickens could sorta earn their keep at times. But then again, its Toothless, whose gorgeous and a favorite. It's hard to imagine not looking out my kitchen window every day and not seeing him or spending time outside with him.

 

[b.hromada]

Too cute! Love the pics. Thanks for sharing!