Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Ivywoods]

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Me too!!!!!!!!!! A big bag, at least 25lbs or more is cheap at the feed store. Tractor supply is a whole 'nother story. They want $7.99 for a bag that hols a few cups........What a rip off.

Orscheln's had a BIG bag that had a rip in it. I bought it for a couple dollars. It will probably last me for years to come. I nuked and crushed up some eggshells this evening. I'm going to give it to the girls in the morning. It really was pretty simple.

 

[Illia]

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Dark "Blue" Eggs - That gal has some.

 

[math ace]

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Wifes are SPECIAL that way !

 

[math ace]

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Here is my PERSONAL experience - - - The white in the tail feather and wings can take time (lots of time) for the paint to spread. My roo is about 11 months and his 1 white wing feather and 1 white tail feather are almost totally black now. So, it can be true that the paint will spread in these areas.

White BASES in the hackle area is another story. That white does not seem to get painted! NOT in my personal experience anyway.

So, the white as the base of the hackle area - - -is it a DQ or a Fault. If it is a DQ, then I would cull for this.
If it is a FAULT, then I would keep the better looking of the two roos as my backup. You have a NICE roo already . . .

Does anyone have a DIFFERENT experience with the white bases of the hackle feathers. Have you seen the white in the HACKLE area get painted? ? ?

My roo has the white based hackle area and I did not cull him because he is my only roo. I am using him and CROSSING MY FINGERS that ONE ( JUST ONE is all I need) of his sons will not have this trait. IF, IF, IF I found a better looking roo NEAR me without that fault . . . I would be all over it and get some hatching eggs at least. You on the other hand . . . . have a nice roo BUT he could be infertile, he could carry the light egg gene, he could have hidden penne in him, etc. There is no way of knowing until you hook him up. That is why I suggest keeping the best looking cockerel as a back up. You paid a pretty penny for them - -- don't cull to early.

CAN you get a DAY PEN that these guys can go into during the daylight hours and then come back to the garage at night? This Day Pen does not have to be as secure as a regular pen because the are not staying in it at night. Have Dh, fence in an area and throw a tarp over top - -- If he makes it long and narrow, you could throw a long sheet of roofing tin over it. . . .

Dh will probably do it JUST to get your Dang birds out of his space during the daylight hours. . . .

 

[HarmonyOaks]

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Keara, do you know, when dark birds get stressed, illness, lack of water or food, shipment; they can get a white feather or two or three. Since these birds are ill, I would give them a chance to recover and molt before I dispatched them.

 

[math ace]

Kathyinmo - - - I got some sleep, but It is going to be a ROUGH DAY!

I have 7 eggs with little cracks in them. One of the chicks has made his crack into an official hole.
The eggs have had holes in them for over 5 hours. OMG, how long does it take to get out of the egg? ? ?

It would seem that once they get the crack showing, it would take forever to get a BIG hole in the egg.

 

[VillageChicken]

I've seen it go 18 hours from little crack to actual little hole! Last hatch had a day 19 pip that didn't hatch til early day 21.

 

[math ace]

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OMG - - I will need a prozac or something if this is the case. Should I start drinking WINE or ya-ya punch at 7:00 in the morning?
I am gonna need to pace myself if this is going to take 18 hours. I LEFT the house ALL day yesterday - - so that is not an option today!

 

[pinkchick]

Morning Math~

You need to find something to do today that entails staying away from the 'bator.

 

[math ace]

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I just woke Dd up so that we can drive the 15 miles one way to McDonalds and pick up breakfast for everyone. Going to stop by the Post office too. After that, I am out of ideas. I even started paying bills. . .

It is suppose to RAIN today . .. I will be stuck in the house with the hatching chicks