Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ChickensAreSweet]

Hey PinkChick!!!!

Here are your babies that you sold me now!!!!!!!!
(Pic taken today- Blue Copper pullets- and yes they are living with my silkies in the dog kennel for the next few weeks until my other babies move to the growout pen and can be integrated with them.)
They get to free range once a day for about an hour as I do my chores outside. They have been practicing flying.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
I think I owe you and apology because perhaps the one on the left in the first photo is a roo

.... How old are they now?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I think I owe you and apology because perhaps the one on the left in the first photo is a roo

.... How old are they now?

They are 5 weeks old now. Really- it's ok if he/she is a roo- I have 12 hens now that are roo-less, and when my chicks that I just got grow up (all females), I will have like 40 girls with no guys other than the silkies off in a separate pen!

They will appreciate a boy to warn them of hawks. I will have to get a closer look at the combs - time to go close them up now. I didn't really notice one chicken's comb larger than the other- I'll have to look again.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I really am fond of my roo. . . . . I didn't think I would be, but he is such a sweetie and he is so charming when he is trying to take care of his ladies.
One of the biggest benefits is he helps me get the girls in the coop . . . . I through some treats down and he comes in the coop and starts alerting the ladies. Most of them will come running at his call AND he comes running at my call. So, it works out really good!

 

[math ace]

I went to HOME DEPOT and got the wood for the cold weather brooder. . . .
The man was so sweet at home depot. He made all my cuts for me AND did not charge me ANYTHING extra.

I am on my way back tomorrow. Dh and I talked tonight and he wants to modify a few things. . . . so I need more supplies.


This pre-cut stuff is the BOMB!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I've got garden lime . . . . How does this effect the smell, poo, dirt . . . . .
I know lime makes the ph go up. What else does it do?

My Dh was thinking smooth rocks like river rock.

PINK , once you add gravel to your pens - - - do you ever clean the runs?

In the past, I have scraped the top couple of inches of dirt out of the pens and tossed it in the compost. Then brought in some fresh dirt. I don't do this too often, only about three times a year. It is really good stuff for my compost

I don't think I would be able to do anything like that if I put gravel in the runs ?

Do people typically clean out their runs OR just leave them alone? ? ? ?

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
I've got garden lime . . . . How does this effect the smell, poo, dirt . . . . .
I know lime makes the ph go up. What else does it do?

My Dh was thinking smooth rocks like river rock.

PINK , once you add gravel to your pens - - - do you ever clean the runs?

In the past, I have scraped the top couple of inches of dirt out of the pens and tossed it in the compost. Then brought in some fresh dirt. I don't do this too often, only about three times a year. It is really good stuff for my compost

I don't think I would be able to do anything like that if I put gravel in the runs ?

Do people typically clean out their runs OR just leave them alone? ? ? ?

The lime helps neutralize/dissipate the smell(when we had to say good bye to our old dog, we emptied a bag into the hole with him so nothing would dig he up). Correct me if I am off on this, my brian is kind of foggy tonight as I am fighting strep throat and possible bronchitis too. On top of mine DD is also down with strep and ear pain- no infection.

We plan to add some sand to our runs this spring to mix in with the dirt. With our smaller coop we would remove the top couple inches and replace with sand. I image we will clean runs as needed.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I think I owe you and apology because perhaps the one on the left in the first photo is a roo

.... How old are they now?

They are 5 weeks old now. Really- it's ok if he/she is a roo- I have 12 hens now that are roo-less, and when my chicks that I just got grow up (all females), I will have like 40 girls with no guys other than the silkies off in a separate pen!

They will appreciate a boy to warn them of hawks. I will have to get a closer look at the combs - time to go close them up now. I didn't really notice one chicken's comb larger than the other- I'll have to look again.

Ok, I looked carefully at the two little ones' combs. One is noticeably larger- you are right - could be a roo. I am completely happy with that- he can stay with us as long as he doesn't attack me or the kids.

At least I have one girl to give me dark eggs. And then I already have two Wellies giving me dark eggs too, and my EEs giving me green and blue. Now I just need my Buff Minorcas to grow up and start laying- I'll have it made.

Thank you again PinkChick for selling me these wonderful babies!!!! I am looking forward to the dark eggs.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I really am fond of my roo. . . . . I didn't think I would be, but he is such a sweetie and he is so charming when he is trying to take care of his ladies.
One of the biggest benefits is he helps me get the girls in the coop . . . . I through some treats down and he comes in the coop and starts alerting the ladies. Most of them will come running at his call AND he comes running at my call. So, it works out really good!

Yeah- I'm traumatized because I had a really bad roo that we had to put down several years ago. (I don't eat my chickens.) Since then I have sold all my roos when they got a few months old out of fear that they would turn mean. Except I am really going to keep my silkie roos I think.

But this is just going to be a fabulous beautiful blue copper roo- I really want to keep him unless he tries to kill me.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[Ivywoods]

I don't have a "blue roo" but I have black copper marans. I have 6 marans roosters. They are the most docile roosters on the place, or that I have ever owned. I'm willing to be he will be a sweetheart for you.