Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[BevDavis]

Hi

If there is anyone who would like to show their black copper Marans at the qualifying meet at Newnan, Georgia then here is the link for the entry form. http://www.cvpa-newnan.org/show.html

This is our big chance to get the birds accepted so if you have a nice bird and live close by please enter. There will be a few people there that haven't entered their birds before and also a lot of Marans people to chat with.

Kind regards

Bev

 

[pinkchick]

Hi Everyone!
I've been meaning to thank everyone for sharing their photos of their birds, eggs and chicks!!!! They are wonderful, I see some very pretty eggs, cutie pie chicks and some lovely adult birds. Way to Go Marans Lovers!

Also, wanted to take this opportunity to wish anyone who is attending the Newnan show and entering birds or eggs....GOOD LUCK!!!!! Hope all who get to go have a blast and meet lots of cool folks.

 

[Debbi]

Wish I could make it to Newnan! Good luck to all showing, and to the Marans breed!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Toe punching is usually done on chicks that are a day or two old.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
It is a way to know what pen, mating or whatever a bird came from. A permanent mark in case a band falls off. It is a great way to keep track of birds and I bet your 19 year old girlfriend can explain it to you.

Then you won't be re-homing your good birds. hahaha

Walt


At least I got the toe punch part right. lol

 

[Shanty]

As usual, I am just now catching up with all the great info in this thread. But let me say that Walt's "toe punch" method works very well. I, too, have used small scissors for 30 plus years. As an old fly fisherman, I had some nice fly tying scissors around to use, but any small pair will do the job. I cut the webbing along each toe, carefully, then push the piece of cut webbing UP so I can snip it off. This type of toe marking ensures that you can USUALLY read the mark from a few feet away IF the chicken is roosting or sitting still. My old eyes need to examine most birds when they are in hand. Sometimes, when using a real toe punch, the skin will grow back together. My OE Game bantams were toe punched as I removed them from the incubator.

My Marans love collared doves. They are now free-flying wild nuisance birds here in Texas. They carry the mycoplasma bacteria, and other unsavory infections, as they travel around free-loading off chicken flocks in my neighborhood. So . . . I have apellet gun just to the right of the computer I am hacking on. They fly in, I let a pellet fly. Most times they get chased away. Every now and then I actually hit one. The Marans come running, pick off and eat all the feathers, then commence a cannibalistic feast on dove meat. During the Spring I also buy a case of cat food that is salmon or fish-based. They geta few cans in each breeding pen. Helps with fertilityand they enjoy eating that smelly stuff. I did this for my OE Game bantams years ago to ensure fertility, during the molt to help produce nice feathering, and a few weeks before a show. Try it. You MIGHT like the results.

 

[Wynette]

For toe punching, you can also use a leather punch - lots of folks on here are horse folks, and most horse folks have leather punches. The smallest hole on a leather punch is just a hair larger than a toe punch hole.

 

[flgardengirl]

Are you looking for mainly males for showing at Newnan or females? I don't think any of my males are really show worthy lol. I have one that I really like his looks but his back is too short and tail too high for a show bird, I think, everything else is pretty good. I have another that looks good but lacks more feathing in his legs and his comb is funny. Another looks good but got one of his waddles torn in a fight and his eyes are a little light, etc. etc. LOL! Some of my females look real nice though and lay extremely dark.

 

[Mountain Mel]

I am having a problem with my flock. They are flying out of the yard I built for them. My fences are 7', but the darn things are roosting on top of the fences instead of in the coop!

I want to try clipping a wing on each bird. Can someone please give me some guidance in doing this. How short? which feathers? I tried to clip the wings on my young Royal Palm turkeys last year and I thought they were going to bleed to death. I had no idea that there is blood & fluid inside the quills of the feathers!

 

[pinkchick]

sorry mods. cant pm from my cellphone. MIA ....poularde....your eggs are on their way.