Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[sewandgrow]

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Sue,
Just google Mangel seeds & it comes up with all kinds of sources.

 

[gilavina]

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I have a huge patch of comfrey here...it started as a couple of plants but, now there are probably 15 plants...we have to mow over them periodically through the season...or cut them down by hand to keep them manageable. They are fantastic for composting, as treats, for tea, for bruises. The pygmy goats love it, but we watch how much we let them have. Its a very good...ummm....cleanser...so much so that we feed it when it comes time for breeding season...just a bit, not a lot and usually they are bred very very quickly. Then once we know they are bred, they get no more.

As far as for the chickens, they don't touch the plants themselves, but they like it when it is torn up and put in their feed. I mix in controlled smaller amounts since it is a really rich plant. Like someone else said, comfrey attracts tons of bees, so it is fantastic to have in the garden.

 

[sewandgrow]

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lets see...I got them from Jung's out of Wisconsin. When I ordered a catalog I got an insert order form and they were on there for $1 if I had an order for a certain amount (can't remember now what the amount is).

I still grow a bit of corn, not a ton, but I use the three sisters method. I plant corn to 4 inches tall, then plant pole bean seeds at the base of the corn and every 5 to 8 feet or so throughout the patch I put in a hill of squash or pumpkin and let'em grow. The beans grow up the corn stalks and the squash or pumpkins occupy the ground. And bonus....they deter raccoons from the corn later on and I get three crops from one space.

Sounds good, might try it!

x2.great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gilavina]

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ok...I'm officially jealous...I haven't seen northern lights in years, but they are amazing

 

[gilavina]

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I have a patch in my farm yard, it is the first thing green each spring, and the last thing still green in the fall. Chickens don't touch it. I have heard the leaves can have liver toxicity too, but that is in mammals.

We mostly use it as a poultice for bumps and bruises.... works great for that!


edited to add..... the bees love the flowers!

Interesting... I planted some this year and my chickens went crazy for it! I will have to see if they ate too much of it or if it actually grows back. I think I may have to protect it until it grows big enough to survive my birds devouring it.

I'd be surprised if it didn't come back...even when a plant is new it is pretty hardy. We mow ours off when it gets too big...(its a patch that's been there for over 25 years now) it can get 3 or 4 feet tall and about 4 foot round. The roots will keep getting stronger, and can go as deep as 10 feet. Which brings up a good point. If you ever thought about moving it, while it is young is the time, cause once they settle in...they are there to stay and are large and in charge.

 

[sewandgrow]

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Ivy, I let my hens free range here but defintely had to fence in my garden.....they would have had a FIELD DAY in there! You may want to strongly consider same, not that I'm tellin you what to do.....but if you want ANY Tomatoes

Risa

Grow your tomatoes in one of those upside-down hanging tomato growing contraptions. I used a couple last year & they worked great but you must water them every day.

You can say that again.................. I bought 2 of the hanging baskets last year & put them on the South side of the house on a deck where they would get full sun & couln't keep them watered. I bought those at a garden club meeting preplanted by a local nursery. If I try them again this year I will put the water saving crystals in the soil & see if that helps.

 

[sewandgrow]

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Tomato plants bring tomato worms (horned worms) & my chickies do LLLLLLLLLove those horn worms....LOL

Haha...I might have to try that if I find any this year. Never did come across any last year, just dreaded, dreaded squash bugs, but my girls won't touch those. I had read somewhere tho that guineas will eat the baby squash bugs. I am thinking I'll have to track some down to give it a try. I wonder how my girls would react to having them wandering around?

Can't blame those chickens..... Have you ever smelled a squashed squash bug????..LOL

 

[sewandgrow]

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I would be careful about assuming that the chick that "looks" like a pure Marans really is. You can get a chick that looks like just one parent when in fact it is from 2 breeds. I had a fence jumper once and didn't realize it until I had some Ameraucana chicks hatch from blue eggs with feathers on the legs.
Sue

I worried over that too & that is exactly why I got rid of all my loose chickens.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gilavina]

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Haha...I might have to try that if I find any this year. Never did come across any last year, just dreaded, dreaded squash bugs, but my girls won't touch those. I had read somewhere tho that guineas will eat the baby squash bugs. I am thinking I'll have to track some down to give it a try. I wonder how my girls would react to having them wandering around?

Can't blame those chickens..... Have you ever smelled a squashed squash bug????..LOL

Hahaha...nooo joke. Hopefully I can keep those pesky bugs under control this year. Last year was insane...they were everywhere.

 

[Debbi]

Just candled my own eggs, and before the flashlight quit

, three were definately fertile and developing nicely!! Just put new batteries in that darn light the other day. Pink's eggs are in the bator too. Used some clear scotch tape over that dent in the one egg, and will watch it closely for any bad signs. Here's to hoping for lots of fuzzy butts!