Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

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I hear ya! How's the weather supposed to be down there for you today? I'm planning on getting going here soon working outside...its supposed to be in the 70's and NOT with 40 mph winds. I've got some sorting through my chicks to do and moving of breeding stock to different pens. Its also time for a bit of spring cleaning in the barn. And if I still have time, I want to work in the garden too. Tuesdays are my day off and are usually packed full of things to do around the place!

Sunny, no wind

, and in the 60s! Severe weather coming in on Sunday. I need to haul in some sand to the garden and let it dry out some more before I till it again. We had frost this morning. I want to plant some cabbage, but may just wait a week or so more. It was 27 here this morning

It definitely is moving into the storm season...I'm still holding out hope that it won't be as wet as last spring...I just couldn't get anything done and when I did, the storms had a way of making sure I had to go back and fix things or redo things. I've got my cole crops growing inside right now...this is the beginning of week 4 for them, so it won't be much longer at all til they can get outside. I've got a pile of other seeds to start too...but it will be hard to know how far I will get with that today, maybe they'll have to wait til tomorrow before work. Chickens get priority today

 

[Raven1]

Please have a look at this roo for me he is right at a year old he is a little light on the copper but I have some hens that will work well with him. I need a good hard look from you all to show me what to work on with him Thanks

Can't spell

 

[Debbi]

Raven ~ He's a pretty boy! Not sure if it's the lighting or what, but he seems to have dark eyes? Also, does he have any copper showing through at all, or is he a plain blue? Other than that, I really like him.

 

[Raven1]

Thanks Deb he has a pumpkin eye it just looks dark. He does have some copper just very light I have some hens that are showing too much copper and I hope they will even each other out

 

[syble]

i'm still learning marans shape so i could be wrong, but i would pair him with a busty gal, he looks a bit slim in the breast department to me, but otherwise looks balanced to me.
Sib

 

[Raven1]

Thanks Sib.

 

[Bravo]

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Congrats with the successful surgery!

I am playing with different ways of keeping different breeders eggs separate during hatching. I like to zip tie the different breeders chicks so that I can track them thru adulthood.

CAUSES: It can be genetics or it can be issues during incubation. PERSONALLY, I believe you can see deformities from rough handling of the eggs during shipping.
WILL it pass on to the next generation - - - - you won't know until you try.
If it was from humidity or temp issues during incubation, THEN it should not effect the offspring.
If is was from genetics, it may effect some offspring, BUT NOT ALL. I have a hen with crooked toes and she throws some chicks with it.
It is like a chick without leg feathering. . . . if you mate her to one with leg feathering MOST of the chicks will have feathers, but a few will still not have feathering.

I keep the offspring from my crooked toe hen that do not have crooked toes and cull the others. I wouldn't sell any eggs from my crooked toe hen, but by the time I think my flock is good enough to sell eggs . . . . My crooked toe hen probably won't be with us anymore.

Thanks Math! I really worry it is genetic so this bird will definitely not be used for breeding. If it's a she, she will live the life of an urban chicken (AKA a spoiled pet) and if it's a he, the toe condition wont affect his taste lol.

If you find a good way to keep the eggs separate will you share? My method was a total flop....I might see if I can add pipe cleaners and make additional rungs to the cage...hummm. In the mean time I am going to halt the practice of mixing eggs

Maybe this is reason enough to buy another incubator???

I wonder if my husband would buy that line?

 

[Bravo]

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Thanks Kim! So far so good. The little chick was running around the brooder this morning like it was stuck on turbo so I am hopeful

 

[Bravo]

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Thanks Sib! I initially tried to splint them but my method of gauze (to protect the incisions) and medical tape didn't want to stick on. This morning, with the exception of a tiny bit of scabbing on the incision lines the toes look great and appear to be healing very quickly. I massaged out the middle toe--it seemed a little stiff originally but after I rubbed it out it was more flexible. I also trimmed the nail really short (it was curling under). I am going to try to splint the little toes tonight. Wish me luck! I'll post pics too

Oh, and the chick has been affectionately named Flipper lol)

 

[sewandgrow]

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My bird feeders are working great. ....Their great drawback is space. I can fit 5 or 6 eggs in each to lockdown & they still have room to hatch & the holes are too small for them to get out & big enough for circulation but the feeders themsleves take up some of my hatching space so I have to reassign eggs at lockdown. I am afraid to trust the styros I have to use as hatchers. I will, maybe, have to try the styros with my own eggs & see how it goes. I won't risk any of my"special" eggs that I have been having shipped in. It's hard enough to get a "good" hatch with shipped eggs.