Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!
- Thread starter Wynette
- Start date
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Normally late hatchers should be "old" eggs and it can happen from shipped eggs my splash copper took 25 days to hatch all his chicks start hatching on day 20 and finish up by the 21 and I've had 2 100% hatches from him so I don't think that's true. His eggs hatch better than my Delawares and they hatch like popcorn......
I don't even bother hatching eggs that are over 10 days old, and I keep them cool and turn them every day until I set them. So far I can't say that any of my marans have hatched like popcorn. My lakenvelders are pretty much right on time, and my bantam partridge wyandottes can be as much as 2 days early.
I've heard so many people say that their marans eggs can take a lot longer to hatch and it seems to be true with mine as well. It does seem to be a trend with the breed.
What do you consider "old" eggs when hatching?
I believe Edgar if they are my eggs no shipping then they should all hatch within 24 hrs-old eggs at my house would be 14 days old for chicken eggs. I process and have buyers for all my culls...I take any excess to auction and so far I've learned that less is more.....I might keep some for a few hatches though I've learned that my first instinct is the right one. I'd rather hatch from 2 good birds than 6 average ones.....
Normally late hatchers should be "old" eggs and it can happen from shipped eggs my splash copper took 25 days to hatch all his chicks start hatching on day 20 and finish up by the 21 and I've had 2 100% hatches from him so I don't think that's true. His eggs hatch better than my Delawares and they hatch like popcorn......
I don't even bother hatching eggs that are over 10 days old, and I keep them cool and turn them every day until I set them. So far I can't say that any of my marans have hatched like popcorn. My lakenvelders are pretty much right on time, and my bantam partridge wyandottes can be as much as 2 days early.
I've heard so many people say that their marans eggs can take a lot longer to hatch and it seems to be true with mine as well. It does seem to be a trend with the breed.
What do you consider "old" eggs when hatching?
I believe Edgar if they are my eggs no shipping then they should all hatch within 24 hrs-old eggs at my house would be 14 days old for chicken eggs. I process and have buyers for all my culls...I take any excess to auction and so far I've learned that less is more.....I might keep some for a few hatches though I've learned that my first instinct is the right one. I'd rather hatch from 2 good birds than 6 average ones.....
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Ok, since you brought it up, I'm going to ask - I, too, am new to Marans. Mine are 9 and a half weeks now and HUGE. I've had leg troubles with a couple of them (a pullet that I culled at 3 weeks and now a cockerel with a hip that doesn't seem connected) so I'm wondering if I'm feeding them incorrectly. What is everyone else feeding their Marans? 23 chicks hatched altogether (Ameraucanas, EEs, and Marans.) Only trouble is with 2 of the Marans.
Mine are about the same age too, and huge as well! But I haven't had any leg problems. Just feeding them regular 16% chick starter and throwing in a couple of handfuls of scratch for them to goof off with. Plus they're kept in a covered chain link dog lot and they eat a lot of grass and bugs and stuff
Ok, since you brought it up, I'm going to ask - I, too, am new to Marans. Mine are 9 and a half weeks now and HUGE. I've had leg troubles with a couple of them (a pullet that I culled at 3 weeks and now a cockerel with a hip that doesn't seem connected) so I'm wondering if I'm feeding them incorrectly. What is everyone else feeding their Marans? 23 chicks hatched altogether (Ameraucanas, EEs, and Marans.) Only trouble is with 2 of the Marans.
Mine are about the same age too, and huge as well! But I haven't had any leg problems. Just feeding them regular 16% chick starter and throwing in a couple of handfuls of scratch for them to goof off with. Plus they're kept in a covered chain link dog lot and they eat a lot of grass and bugs and stuff
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Makes it taste funny....
Hmm, add a little mayo and they'd be deviled eggs!
I agree VC, dry seems to be the way to go!
Apparently the vinegar softens the shell a bit, to make hatching easier, or to allow more moisture to evaporate during the hatching process.
Makes it taste funny....
Hmm, add a little mayo and they'd be deviled eggs!
I agree VC, dry seems to be the way to go!
Apparently the vinegar softens the shell a bit, to make hatching easier, or to allow more moisture to evaporate during the hatching process.
Quote:
Ok, since you brought it up, I'm going to ask - I, too, am new to Marans. Mine are 9 and a half weeks now and HUGE. I've had leg troubles with a couple of them (a pullet that I culled at 3 weeks and now a cockerel with a hip that doesn't seem connected) so I'm wondering if I'm feeding them incorrectly. What is everyone else feeding their Marans? 23 chicks hatched altogether (Ameraucanas, EEs, and Marans.) Only trouble is with 2 of the Marans.
I feed mine a little extra protein when they are growing. It does seem true that some of the large breeds that go through a growth spurt can end up with leg injuries/problems. I have seen it in a few of my Marans as well. I have found that making sure they are getting regular exercize as chicks as opposed to just being penned up in a brooder will help them develop thier leg muscles which help keep the joints stabilized etc. So when they go through these growth spurts and the roos (especially roos) start play sparring with each other, or if they jump down from a high spot, they won't be as likely to get an injury. Since I started putting the chicks into little play pen areas for several hours each day while they are very little, I haven't noticed as many leg injuries. I haven't seen slipped hock or major joint injuries in any of the chicks that the mommas have raised on the ground.
I have heard that slipped hock etc. can also be hereditary as well. I had one in a Silkie and they are a small breed. So if you had a line that was continually expressing that trait regardless of prevention then you might not want to breed them.
Ok, since you brought it up, I'm going to ask - I, too, am new to Marans. Mine are 9 and a half weeks now and HUGE. I've had leg troubles with a couple of them (a pullet that I culled at 3 weeks and now a cockerel with a hip that doesn't seem connected) so I'm wondering if I'm feeding them incorrectly. What is everyone else feeding their Marans? 23 chicks hatched altogether (Ameraucanas, EEs, and Marans.) Only trouble is with 2 of the Marans.
I feed mine a little extra protein when they are growing. It does seem true that some of the large breeds that go through a growth spurt can end up with leg injuries/problems. I have seen it in a few of my Marans as well. I have found that making sure they are getting regular exercize as chicks as opposed to just being penned up in a brooder will help them develop thier leg muscles which help keep the joints stabilized etc. So when they go through these growth spurts and the roos (especially roos) start play sparring with each other, or if they jump down from a high spot, they won't be as likely to get an injury. Since I started putting the chicks into little play pen areas for several hours each day while they are very little, I haven't noticed as many leg injuries. I haven't seen slipped hock or major joint injuries in any of the chicks that the mommas have raised on the ground.
I have heard that slipped hock etc. can also be hereditary as well. I had one in a Silkie and they are a small breed. So if you had a line that was continually expressing that trait regardless of prevention then you might not want to breed them.
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I'm excited....my eggs will be going into lockdown today and should have chicks hatching between thursday night and friday morning. I can't wait to see how they hatch! I also can't wait to get the incubator back off after the storms we've been having roll through.
Quote:
Ok, since you brought it up, I'm going to ask - I, too, am new to Marans. Mine are 9 and a half weeks now and HUGE. I've had leg troubles with a couple of them (a pullet that I culled at 3 weeks and now a cockerel with a hip that doesn't seem connected) so I'm wondering if I'm feeding them incorrectly. What is everyone else feeding their Marans? 23 chicks hatched altogether (Ameraucanas, EEs, and Marans.) Only trouble is with 2 of the Marans.
I feed mine a little extra protein when they are growing. It does seem true that some of the large breeds that go through a growth spurt can end up with leg injuries/problems. I have seen it in a few of my Marans as well. I have found that making sure they are getting regular exercize as chicks as opposed to just being penned up in a brooder will help them develop thier leg muscles which help keep the joints stabilized etc. So when they go through these growth spurts and the roos (especially roos) start play sparring with each other, or if they jump down from a high spot, they won't be as likely to get an injury. Since I started putting the chicks into little play pen areas for several hours each day while they are very little, I haven't noticed as many leg injuries. I haven't seen slipped hock or major joint injuries in any of the chicks that the mommas have raised on the ground.
I have heard that slipped hock etc. can also be hereditary as well. I had one in a Silkie and they are a small breed. So if you had a line that was continually expressing that trait regardless of prevention then you might not want to breed them.
Thank you so much for your response. The woman that sold me the eggs assures me that she is not aware of any problems - that she hasn't had any issues with her stock, and I believe her. She really does seem to be a conscientious breeder. My babies do get LOADS of exercise. They have been in an 8' by 12' grow out pen since their 3rd week. They have lots of space to do chicken things and they do! Nothing higher than a bale of hay for the boys to jump off of so I don't think that is the issue. They've had little mini-roosts from the beginning. Started with a couple of inches off the ground and now up to a foot or so.
I had these guys on a 20% protein food for the first 7 weeks then switched them to a grower ration at 15%. I'm wondering if I had them on the 20% ration for too long.
What does a slipped hock look like? (My guy looks like he's bow legged in the one leg. I noticed it a 7 weeks. Foot not quite flat on the ground. A bit rolled over. The hock/leg appears very unstable and points out. I'm not sure if the hock is the problem or the hip. It doesn't seem to slow him down too much. He still spars and scratches but I don't see him running like the others and he does spend more time lying down.)
Ok, since you brought it up, I'm going to ask - I, too, am new to Marans. Mine are 9 and a half weeks now and HUGE. I've had leg troubles with a couple of them (a pullet that I culled at 3 weeks and now a cockerel with a hip that doesn't seem connected) so I'm wondering if I'm feeding them incorrectly. What is everyone else feeding their Marans? 23 chicks hatched altogether (Ameraucanas, EEs, and Marans.) Only trouble is with 2 of the Marans.
I feed mine a little extra protein when they are growing. It does seem true that some of the large breeds that go through a growth spurt can end up with leg injuries/problems. I have seen it in a few of my Marans as well. I have found that making sure they are getting regular exercize as chicks as opposed to just being penned up in a brooder will help them develop thier leg muscles which help keep the joints stabilized etc. So when they go through these growth spurts and the roos (especially roos) start play sparring with each other, or if they jump down from a high spot, they won't be as likely to get an injury. Since I started putting the chicks into little play pen areas for several hours each day while they are very little, I haven't noticed as many leg injuries. I haven't seen slipped hock or major joint injuries in any of the chicks that the mommas have raised on the ground.
I have heard that slipped hock etc. can also be hereditary as well. I had one in a Silkie and they are a small breed. So if you had a line that was continually expressing that trait regardless of prevention then you might not want to breed them.
Thank you so much for your response. The woman that sold me the eggs assures me that she is not aware of any problems - that she hasn't had any issues with her stock, and I believe her. She really does seem to be a conscientious breeder. My babies do get LOADS of exercise. They have been in an 8' by 12' grow out pen since their 3rd week. They have lots of space to do chicken things and they do! Nothing higher than a bale of hay for the boys to jump off of so I don't think that is the issue. They've had little mini-roosts from the beginning. Started with a couple of inches off the ground and now up to a foot or so.
I had these guys on a 20% protein food for the first 7 weeks then switched them to a grower ration at 15%. I'm wondering if I had them on the 20% ration for too long.
What does a slipped hock look like? (My guy looks like he's bow legged in the one leg. I noticed it a 7 weeks. Foot not quite flat on the ground. A bit rolled over. The hock/leg appears very unstable and points out. I'm not sure if the hock is the problem or the hip. It doesn't seem to slow him down too much. He still spars and scratches but I don't see him running like the others and he does spend more time lying down.)
There is also some evidence that slipped hock/tendon aka Perosis can be caused by a deficiency of choline, manganese, biotin (vit B-complex/vit B 7). B7 is responsible for metabolism of fats and amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Chick starter should have all these things in them so it makes you wonder why so many birds get it. Maybe adding these things to the diet may make a difference as well before the injuries occur. There can be differences in different brands of chicken feeds.
It is so hard to pinpoint an exact cause to some of these things because sometimes its not that the diet is deficient, it is because for some reason the body (whether talking about people, fowl, or beasts) is not able to use the nutrients, which of course, could be caused by alot of things, depending on what it is. I am an RN so I am much more knowledgeable about people than animals LOL!
A slipped hock/tendon will look swollen at the leg joint and will be flat on the backside. It can appear to be twisted as well but not always. If it is a new injury it may be warm to the touch and they can be infected inside the joint. Sometimes the chick will rest on its affected hock and will limp around on the unaffected limb when up walking. If it is a young chick with a new injury sometimes it can be slipped back into place and taped to stay secure until it heals. Antibiotics are warranted if there is an infection. If an older injury there isn't a whole lot that can be done.
You can look up manganese, biotin, and choline deficiency related to perosis in the Veterinary Merck Manual here
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206932.htm
It is so hard to pinpoint an exact cause to some of these things because sometimes its not that the diet is deficient, it is because for some reason the body (whether talking about people, fowl, or beasts) is not able to use the nutrients, which of course, could be caused by alot of things, depending on what it is. I am an RN so I am much more knowledgeable about people than animals LOL!
A slipped hock/tendon will look swollen at the leg joint and will be flat on the backside. It can appear to be twisted as well but not always. If it is a new injury it may be warm to the touch and they can be infected inside the joint. Sometimes the chick will rest on its affected hock and will limp around on the unaffected limb when up walking. If it is a young chick with a new injury sometimes it can be slipped back into place and taped to stay secure until it heals. Antibiotics are warranted if there is an infection. If an older injury there isn't a whole lot that can be done.
You can look up manganese, biotin, and choline deficiency related to perosis in the Veterinary Merck Manual here
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206932.htm
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Morning y'all!
I dunno about everyone in Washington but I've about had it with this weather
For REAL??!?!?!? I feel like they're filming "The Fog" or "The Mist" or some other really silly B horror/slasher flick on our property. My garden need some SUN!!!!!
Ok enough of the ranting!
My new little mix of babies are happy and fat and running around. My toddler keeps running around squealing "Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook"
I'm putting 22 BCM eggs into lockdown tomorrow!
I'm really hopeful for these babies. Also intrigued by the dry incubation that VC conducted though I'm not brave enough to tempt that with any of these eggs. Might be interesting though for some OliveEggers that I plan to hatch out next month.
And on a side note, not sure if y'all are big on it but there's an all purpose swap thread now that looks super fun, but I'm big on trading stuff!
Have a great day!!!!
I dunno about everyone in Washington but I've about had it with this weather
Ok enough of the ranting!
My new little mix of babies are happy and fat and running around. My toddler keeps running around squealing "Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook, Chook"
I'm putting 22 BCM eggs into lockdown tomorrow!
And on a side note, not sure if y'all are big on it but there's an all purpose swap thread now that looks super fun, but I'm big on trading stuff!
Have a great day!!!!
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