Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Good day to all!

Sorry to hear your hatch didn't turn out ducklover! Try, try again.

Jiminey Cricket popped onto my shoulder the other day, so I won't be breeding any birds with funky combs. After looking over all of my birds really well, I discovered a hen with a carnation comb too! I need better glasses!! That's it, I'm not passing it on!!! No matter how pretty they are

. Was never a "comb snob" before, but lately, it seems to be all I can see!

More feathered shanks are next, along with more color! Type and size are always first! Thank you my friend for pushing the issue!!!

Hotter than blazes here today! All cats and chickens are lounging around under the big Catalpa tree in the front yard together. The Silkie baby with the splayed legs is all better! Left the brace on for 3 days, and it now walks, make that runs, like everyone else! They are growing quickly for such little birds. They are 8 days old already, and the wing feathers are coming in.

Didn't catch that fool groundhog, I think he's left the area. Did manage to catch a hen in my trap though!

 

[marquisella]

Quote:

This is a 4 shelf unit I converted to a 3 layer brooder. I use the 4th shelf as the top of the upper brooder. The shelves are solid. This is a photo before I had it really finished.

I wrapped hardwardcloth around the sides and built in the doors.

I then wrap a cotton tarp around the whole thing,and fastened it to the unit with large clips with the opening in the front where the doors are so I just unclip the tarp in front of the doors a little when I want to open the doors to feed, etc. I pulled the tarp back to the sides to expose the whole inside.

I put 2 lights on each level in case one bulb burns out the other stays on for warmth. This shelf unit happens to have bars under the shelves so I could hang the lights from them. I first tried to tape them up with duct tape, but that didn't work. you can see the tape in the photo. Each light has a 90 watt bulb in it. If you put 2 lights side by side, it give them a pretty large size of heat to get under for warmth.

I'm in NY and it can get down to 20 below. Its in an unheated barn. I put the chicks in at 3 days old.

If you do something like this, but don't have a way to hang the lights, you can put a dowel in the hardward cloth holes in the front & back, going through the brooder,and attach the light from that...

 

[Debbi]

marquisella

Thanks for posting that pic! That is an awesome idea!! Gees, even I can build that...and will!!

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
It beats having chicks in the house....I did that the first year and never again....

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
It beats having chicks in the house....I did that the first year and never again....

cool pictures, I know what you mean about having them in the house- the dust is everywhere.....

 

[Debbi]

What? You don't like chicks in the house??

That's where I am right now, and it does get a tad messy.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
My hearty laugh for the day!!!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/22072_condo.jpg
This is a 4 shelf unit I converted to a 3 layer brooder. I use the 4th shelf as the top of the upper brooder. The shelves are solid. This is a photo before I had it really finished.

I wrapped hardwardcloth around the sides and built in the doors.

I then wrap a cotton tarp around the whole thing,and fastened it to the unit with large clips with the opening in the front where the doors are so I just unclip the tarp in front of the doors a little when I want to open the doors to feed, etc. I pulled the tarp back to the sides to expose the whole inside.

I put 2 lights on each level in case one bulb burns out the other stays on for warmth. This shelf unit happens to have bars under the shelves so I could hang the lights from them. I first tried to tape them up with duct tape, but that didn't work. you can see the tape in the photo. Each light has a 90 watt bulb in it. If you put 2 lights side by side, it give them a pretty large size of heat to get under for warmth.

I'm in NY and it can get down to 20 below. Its in an unheated barn. I put the chicks in at 3 days old.

If you do something like this, but don't have a way to hang the lights, you can put a dowel in the hardward cloth holes in the front & back, going through the brooder,and attach the light from that...

That is awesome! Got make that soon! I got some shelves made out of 2x4 and plywood with three tall selves about 4'x4' would be great for this.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
My hearty laugh for the day!!!

Someone just today told me that they got rid of groundhogs by putting up a fake owl. Groundhogs are afraid of owls...go figure.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
My hearty laugh for the day!!!

Someone just today told me that they got rid of groundhogs by putting up a fake owl. Groundhogs are afraid of owls...go figure.

HA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

They sure aren't here! They aren't even afraid of me or the big dogs that chase! Or shotguns! These things are huge! I'll bet this male yearling weighed in at about 20# or better. They do put up a huge fight too, ask my 100# male Shepherd how he knows. Also, did you know they can climb trees??? I did not know that until I watched one a couple of years ago. Not high up, but he did climb up about 4' to chew the tops off of a cocklebur weed growing beside the tree. Blew my mind! Had to get on the Conservation site to make sure I saw what I saw...yup. Glad they can't get on my roof! Now I have a gopher digging into the chicken run. The good thing is, he is churning up the dirt so the chooks can dust bathe. Glad he is not a predator, as he has figured out the length of the two foot apron on the outside of the run. God help him if he pokes his head up inside the run! These chooks will promptly remove it for him!