Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[chicken stalker]

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How old is she....mine 3 still haven't laid. 32 weeks tomorrow!!!!!

 

[Debbi]

chicken stalker, have you had the really hot weather this summer in Binghamton? That, and a molt could put them off some. Also, are you sure they aren't laying, or is it possible you may have a snake collecting your eggs??

 

[cpartist]

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Ruth...those eggs are stunning! I love the dark, ruby red ones with a shine. They are beautiful

 

[chicken stalker]

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yes it was hotter normal this summer. snakes are usually not a problem here. I am about ready to tie a basket under their butts to make sure!

 

[Lotsapaints]

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I'm weighing all of mine after they start laying and starting with this hatch I'm weighing them at hatch and then weekly so I can get an idea of how they mature, Then I have to cull at 8 weeks for anything obvious bad comb wrong leg color etc. I don't have that many who get to make the cut.....I'm hoping the quality of the younger hatches is a bit better so they they make the cut......weight is important to me since so many are culls I want them big enough to eat...

 

[Debbi]

Well, the nap never happened today, so I am running on fumes!

Got another one pipping tonight! Hope more to follow, tonight at 9:30 will be 21 days. May be a couple more days till done, with 7 eggs left to show something. The new chicks are in the brooder next to "Pip", and he is REALLY enjoying the company!! He is lying close to them and trilling to them. The chicks seem to appreciate the "chicken speak" too. The little chicken family is growing, slowly, but growing! As of right now, I'm up to 9, not including the new pip. This new bator is so much smaller than the LG, so I kept the LG next to it to transport the chicks into it when they hatch to dry off. Seems to be working well. Bator, to dryer, to brooder. LOL Keeps the other eggs from being kicked around unmercilessly. Hope to have pics in the morning, way too out of focus (myself!) to do it now!

 

[ruth]

Quote:
How old is she....mine 3 still haven't laid. 32 weeks tomorrow!!!!!

I'm not sure but still quite young and rather small. I just added two young ones to the pen because they were still small but roos were jumping them and I didn't want them to get hurt. I didn't think they were old enough to lay yet and I'm not sure which one laid this. Mine all freerange from the time they are about one or two weeks old. These two young pullets have been living all over the farm, sleeping outside on the ground or in the bushes or under carport with our dogs. They've never been in a pen or stayed in a coop before. As such, most of my birds start laying around the time they turn four months old.

I have a thread called my "Journey" thread where I talk about how I turn little chicks loose and raise them in as natural an environment as possible. They feather out sooner and mature sooner. Of course we have five big dogs that patrol our property and the thousands of acres of woods surrounding us so that's our "secret weapon". A lot of the chickens and the peacocks like to live under the house with the dogs where it's nice and cool.

 

[jeremy]

Is anyone familiar with Jeanette McGee and her Marans?

 

[geebs]

Just wondering if any on the forum weigh your Marans females that you are breeding or plan on breeding ? If so what have the weights been ? I plan on weighing all of mine soon as they are over Molt

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GREAT QUESTION Snowbird
Yep I do weight some of the birds... the ones that are on the edge of what the standard calls for...
I am not going to list the wieghts by the each, but just suffice it to say they are within the guidelines for what I am breeding for.​

 

[kathyinmo]