Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

I know what you mean about the heavy! Each time I pick Clyde up, I still can't believe how heavy and solid he is. He was not thrilled with me collecting him off the roost the other night when I got home just before nightfall. All the chooks that were out in the yard, were standing in line by the gate when I pulled up. They all then ran over to me, scolding me all the way! "WHERE have you been?? It's dark, you know?? Bad mommy, bad!!!"

Then when I went into the coop to put Clyde in his pen, so Roy colud come in, it was like pulling a bowling ball off the top shelf of your closet! Got one Ba-Gawk! out of him, but he is so good, he just let me put him in and went to bed in there.

The three young pullets that ventured out of the run the other day, for the first time, all made it back in. One had a moment of excitement when the marauding roos took off after her. Yup, eggies can't be too far behind. She freaked out and started screaming and running. The boys in hot pursuit! Then she sees me on the deck, and of course the two dogs were there as well. She came flying up the ramp to the deck, running right between the big dog's legs, then stopped directly under the nose of my old girl!

Uma's eyes were like pie pans, "hmmm, it came to me, the chicken dinner came to me!!" I screamed at her, and with that, the pullet jumps into my arms! I'm telling ya, it looked like a cartoon playing out!

The poor girl was talking to me the whole time, telling me of her sad ordeal. "Do you want to go back in with your daddy?" In her best chicken speak, I got a resounding....YES!!! Please!!! So back in the run she went, and her watching sisters decided they should go back in too. These guys wear me out some days!

 

[flgardengirl]

HAHA Debbie you get the Chicken High Drama award for the day lol. Your place sounds as crazy as ours most of the time.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:

My guys are chasing my pullets LIKE MAD these days. It's driving me nuts. I'm glad to hear that means I might get eggs from them soon. (They still won't let the guys mount them, as far as I have seen but it sure isn't for lack of trying

) We are 20 weeks old today.

 

[enggass]

How does on obtain Blue Birchen Marans? Who sells the eggs? Beautiful birds...!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I'll be the first to admit that it can be hard to find truly quality blue birchens or even black birchens for that matter. I've heard there are elusive very dark egg laying blue birchens, but have yet to actually ever see any. So, I'm working on developing some. I have 4 lines running right now...two are from my own crossings and are producing wonderfully so far for F1 crosses. I will keep posting photos as mine progress. I waited until the last part of the hatching season so I could focus on them alone, so they are in that gangly teenagery stage at the moment.

 

[Ivywoods]

Debbi-What a hoot!

I ordered some supplies from Smith Poultry yesterday. They just arrrived!

Wow that was fast! Don't you wish they could get shipped eggs around the country that fast?

I think Pink is the one that put me on to this.... ZIP TIES make GOOD legbands! They come in all sorts of colors and sizes, and they seem to hold up well, and they are CHEAP. Since I've added zip ties to my chicken toolbox I've found all kinds of uses for them.

EVERY CHICKEN TOOLBOX SHOULD CONTAIN SOME ZIP TIES!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:

My guys are chasing my pullets LIKE MAD these days. It's driving me nuts. I'm glad to hear that means I might get eggs from them soon. (They still won't let the guys mount them, as far as I have seen but it sure isn't for lack of trying

) We are 20 weeks old today.

Lynette, every day is High Chicken Drama day around here, there is always some craziness going on!

If those girls are 20 weeks old, you can almost bet your booties they are getting mounted! Your boys just must be sneakier than mine!

My girls are only 18 weeks, and running their little tails off.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Abso-freakin'-lutely!

Leg bands, fixing fences, hanging stuff, choking bad roos...just kidding on the last one, but ya never know here...

That would be the ChickenMafia method; death by zip tie, instead of piano wire!

 

[Ivywoods]

Debbi-You just upset my little dog. I was laughing so hard the poor little guy thought something was wrong with mama!

: gig

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Yay! Terry and John are quality people...and no nonsense. I order all my supplies from them. zthey are pretty competitive on prices and often cheaper. Usually I will build up my list of needs and wait to buy from the shows or sales I go to that they sell at. Saves on the shipping, plus I love seeing what they have to look at that I might just not be able to live without.