Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[SunnyDawn]

Sorry for butting in but I have to promote the first poultry show including marans (eggs and chickens) EVER, for Nevada, coming up on the 19th in Reno, NV. For anyone local or for anyone who wants to ship eggs for the egg contest here's the info...

Peter Ovalle just sent me this email regarding the egg show.

Hello, I’m happy to announce the first ever MCC USA sponsored egg show in Nevada! The Northern Nevada Poultry Fanciers Association (NNPFA) has agreed to allow for the egg show at their annual show.

This show will be held on November 19, 2011, at the Nevada State Fairgrounds/Reno Livestock & Events Center Pavilion in Reno Nevada. The Marans Chicken Club USA (MCC USA) is excited to be following up on the recent success experienced at the Crossroads of America Poultry show with yet another first.

Please mark your calendars and don’t forget to get your egg entries in. Egg entries will be accepted up until November 18th.

...Remember, MCC USA egg shows are open events and all marans owners are encouraged to participate. Don’t miss this great opportunity to introduce more people to marans.

Please direct all egg show queries and entries to me at the email address listed below [in green]. Bird entry forms must be postmarked by November 7th. More event details can be found by visiting the NNPFA club website: http://www.wix.com/poultryfancier/nnpfa#!

Peter Ovalle
[email protected]
MCC USA , Western Regional Director

I know this is short notice but if we can get a couple more folks to submit entries that would be awesome! Nevadans need to be exposed to this beautiful breed!

Thanks!
Sunny​

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Have to jump in here and comment. There are way too many people out there selling eggs and chicks from Mixed Marans like these and flooding the market. Notice you have several DQs going on here with Faults mixed in also. White in tail and other places, white ear lobes, hardly no shank feathering.

Keep in mind though they are your chickens and you can do anything you would like with them.

 

[geebs]

Good morning DON!!!! Is it cold up your way? I am implementing the barrel idea... Love it... It sure is a good way of housing small groups of the smaller birds my daughter likes to keep..... Now don't hold it against me.... Seramas... (just one pair and we don't breed) Did you like my disclaimer???

Littels: I haven't seen birds that looked like those big comb ones in a couple of years. That will have to be worked out. I wouldn't sell any with white enamiline (spelling?) I see colors possibly "hiding" in the BC. You may end up with birchen/wheaton etc... A skittles hatch... If you do some hatching please post pix so we all can "taste the rainbow".

BG1: I have a hard time letting go of good layers... ha ha ha... Seriously this hen gave great service and I don't want to throw her out just because she has some age on her... She earned her keep and now that she is in the twilight years we just let her have her run of the joint... Everyone wishes they were my pet!!! LOL My horses seem to live forever too... dang!!! I hope my family keeps me around past my usefulness.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Jan, the barrel wall is the best thing for the money that I have ever had, birds love the fresh air also. You can clean the shavings with a shop Vac . I tried straw but was too slick and hard to clean out. Drill a couple of small holes into the bottom so that if they take in a little water it will drain out.

 

[geebs]

Well I have them under cover.... maybe not the best idea.... I worried about wind and water... THanks... I will drill some holes... (dance chickens dance!!!) I probably should pull them out first!!! ha ha...

 

[gilavina]

Mornin Everyone....its another cold, windy and dreary day...but.....I caught another possum!! So I'm up to 5 now. I'll keep plugging away at catching them and whatever else might have ideas about my chickens.

How's the weather goin down your way Debbi and Susie? Did you find out details yesterday about the amish possibly taking care of your culls Debbi?

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Don~ I am not an expert by any means, but I can tell you that out of my 2 boys that I have that will be 3 years old very soon that their legs have not lightened in the slightest degree, still nice and evenly colored with the pretty vermillion colored reticulates.

 

[Wynette]

Morning, all! It's overcast and we're expecting rain in my part of Michigan, but unseasonably warm. We're in the process of getting a new barn built - nothing fancy, and not large - but I'll be moving my chickens into it in the spring, and it should give me a bit more room, plus, they'll all be in one place. I spend a ton of time running from coop to coop to coop...contractor has had our deposit for 3 weeks now, and he keeps telling us "next week" on start date. I have crossed fingers it'll get done before the fall rains come!

I've got a few eggs from Crossroads that a buddy of mine shared with me....she got so many eggies that not all would fit in her bator, and so she generously shared some with me. Yet another thing to cross fingers about!

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Yikes...that does sound cold...I don't think you could catch me out biking in weather like this...nooo way. You are much braver than I

Vicki~ The PNW, even with all of its rain is very cyclist friendly and enthusiastic. We take our bikes with us to work everyday, if we need some small part or something from the hardware store while at a job...we bike it, especially when we are working in Portland. Portland has to be one of the most bike friendly cities I have ever been in.

Best investment I ever made was $20 for a brand new 18 speed ladies mountain bike at the Goodwill. Talk about SCORE!!!!

Geebs~ My oldest Blue Copper hen is also graying around the eyes and I wondered and have also asked about it, but you were the only person to respond. Do you really think it is a sign of aging in them?
My Bill boy had a couple of gray whispy's around his eye recently through his last molt but now after he has finished his molt he is normal. (Well...I should say he is as normal for Bill as he will ever be.

)

 

[littlels]

Quote:
Have to jump in here and comment. There are way too many people out there selling eggs and chicks from Mixed Marans like these and flooding the market. Notice you have several DQs going on here with Faults mixed in also. White in tail and other places, white ear lobes, hardly no shank feathering.

Keep in mind though they are your chickens and you can do anything you would like with them.

I appreciate your input and am here trying to learn so I can use whatever information people will give me. What do you mean by mixed Marans? I am a little confused on the shank feathering as some places I have read that it should be very light and some places say a little more...is there a picture someone can share of the "correct" feathering?