Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Quote:
Hi Debbi!!
It was an alright christmas here, pretty chaotic and found out family is staying a bit longer than expected...so chaos for at least another day or two...
I'm glad you are getting eggs too! I have several pens of girls, but they all seem to have rotated their molting, so I've always gotten eggs. on average I probably collect between 2 and three dozen a day. Good thing too cause I can't sell em fast enough lately

 

[Debbi]

You are a brave soul Vicki! That many house guests, even if they are family, for that many days would send me over the edge! Hope they are all pitching in around there to give you a bit of a break? My Silkies are sure cranking out the eggs! I actually saw the White pullet this morning laying inside their coop, so I'm thinking now at least 5 of them are laying. Just wish I knew who the others were. Hopefully, the old man that wanting all the spare roos will call me tonight! The weather was cold and rainy here yesterday, so the run is once again a soupy mess. By the end of the week, they are now saying it will get into the 60s!!!!

I can see already this is going to be another tricky garden year. Winter is coming on too late, spring weather is going to be crazy, and we will probably be paying for it with severe weather and cold in April. I sure hope not, but that seems to be the way it goes around here..

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I don't know if brave is the word, so much as exhausted. These kids are a handful and my brother is too. His mouth gets him in trouble a lot, not the nicest guy I know.
I forgot to tell you guys that the little BCM girl of mine in the house healing up is laying me an egg a day, but the strangest thing...she is now laying a light cream egg....anyone seen this after a trauma or anything? I'm hoping that she will get back to the pretty little egg she was laying...I'm just not sure what to think...but regardless I take the daily egg laying and the healing up on her neck and back as a really great sign!I think I'll still cross her with my smallest BCM cockerel and see how that goes as he comes from nice dark egg laying stock.
Its supposed to rain here tomorrow and go to the 60s as well by the end of the week. I really hope it does. I am planning on doing some work outside today since I'm just needing a break. I'm tired! I think its all the constant noise that's doing me in...and not having anywhere to go to recharge
I'm really really hoping that winter is really mild all the way through. The way I figure it tho...every day that is nice is a day I'm over the moon!
Oh yeah...we gotta get chatting about seeds soon. I'll email ya sometime this week

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
I don't know if brave is the word, so much as exhausted. These kids are a handful and my brother is too. His mouth gets him in trouble a lot, not the nicest guy I know.
I forgot to tell you guys that the little BCM girl of mine in the house healing up is laying me an egg a day, but the strangest thing...she is now laying a light cream egg....anyone seen this after a trauma or anything? I'm hoping that she will get back to the pretty little egg she was laying...I'm just not sure what to think...but regardless I take the daily egg laying and the healing up on her neck and back as a really great sign!I think I'll still cross her with my smallest BCM cockerel and see how that goes as he comes from nice dark egg laying stock.
Its supposed to rain here tomorrow and go to the 60s as well by the end of the week. I really hope it does. I am planning on doing some work outside today since I'm just needing a break. I'm tired! I think its all the constant noise that's doing me in...and not having anywhere to go to recharge
I'm really really hoping that winter is really mild all the way through. The way I figure it tho...every day that is nice is a day I'm over the moon!
Oh yeah...we gotta get chatting about seeds soon. I'll email ya sometime this week

Trauma and stress will effect egg color. I am happy that she has resumed laying for you Vicki....she sure is a little trooper!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I don't know if brave is the word, so much as exhausted. These kids are a handful and my brother is too. His mouth gets him in trouble a lot, not the nicest guy I know.
I forgot to tell you guys that the little BCM girl of mine in the house healing up is laying me an egg a day, but the strangest thing...she is now laying a light cream egg....anyone seen this after a trauma or anything? I'm hoping that she will get back to the pretty little egg she was laying...I'm just not sure what to think...but regardless I take the daily egg laying and the healing up on her neck and back as a really great sign!I think I'll still cross her with my smallest BCM cockerel and see how that goes as he comes from nice dark egg laying stock.
Its supposed to rain here tomorrow and go to the 60s as well by the end of the week. I really hope it does. I am planning on doing some work outside today since I'm just needing a break. I'm tired! I think its all the constant noise that's doing me in...and not having anywhere to go to recharge
I'm really really hoping that winter is really mild all the way through. The way I figure it tho...every day that is nice is a day I'm over the moon!
Oh yeah...we gotta get chatting about seeds soon. I'll email ya sometime this week

Trauma and stress will effect egg color. I am happy that she has resumed laying for you Vicki....she sure is a little trooper!

Ok...I thought maybe that might be the case. I am hoping she will get some color back, but I can't believe how well she is healing up. I wish now I would have taken a pic of her right after she got hurt and now...you wouldn't believe the difference

 

[Debbi]

The weather seems to affect their egg color too, I think. Guess with all the changes in temps, that could be considered a stressor?? My second year layers eggs have lightened quite a bit.

I think I'm going to have to start feeding my cats after I put the chooks to bed. The roos have become holy terrors to the cats! Blue Butt will jump up in the air, wings a flappin', and land right in the middle of the cats!

Needless to say, the cats scatter quickly!! So now, I have to sit out there with them, with a broom, and beat that stinker back. Even the hens are getting bolder, and they all circle me like a flock of Vultures, just waiting until I turn my back! The poor cats sure won't appreciate the later feed time, but I think after they see they don't have any more competition and actually get to eat in peace, they will go along with it.

Vicki ~ I still haven't gotten around to go through my Baker's catalog to even know for sure what I want. Guess I'd better get on the stick! When do you start your seeds inside??

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Trauma and stress will effect egg color. I am happy that she has resumed laying for you Vicki....she sure is a little trooper!

Ok...I thought maybe that might be the case. I am hoping she will get some color back, but I can't believe how well she is healing up. I wish now I would have taken a pic of her right after she got hurt and now...you wouldn't believe the difference

I bet she is healing up nicely...she has the bestest chickie momma taking care of her.

Well off to see Uncle Dentist this morning......................................................................................................YaY!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
yeah....I had to put my cat food up out of the reach of the chickens. I originally put the cat food in the haymount for the cats, but pretty soon the chickens were using the stairs like a super highway and eating the cats out of house and home. Now i have it high up in the feed room where the cats have to climb to get to it...works pretty ok now.

For seeds...i'm starting earlier this year than last on some of the ones that need longer time to grow, so it just depends on what you want to grow.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Ok...I thought maybe that might be the case. I am hoping she will get some color back, but I can't believe how well she is healing up. I wish now I would have taken a pic of her right after she got hurt and now...you wouldn't believe the difference

I bet she is healing up nicely...she has the bestest chickie momma taking care of her.

Well off to see Uncle Dentist this morning......................................................................................................YaY!

Have a great day everyone!

good luck at the dentist!

 

[DMRippy]

Ok chick update... I think I got 9 on Christmas Day and 7 more yesterday. So 16 total and 1 has leg problems so probably not going to make it but that is 31 total.

Pinkchick..... I am also testing my babies to see what is a roo and pullet. I will tag these new babies today if I can. I will let you know if it works

BTW don't forget my packing instructions...