Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Good morning all

I sure hope all the folks in Kansas, Nebraska (Vicki!!), and Missouri made it through the night ok! Wow, what a rocky night! Six or so tornadoes, lots of rain and hail. I was up til 3am fending off the weather with many prayers, and on the phone alerting my friends to the east of me. One twister hit the ground 9 miles north of me, and I expect another may have hit to the west of me, as the radio station I listen to is GONE! Hit a gas station I go to north of me and did some major damage. I'm getting too old and tired of this kind of excitement! I think it should be made a law; "ALL new construction MUST have some kind of basement or storm shelter!!!" Hard to know where to go, when there is no where to go. I have a feeling this is going to be an ugly spring season for storms....I pray I am very wrong! VICKI ~ PM or e-mail me to let me know you are ok!!

 

[gilavina]

Good morning all

I sure hope all the folks in Kansas, Nebraska (Vicki!!), and Missouri made it through the night ok! Wow, what a rocky night! Six or so tornadoes, lots of rain and hail. I was up til 3am fending off the weather with many prayers, and on the phone alerting my friends to the east of me. One twister hit the ground 9 miles north of me, and I expect another may have hit to the west of me, as the radio station I listen to is GONE! Hit a gas station I go to north of me and did some major damage. I'm getting too old and tired of this kind of excitement! I think it should be made a law; "ALL new construction MUST have some kind of basement or storm shelter!!!" Hard to know where to go, when there is no where to go. I have a feeling this is going to be an ugly spring season for storms....I pray I am very wrong! VICKI ~ PM or e-mail me to let me know you are ok!!

I don't have time to say much as I'm on my way out the door. I was getting on here to make sure you were ok! It was a scary night last night, lost power for a while, but made it through ok. They are saying indeed its going to be a crazy storm season. I'm afraid its gonna be a hard spring for making progress here

 

[Debbi]

I don't have time to say much as I'm on my way out the door. I was getting on here to make sure you were ok! It was a scary night last night, lost power for a while, but made it through ok. They are saying indeed its going to be a crazy storm season. I'm afraid its gonna be a hard spring for making progress here

So glad you are ok!! KathyinMO. did you fare well???

 

[stoopid]

Ohh, I hope everyone is OK

 

[Debbi]

Me too! Now it's time for Donna and Randy to get this storm, take cover guys!!

 

[Arielle]

From my preliminary reading, I thought Birchen based (ER) chicks should have all black chick down with maybe a hint of red/brown. Black Coppers are black and yellow chicks. Yet Black Coppers are supposed to be ER. E based chicks can be black and yellow. Thus, I'm confused!

My new book JUST arrived from Holland: Genetics of Chicken Colours - LOADED with current info and pictures! I fully intend to get un-confused!!!!!

Barn goddess , thanks for the update. Genetic can be confusing for sure. Many alleles possible for the same loci. Now are you more confused?

 

[DMRippy]

Me too! Now it's time for Donna and Randy to get this storm, take cover guys!!

Yeap.... Looks like it is only going to dip in TN a little just enough to hit the farm. We are under Tornado watches, but the warnings are in KY. Were is Randy? Don't you love living in Tornado Alley?

 

[Arielle]

Just gonna have to put my big girl panties on.
Especially after the mess I made last week.
I was hiding the blood from DH, so outside was not an option.
I did it in the bathroom, easiest room to clean.
Well, the first one, no problem.
The second one tried to jump out of the garbage can (with no head on) and there was blood EVERYWHERE.
Of course, if I didn't try to comfort the head, while it is looking at me like "what the....?"
And tell him he was a good boy, and I was sorry.
Oh well, that's why I call myself Stoopid.

Love your gumption to try . . . .

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:


Both E and ER chicks can look very similar upon hatch. Both can have some white/light cream markings. E chicks to my knowledge would be the chicks that would have less color (white) upon hatching to none. ER chicks should show the white upon hatch, on the belly, the wing tips and some white on the face. However, with all the genes running amuck in the Marans we are bound to see varying differences in them upon hatch. It is my experience that they should not show any brown red upon hatch, but I have seen the the little red headed chicks happen and they do not grow out looking like Black Coppers (in my experience) and I have also seen chicks that have a tiny spot of copper on the head and they grow out fine. I have seen chicks that are almost completely black go out to be very nice colored birds with good amounts of red...such as my Lil' Bill. Lil' Bill was completely dark blue upon hatch (no white) and now mature, he has great amounts of copper. Which leads us once again back to the fact that chick down is never really indicitive of what adult plumage will be. However, that said...the only chick down indicators that ring a bell for me are the red headed little chicks and chipmunky striped chicks. Oh and when you are unconfused would you be so kind as to unconfuse me too? LOL!

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:


Stoo~ The first time I had to cull a chick was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I used the baking soda method. It is still hard everytime I do it but I know it must be done when needed. Now the first time I culled a 6 mos. old Black Copper cockerel (with my bare hands) who tried to put his talons in my eye while I was feeding him....was not an issue for me. I just did it and didn't look back...but then again...I was pretty miffed off as well so that helped.