Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[chicken curious]

Hello, Everyone!

I've been following the thread and appreciate all the advice/tips and I feel like I know a lot more about the breed because of your conversations and pictures. I got my first chickens as day old chicks a month ago from a local breeder. I have 2 Welsummer, 4 BLR Wyandotte, 3 Ameraucana, 3 BC Marans, 2 Blue Splash Marans, and 1 Cuckoo Marans. I am not looking to show or even breed (I'm in Dallas and can't have a roo), but I am looking for a healthy backyard laying flock.

From what I gather, I should probably wait a couple more weeks before I post pics of the Marans and ask you guys to try to sex them, right? I'm a little worried b/c all 3 BC Marans have pink tips on their toes...

So today I'm just going to post a pic of Jet and make sure her (?) comb is ok with the little black tips. She's 4 weeks today.

Thanks!


Whitney

 

[chicken curious]

Also, I will have to either give/sell away or eat the roos. At what age are they big enough to eat? Will that coincide with when they are noisy crowers?? Most of my neighbors are very supportive, but I'm not sure how the ones on the side that border the chickens feel (we don't ever see them and barely know them) so I wouldn't want to hold off too long if they are making a bunch of crazy 'strangled cat' noises. LOL Maybe I can claim that's a normal hen noise until it's a full-blown cock-a-doodle-doo!

 

[Arielle]

Has any one seen Snow bird aka Culler??

 

[stoopid]

Haven't been outstide this am yet to do chores, they were on medicated feed from day 1 and so I didn't want to use the same medication as in the feed. Last night some were moving around a bit more.

Well all remaining 7 chicks made it through the night! So right now they are holding their own, we'll see how the day goes. Hopefully they will start feeling better today!!

I just learned that the "medication" is not an antibiotic. It is amprolium, which is a (I think?) riboflavin blocker. The cocci live off the riboflavin, and therefore are not supposed to be able to survive.
I am starting to not buy the med. starter anymore, since it really isn't medicated with what I think it was.
Does that make sense?
Anyone correct me if that isn't right.
I may even delete this if it sounds completely foolish....

 

[DMRippy]

Also, I will have to either give/sell away or eat the roos. At what age are they big enough to eat? Will that coincide with when they are noisy crowers?? Most of my neighbors are very supportive, but I'm not sure how the ones on the side that border the chickens feel (we don't ever see them and barely know them) so I wouldn't want to hold off too long if they are making a bunch of crazy 'strangled cat' noises. LOL Maybe I can claim that's a normal hen noise until it's a full-blown cock-a-doodle-doo!

They will crow LONG before they are ready to eat.

 

[gilavina]

I just learned that the "medication" is not an antibiotic. It is amprolium, which is a (I think?) riboflavin blocker. The cocci live off the riboflavin, and therefore are not supposed to be able to survive.
I am starting to not buy the med. starter anymore, since it really isn't medicated with what I think it was.
Does that make sense?
Anyone correct me if that isn't right.
I may even delete this if it sounds completely foolish....

no, you are not saying anything crazy. That's about right lady

 

[stoopid]

Or maybe it was thiamin... had something -in at the end.

 

[desertmarcy]

Hi group, I know this has been discussed before--but can't find or remember answer! Hope repetition is okay

How old will the Marans be when the dreaded sprigs show on the combs? I am growing up a bunch of Blue Coppers--there are sprigs in the background of my blue and splash hens (they don't have them, but another blue that came from the same person had sprig). They are bred to my Black Coppers, and I have seen no sprigs in that bloodline. I remember some saying they saw them pretty young. Would I be safe if none seen by 2 months? 3 months? Thanks.

 

[desertmarcy]

And another question--is there a standard for the color on the bottoms of the feet? Should be gray/slate? What if some other color? Is that a disqualification? Thanks

 

[slick4591]

I've just gotta kick my self in the patooty today. A guy that bought three Marans hens from me just called and asked if I had fertile OE eggs. Told him I would collect some and asked him about an incubator because he was telling me he didn't have one. Well, it turns out he went to a local garage sale that I was going to try and make but didn't to, and bought an incubator. I asked him what it was and he didn't know, but said it would hold a ton of eggs. He then went out to his truck and told me it had the letters GQF on it. As I was clearing my throat I asked how much he gave and when he said $50.00 I almost dropped the phone. Where am I when these deals happen!!?

On a lighter note it looks like I'm going to get some SLW's from Foley. My wife has been wanting them and wasn't satisfied getting them from a hatchery. Still searching for some GLW's, tho.