Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

That stinks Vicki. I'm sorry! Hope the rest pf them are ok.

everyone else looks good....I'm surprised my doe Ina didn't decide to have babies during it...haha it would seem fitting! haha

I'm planning on getting things straightened out and hopefully get moving on building when the ground dries out. It looks like I will get two days off during each week the next two weeks. Its shocking. Two of those days will be taking birds to the sale....which is coming up really fast! I've got some work to do on buiding pens to take them!!

 

[Debbi]

Vicki, you've had enough storms for awhile now! Glad you only lost one, if you had to lose any. It was miserably humid here yesterday and HOT! Didn't get much of anything done, but this morning I got out into the garden and started to plant! Got most of my tomatoes in, planted some yellow squash, cukes, and need to go back out when it cools off some and plant the other tomatoes, and my Cayenne peppers. I want to find some Bush Zucinni seeds, can't seem to find them around here for some reason? I love making Zucinni bread in the summer, yummmmmm!

Pip an I had it out last night over my choice of bandana color again! Little turd HATES RED!! Luckily for me, I had the 5 gallon feed bucket in my hand, and when he came at me, well, let's just say he got a time-out in the bucket! LOL! He is just going to have to get over the red bandana, or I need to find some blue ones....sigh

Put the Showgirl and Silkie eggs in lockdown, and one of the SG eggs rocked!!

Can't wait to see the little Lorax!

 

[gilavina]

Vicki, you've had enough storms for awhile now! Glad you only lost one, if you had to lose any. It was miserably humid here yesterday and HOT! Didn't get much of anything done, but this morning I got out into the garden and started to plant! Got most of my tomatoes in, planted some yellow squash, cukes, and need to go back out when it cools off some and plant the other tomatoes, and my Cayenne peppers. I want to find some Bush Zucinni seeds, can't seem to find them around here for some reason? I love making Zucinni bread in the summer, yummmmmm!

Pip an I had it out last night over my choice of bandana color again! Little turd HATES RED!! Luckily for me, I had the 5 gallon feed bucket in my hand, and when he came at me, well, let's just say he got a time-out in the bucket! LOL! He is just going to have to get over the red bandana, or I need to find some blue ones....sigh

Put the Showgirl and Silkie eggs in lockdown, and one of the SG eggs rocked!!

Can't wait to see the little Lorax!

I agree...the weather has been crappy lately....frying hot and humid during the day and terrible storms at night. Its getting old. I thought the windows might break out in the living room when I went to see what was going on when the storm woke me up. There was rain and hail coming sideways....all you can do at that point is pray...

i think I've got a few bush zuchini varieties here...I'll put them in the package when I send it to you

 

[Debbi]

I thought of a way to try to plant my potatoes as I was planting this morning! Ever try growing things inside of straw bales?? I figure 8 bales should do me. Make a box of them with one side open. For the open side, I will use some plywood to make a door I can raise up, held in place by 2 more straw bales. Of course till and compost the spot first, then add some straw to cover, and of course with my nosy chickens, some chicken wire on the top! Can keep building it up in tiers with more bales. When ready to harvest, just lift the plywood panel up as high as I need to! Think that would work?? Besides, it's all good stuff to till back into the garden for next year too!

 

[hmlongino]

Hi!

I would love to get some opinions on our blue copper roo. I'm new to marans, and hope to do the breed "right"! Our black copper roo seems to be showing far too much copper in the body. Our blue copper, however, looks much better to me.

I tried to take pics of the hens, in hopes of getting help deciding which to put into the breeding pen... but they are lounging under the trailer/coop and won't come out for anything! So, if anyone has general advice on traits to be sure to look for, please let me know. (I have read up on breed standards, but I always love to get "real" testimonial type advice!)

Thanks!

Holly

 

[gilavina]

I thought of a way to try to plant my potatoes as I was planting this morning! Ever try growing things inside of straw bales?? I figure 8 bales should do me. Make a box of them with one side open. For the open side, I will use some plywood to make a door I can raise up, held in place by 2 more straw bales. Of course till and compost the spot first, then add some straw to cover, and of course with my nosy chickens, some chicken wire on the top! Can keep building it up in tiers with more bales. When ready to harvest, just lift the plywood panel up as high as I need to! Think that would work?? Besides, it's all good stuff to till back into the garden for next year too!

I'm not sure lady, but I'd be really curious to see how things turned out if you did! I love experiments like that!

 

[Debbi]

I'm not sure lady, but I'd be really curious to see how things turned out if you did! I love experiments like that!

Don't have much to lose, except maybe the potato crop. Always need straw, and I've already got the plywood.

 

[Debbi]

Hi!

I would love to get some opinions on our blue copper roo. I'm new to marans, and hope to do the breed "right"! Our black copper roo seems to be showing far too much copper in the body. Our blue copper, however, looks much better to me.

I tried to take pics of the hens, in hopes of getting help deciding which to put into the breeding pen... but they are lounging under the trailer/coop and won't come out for anything! So, if anyone has general advice on traits to be sure to look for, please let me know. (I have read up on breed standards, but I always love to get "real" testimonial type advice!)

Thanks!

Holly

Hi Holly,

Do you suppose you could get a better picture of him? I don't want to make remarks while he is standing like that, it makes him look off-balance. A nice upright pose, a close up shot of his comb, and a full frontal view will give us all a better idea. Maybe when it cools down some this evening, the girls will come out too!

 

[hmlongino]

Another question....

Does it make a difference if your black coppers are from black x blue? Is it more desirable to attain black coppers through black x black?


Thanks again!

(I'll work on getting better pics later today... when the sun's not beating down on all of us!!

)

 

[Cadeau]

Hi all

Catching up here!

Thanks for thinking of me, Vicki - had my last surgery and starting to feel better!!
I'm sorry to hear you had storm damage and lost a chicker...things are hard enough without losing them to "natural events."

Still no piglets, either...must not be a good time to give birth and everyone is hanging on....??....


Congrats on everyone's hatches and I'm glad that the sick chickies are starting to perk up, too!
After reading your posts, I'm going to try raising the chicks on plain crumbles, rather than medicated.

Martha - I like your young boy - I think he'll be a chunker!
I also think his tail will grow and fill out, as will he!