Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Cotton42]

I know this has probably been asked on this thread before, but are some Marans slow to feather out? I have 3 blues that are 4 weeks old and 2 of them are fully feathered while the other one is taking his sweet time. I just want to know if there is something wrong with him or if this is normal. He is also smaller than the others. Thanks!

 

[gilavina]

LADIES! KIM, DEBBI, LENETTE, KATELYN and all the others who've been waiting with me.... I thought I would introduce you to the newest members of the herd! Just gotta interrupt the thread a moment to post photos I've promised!

Here they are at about an hour old, still drying off, but my are they cute and lively! I haven't seen afterbirth yet, so not sure if she's done yet or not. My guess so far is one doeling and one buckling. I believe the little black one in this first photo is the doeling.


my guess on this fluffy is the buckling. Look at those long legs! His papa is a midget pygmy, so I sure hope this little one grows into those stilts! He's got a little half belt on this other side.


up and att'em already eating like pros!

 

[gilavina]

I know this has probably been asked on this thread before, but are some Marans slow to feather out? I have 3 blues that are 4 weeks old and 2 of them are fully feathered while the other one is taking his sweet time. I just want to know if there is something wrong with him or if this is normal. He is also smaller than the others. Thanks!

Some do have a slower feathering gene. I band the ones that are slower to feather out with another colored band added on so I can track them. If any of them make the cut for breeding, I am careful to track them as I try to breed it out. Sometimes a really nice one will come along, that I just can't cull, so I try to make sure I pair them with one that feathered in faster and select the quicker feathered chicks to let grow out. As far as smaller, I've never noticed a difference with mine, but perhaps some of the others that have had the slower feathering chicks will be able to chime in if they have noticed a size difference as well?

 

[Cadeau]

Aww - congrats!
I'm so glad it all turned out great!

Isn't it funny how the goat kids have to nurse on their knees - I swear mother nature did that just so they can't butt their moms right off their feet!

Just HOW small is a midget pygmy?


Vicki - can you remind me how I sent your that photo album last time?
I did picture day today!!

 

[gilavina]

Aww - congrats!
I'm so glad it all turned out great!

Isn't it funny how the goat kids have to nurse on their knees - I swear mother nature did that just so they can't butt their moms right off their feet!

Just HOW small is a midget pygmy?


Vicki - can you remind me how I sent your that photo album last time?
I did picture day today!!

I'll have to get a pic of my buck...oh so cleverly named Bucky (thanks to a nephew), I don't have one that has a size reference I don't think. I'll check in my album to see...but he is teensy tiny!

The last time with the albums I think you did it through the windows live that connects to hotmail so I could see it! You'll have to tell me what you are wantin to ideally get down to and what you want your pen to look like etc so I know what I'm looking for!

ok Katelyn, here is bucky. He's about a year old in this shot, he's still this big, only with longer horns and a big ol shiny long beard. He's next to your average garden watering can

 

[Cadeau]

Wow!
He's tiny - and so very cute!

Our Boer buck is on the way to someone else's home very soon b/c he beat me up today...
He was obviously raised by someone as a pet and can get very fresh, if you play with his horns/face.
He also tries to dominate the kids and anyone who is afraid.

BUT he's never given me a hard time...until today.

Today, I was squatting down to take pics of one of my girls (see this IS Marans related

)
She REFUSES to stay in her pen b/c the guineas have taken over and are terrorizing everyone....

Anyhow - I was squatting down and he must have decided he could dominate me b/c I was "little"....
One minute he was sniffing me, as he often does, the next he scooped me up with his horns and had my leg stuck between the curve of the horn and the point of the horn...

Then he dumped me on the ground and butted me/squashed me into the ground.....my legs are all scraped up and where I was caught is bruised and scraped and really ugly, as well as the part that got pinched....

Needless to say - he's going to live with someone else very soon....



As for the pics - I'm working on syncing them with my Picasa album, which is how you saw them the last time - I *think*
(I know I tried two ways...can't remember the other - ?? - )


I want to cull down to the best I have - whatever you think is best, even if it's only a few
and 2 roos can stay (1 to use and 1 for back up!)

Most of the F2s, including both roos are now @6-7mths old, except a couple girls, who are a bit younger (and my other kids coming up)

I'm working on putting in the captions right now -

ALL have feathered legs with no middle toe or web space feathering - most are street sweepers

That birchen roo is VERY pretty!
Let me know if I can help with a "chicken train!"

 

[gilavina]

Wow!
He's tiny - and so very cute!

Our Boer buck is on the way to someone else's home very soon b/c he beat me up today...
He was obviously raised by someone as a pet and can get very fresh, if you play with his horns/face.
He also tries to dominate the kids and anyone who is afraid.

BUT he's never given me a hard time...until today.

Today, I was squatting down to take pics of one of my girls (see this IS Marans related

)
She REFUSES to stay in her pen b/c the guineas have taken over and are terrorizing everyone....

Anyhow - I was squatting down and he must have decided he could dominate me b/c I was "little"....
One minute he was sniffing me, as he often does, the next he scooped me up with his horns and had my leg stuck between the curve of the horn and the point of the horn...

Then he dumped me on the ground and butted me/squashed me into the ground.....my legs are all scraped up and where I was caught is bruised and scraped and really ugly, as well as the part that got pinched....

Needless to say - he's going to live with someone else very soon....



As for the pics - I'm working on syncing them with my Picasa album, which is how you saw them the last time - I *think*
(I know I tried two ways...can't remember the other - ?? - )


I want to cull down to the best I have - whatever you think is best, even if it's only a few
and 2 roos can stay (1 to use and 1 for back up!)

Most of the F2s, including both roos are now @6-7mths old, except a couple girls, who are a bit younger (and my other kids coming up)

I'm working on putting in the captions right now -

ALL have feathered legs with no middle toe or web space feathering - most are street sweepers

That birchen roo is VERY pretty!
Let me know if I can help with a "chicken train!"

I don't blame you for getting rid of that buck. I wouldn't tolerate that either! I sure hope he didn't hurt you too much, but bet you'll be sore tomorrow

Bucky is indeed a little fart....i think its so cute that the little buckling looks just like his papa. It is confirmed I have a buckling and doeling for sure.

Just saw your album, I'll have to check it in a little bit, just fed kitty and he's currently attacking my face, thinking its play time

 

[Cadeau]

Aww - between kitty and the goat kids - you're gonna be busy, lady!!

The album is finished with captions, whenever you get a minute!


I still need pics of 1 4mth cockerel, 3 3mth cockerels, and 5 3mth pullets


I also need some lessons on how to select when the chickers are little (below 3mths) other than for obvious DQs....



You know.....you could always get the chicken train to send me that birchen boy and then COME AND VISIT!!

 

[gilavina]

Aww - between kitty and the goat kids - you're gonna be busy, lady!!

The album is finished with captions, whenever you get a minute!


I still need pics of 1 4mth cockerel, 3 3mth cockerels, and 5 3mth pullets


I also need some lessons on how to select when the chickers are little (below 3mths) other than for obvious DQs....



You know.....you could always get the chicken train to send me that birchen boy and then COME AND VISIT!!

I've already thought about that! Im waiting to hear back from her to see if she can sort out something for shipping. if not, will have to try something else.

 

[RyeRanch]

I know this has probably been asked on this thread before, but are some Marans slow to feather out? I have 3 blues that are 4 weeks old and 2 of them are fully feathered while the other one is taking his sweet time. I just want to know if there is something wrong with him or if this is normal. He is also smaller than the others. Thanks!

I have 4 BCM chicks that are about 8 weeks old. 3 are all sleek with basically full adult feathers and 1 still has the chick down on the breast and a little on the back behind the wings. We call this one the she-male as we are still unsure if it is a boy or a girl. It has a larger comb than the hen but a much smaller comb than the boys and the comb isnot at all red. This bird is also slightly smaller than the other 3, but appears to be closing the gap as time passes. Either way, we have decided to let it grow out and see what happens. It seems to be alert and healthy and is the friendliest of the 4.