Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[qball53]

Vicki, I am CULLING in the cuckoos. I have seen several chicks with the gold popping up so they are all GOING ASAP! I know where it is coming from so I am going to sell both of them and then I will just have my blues and splash. Any hint of gold and they are not staying at my farm. I just don't have time to breed it out. I have been teased with some hope (dark eggs and feathered legs) so we will see tomorrow.

That is going to lighten the load in to the winter, but that means I need to start hatching.

Please, please inform whom ever buys the birds that you are culling for the gold. I am not accusing here as I do not know your intentions. I will state from experience way too many breeders are just passing their problems along without serving notice. I doubt if more than 30% of the marans we have purchased from breeders on rare breed auctions is usable for the purpose we purchased them for. The number of silver birchen roos we have purshased that have straw to GOLD saddle feathers is appauling, as they were sold as silver birchen and had the GOLD visable on arrival.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
The lady that wants them has goldens so she is good to go! My roo that is contributing to the problem is going to the chickens farm and will be eaten in the fall

 

[Cadeau]

When I used to raise sheep, I was worried about the kids being able to eat them. So, since everything here has to have a name, the lambs that were going to be eaten had names like: Joe Dinner, Lamb Chop, Stew, etc. The first time we sat down to a leg of lamb, I was very nervous for them. My then 4 year old Son says, "so Mom, is this Joe Dinner?" Yes, Joe has done his job well for us, are you going to try him? So he takes a bite, looks at me with huge eyes and says, "WOW! Joe Dinner is reeeeeallly tasty!"

And so it went for lambs, goats, pigs, and calves; they realized they had a job to do, and made the ultimate sacrafice for our benefit. Kids are a lot more rational than we give them credit for...

This is what we do - just reminds the kids that those particular animals are for the table.

Kids are really resilient - as long as you give them credit and explain things, they're usually fine!

 

[desertmarcy]

Wow, this is a busy thread!
Yes, it is a sight thing. They can only see down and to the sides. It seems kind of cruel, but I did not want to get rid of my birds, and nothing else worked for me.
It would be difficult to put on without 2 people (at least for my birds that are not used to being handled). The site I got them from recommended some kind of pliers, that cost much more than the peepers (maybe C-clip pliers?). DH has every tool, so we didn't buy them. Maybe needle-nose pliers would work,- you are using them to widen a springy piece of plastic, with tiny tabs that fit in the brid's nostrils. They should be able to breathe through their beak when correctly installed.
We put them on the leghorn in the middle of the day. Not only did she freak out, but every bird freaked out grabbing at her peepers like they were food. They pulled them off of her. We went in the next night and snatched her off the roost, putting them on by headlamp, put her back on the roost and she went to sleep. In the morning, no one even noticed, and the leghorn was scratching around like everyone else, but not pulling feathers!
I know there are people on the forum that outfit every bird in their flock with peepers for the winter, and take them all off in the spring when they are not cooped up.
Good luck with them! It is a frustrating problem.

I got my peepers ordered this morning. I had to wait until they were open, not open on weekends, to find out what colors they had because their website showed a bird wearing a red one, and I did not want red ones! That color would surely attract more attention! Anyway, the person answering my call checked with the warehouse and blue is what they have in stock now, so that works! So far, I haven't seen any more picked butts in that pen, but there are a couple with no long tail feathers---so they are at risk! My birds all have to stay in pens, too many predators here and I do try to give them at least 15 square feet per bird--but I ended up with too many pullets that weren't selling, so that pen had too many birds plus the hot sun causing them to all stay in a small strip in the back of the pen until the sun moves around. I just have too many projects needing done and not enough cool time to do it! I finally ordered headlights for me and partner, I may just have to get some of stuff done after dark. I just hate this time of year here--the sun is relentless--trying to find a caretaker to help out has been a frustrating task as well. No one wants to be here during the summer! At least the fly numbers are down, must be too hot and dry for them, too

 

[desertmarcy]

They have a large grassy yard with 24/7 access. I have soy I could grind up & add to their feed. I tried blowing out eggs & putting in salt mixed with mustard that Bev suggested, so I'll see how that works today...its maddening....I might have to invest in a trap nest I guess if they don't stop...

There was also a design posted on BYC for roll away nest boxes. As soon as the egg is laid, it rolls out where the hens can't get it. Clever.

 

[jandrusrn]

Hey all.... have 5 Marans that I just loooove and am trying to sex them. ONLY 10 days old, but I'm told that they sex pretty early... no? yes? Whatcha think? Gorgeous wee things and they're so spry, ahem, spring chickens if you will.

If I post pix will some of you experts in the Marans biz have a guess???

 

[jandrusrn]

Had to try! Thanks..

 

[desertmarcy]

Amen, speaking from the perspective of being one of those kids that grew up that way, knowing about butchering and them being animals I spent time feeding and caring for and petting, I can say it was a natural process. There was nothing horrifying or scarring about it. If anything, I believe in a lot of ways my friends and I that grew up this way have a respect for food that many don't. Detattachment from how food is raised and processes (including veggies) I believe has created an ignorance in a lot of people, where it is seen as something barbaric or cruel or below them to have to do. I would rather have the peace of mind knowing the animals I use to nourish me had a good life, were well taken care of and that I know exactly what went into them and in turn what will be going into my diet.

X2 Even though the only experience I had growing up was one big session when Dad butchered all the layers, I just don't want to eat eggs or meat from abused (re: factory farmed) birds anymore.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Wonder how long it would take me to get to Lotsa's house.......chicken-nab all those little Splash babies and be gone before her Jack Russell got to me.

you're welcome to visit anytime Pink and I'm hoping that next year I'll be able to share. I have a blue copper hen from "Ruth" and I hope to mate her back to her best son. I have so many ideas it just takes time as you well know. My dogs prefer biscuits they just love to chase and kill they never have eaten a fresh chicken yet....they work on my ground squirrels daily

 

[desertmarcy]

I just got an email from a local feed store--they have a load of mixed hay, Bermuda/Alfalfa mix, heavy on the Bermuda--for $17.75 100 pound bale Plus tax that's $19.00 per bale

Don't think my birds are getting any bales to knock apart any time soon....