Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[DMRippy]

Quote: They will go Monday. I woke up last night trying to figure out what I was going to do with out those HUGE eggs for breakfast..... several time! DON'T laugh y'all have had similar dreams!

I contacted them about egg and chicken pictures. They only told me to look at their chick page for pics of birds. VERY BAD PICS BTW. So I asked for Egg pictures. It says they will split orders for the RARE breeds.... I don't know.... maybe. Somebody else around here wants some too..... 3 guesses who......I am going to wait a month or so. I really need to weed through some of these chicks. I SEE LIGHT..... and it feel pretty good knowing I have about 2 1/2 weeks to worry about where to move any babies to and then not too many. May not even be a deal then. I moved all my little roos outside to a big pen. Some are for sale and some are spares just in case. Eventually I will only have one of some breeds.

My chicks started hatching. There were several out this morning, hoping they are all out tomorrow.

 

[gilavina]

They will go Monday. I woke up last night trying to figure out what I was going to do with out those HUGE eggs for breakfast..... several time! DON'T laugh y'all have had similar dreams!

I contacted them about egg and chicken pictures. They only told me to look at their chick page for pics of birds. VERY BAD PICS BTW. So I asked for Egg pictures. It says they will split orders for the RARE breeds.... I don't know.... maybe. Somebody else around here wants some too..... 3 guesses who......I am going to wait a month or so. I really need to weed through some of these chicks. I SEE LIGHT..... and it feel pretty good knowing I have about 2 1/2 weeks to worry about where to move any babies to and then not too many. May not even be a deal then. I moved all my little roos outside to a big pen. Some are for sale and some are spares just in case. Eventually I will only have one of some breeds.

My chicks started hatching. There were several out this morning, hoping they are all out tomorrow.

doesn't it feel awesome when you start thinning things out? I know it helps a ton for my perspective on things

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Well I haven't really thinned the chicks down yet, but now I know kinda what I have. I have 2 pens with FOR SALE CHICKS, tomorrow I will sort another pen the same way. Then I can sell the extras. If they don't sell by the next roo guy trip, he may get a load of chicks and not just roos.

 

[gilavina]

Well I haven't really thinned the chicks down yet, but now I know kinda what I have. I have 2 pens with FOR SALE CHICKS, tomorrow I will sort another pen the same way. Then I can sell the extras. If they don't sell by the next roo guy trip, he may get a load of chicks and not just roos.

thats one of the things i need to do tomorrow...sort my last batch of chicks so i can get a jump on prepping for the sale tuesday. heres to dwindling numbers!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Cheers! (I am 3 hatches behind you then.... LOL) I wish there was a sale like that near me. Would make things lots easier.

 

[gilavina]

Cheers! (I am 3 hatches behind you then.... LOL) I wish there was a sale like that near me. Would make things lots easier.

I hear ya...the best part of having the sale barn is that they changed owners (the son bought out the father than owned it) and they are really working hard to build back the business and its hopping on tuesday nights. The prices are all over the board right now, mostly because they have only been working at it for about 6 months, but I do think it will turn into a really great place to sell poultry on a more consistent basis before long.

 

[gilavina]

mornin Debbi....
I was just thinkin this morning that I'd love to see what birdies made it through the culling process at your place! I sure hope you have good luck getting going on your coppers now.

 

[Debbi]

Well, if the girls didn't all look like naked backed baboons, I might take some pics!

Now that the terrorizing cockerel is gone, feathers are sure to start coming in better! I kept only my biggest girls, that laid a decent egg color, and had no DQs. Shank feathering might be sparse on a few, but there is some there, and the two brothers will put some on the legs/toes of the chicks. The two chicks of mine in the brooder are proof of that! This is the first time I've had chicks with that much feathering right out of the box! So, it's starting to slowly look up. Nice to go out to the coop, and not have to

looking at carnations, sprigs, or wry tails!!

 

[gilavina]

Well, if the girls didn't all look like naked backed baboons, I might take some pics!

Now that the terrorizing cockerel is gone, feathers are sure to start coming in better! I kept only my biggest girls, that laid a decent egg color, and had no DQs. Shank feathering might be sparse on a few, but there is some there, and the two brothers will put some on the legs/toes of the chicks. The two chicks of mine in the brooder are proof of that! This is the first time I've had chicks with that much feathering right out of the box! So, it's starting to slowly look up. Nice to go out to the coop, and not have to

looking at carnations, sprigs, or wry tails!!

I hear ya...I've got a whole pen of bare back girls from some overzealous cockerels. If you have some whole oats or can get some reasonably, mix it in their feed and the feathers will come back in double time. Oats also help with the condition on the feathers.
I forgot you had those chicks along with the wheaten right? Good deal!
Once all the culling is done here, I think there will still be another pass through with a fine tooth comb to really look the birds over closely and thin out things that are more minor, but for the first time I can afford to be extra picky since I have stock to work with that is decent now.

 

[Wynette]

Arielle - thanks so much for the awesome posts - it's always fantastic to push ourselves to really think on what we're doing, where we are heading, and why. We should always question - ALWAYS!

I'll add something I haven't seen thus far in this vein of conversation, and something I feel helped me tremendously in the beginning and continues to help. I went to several open shows, and hung out in the sections where the birds I was interested in breeding were being shown. If you hang out & just be a "sponge" - look & walk quietly among the cages and listen to the conversation - you'll quickly find those who are serious about what they're doing. Ask questions and get to know the folks who place. When/if you decide to show yourself, introduce yourself to the judge after the show and get their feedback. Most judges are more than willing to give good feedback and, after all, they are the "final say" for conformation of the birds. Take your time, learn the SOP, get some good mentors, and find a judge willing to help. I've got a few judges that have helped me in the past and continue to help me by evaluating my stock and providing good (sometimes harsh, sometimes exciting!) feedback. You have to be willing to do as they say, though. A judge won't waste their time with someone who is not serious about breeding.

I agree with most on here that having a "master breeder" certification, while honorable and helpful, does not necessarily mean those folks are the only ones to go to for good, correct information. Join breed clubs, get the very best that you can get to start with, and the longer you're in this, the more folks you'll meet, and the more you'll learn. With your most excellent background, it will not take you long at all to have a VERY nice flock!