Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Arielle]

THanks WYnette, I sort of fell into the FBCM a year ago, when I bought 10 chicks for the egg colors. THen when the bird became APA I felt obligated to breed it right. Now a year later, I've gone from thought I could learn how to breed, to not so sure, to heck this is going to be difficult!!!

Lots to learn. WIll get there. Don't have carnations, or sprigs.

Just other issues!

So, as I said, LOTS to learn.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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!

Well said, Wynette!! I gained more from "lurking" at Crossroads than I ever imagined possible. Made contacts with experienced breeders and was able to ask questions with real live birds there to demonstrate. Listening to conversations between them as they compared birds also gave me MUCH to think about. (Also ended up coming home with fancy-pants Silkie eggs which started a whole new craze but I digress ...

) I'm also lucky to have a real live "Master Breeder" and active APA judge very near to me and most willing to offer advice which is invaluable - and a local poultry club loaded with old-timers happy to advise, for what it's worth.

Can't wait for the Ohio Nationals in the fall. Sounds like that one is a well attended show as well.

 

[Arielle]

I need to increase the pen sizes. Ihave the beeders in small pens and I don't like the set up long term. Larger pen means more fencing. I don't eed it to be predator proof as I generally lock up at night. I've been searching for poultry netting and I'm not finding what I want. Plastic or nylon. Keep in juvenilie to adult birds. Not expensive. 4 foot high.

I've been searching for a dy on line and it's too big, too flimsy, too strong, too expensive. ANy ideas?

 

[Debbi]

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.

Thanks Vicki, I will try the oats. I used to feed them, but it seemed like they just wasted them and tossed them aside? Maybe now will be different, and I am using another source for my feed now.The smaller feed store tends to have ripped open bags from their stupid cats, and the products I think, tend to get stale. I haven't smelled Mr. Skunk outside this morning, but I also haven't been outside yet! I hate skunks, especially those who travel in the daytime, and may very well be sick!

 

[Cadeau]

Morning all

Debbi = my guys LOVE oats - they RUN to the barn to clean up whatever the horses drop!!

I'm with all of you who are culling down to the best- as soon as I get my mare and my puppy sorted out (I hope), I'm going to be back working hard on my birds!!

Off to take the puppy BACK to the vet b/c he got into his bandages again yesterday....

 

[DMRippy]

Morning all

Debbi = my guys LOVE oats - they RUN to the barn to clean up whatever the horses drop!!

I'm with all of you who are culling down to the best- as soon as I get my mare and my puppy sorted out (I hope), I'm going to be back working hard on my birds!!

Off to take the puppy BACK to the vet b/c he got into his bandages again yesterday....

Puke in the car puppy! you can do it!

 

[Arielle]

 

[gilavina]

Thanks Vicki, I will try the oats. I used to feed them, but it seemed like they just wasted them and tossed them aside? Maybe now will be different, and I am using another source for my feed now.The smaller feed store tends to have ripped open bags from their stupid cats, and the products I think, tend to get stale. I haven't smelled Mr. Skunk outside this morning, but I also haven't been outside yet! I hate skunks, especially those who travel in the daytime, and may very well be sick!

just got your email. Will reply shortly. The Marans here love Oats..they can't shovel them in fast enough! I just mix a scoop in with the feed and they will pick those out first and then eat their regular feed.

I hope that blasted skunk leaves you all alone. I hate skunks. Haven't had any here for a few years, knock on wood! just idiot possums haha

 

[Debbi]

No sight or smell of him this morning, so maybe he ventured on. I was just praying it wasn't a mom with kits under my shed! Was going to buy a jug of ammonia yesterday at the store, and totally forgot it!

We don't get a lot of skunks or possums here much, but when they do show up, they always seem to be the big grand daddies! Possums are another critter I won't tolerate here. I guess the dog got the woodchuck, haven't seen that varmint back again, hate those things too for the holes they dig under my well house. Had to put an apron around it, to keep the chucks out, and the well from freezing in the winter. I couldn't believe how unconcerned the chooks and the cats were when that skunk was around.

 

[gilavina]

No sight or smell of him this morning, so maybe he ventured on. I was just praying it wasn't a mom with kits under my shed! Was going to buy a jug of ammonia yesterday at the store, and totally forgot it!

We don't get a lot of skunks or possums here much, but when they do show up, they always seem to be the big grand daddies! Possums are another critter I won't tolerate here. I guess the dog got the woodchuck, haven't seen that varmint back again, hate those things too for the holes they dig under my well house. Had to put an apron around it, to keep the chucks out, and the well from freezing in the winter. I couldn't believe how unconcerned the chooks and the cats were when that skunk was around.

hmmm....if they weren't alarmed, that tells me they might be more used to them than what you might guess...whether he's stayed in the perimeter of your property or etc...I'm wondering if he hasn't been snooping around on you at night while you've been sleeping. When I first moved back here and my oldest brother came to visit we were up really early one morning with my mom and standing in the kitchen getting coffee and my brother and I happened to look out the window to see an absolutely GIANT possum crawl over the fence bordering the cemetery next to us and he just walked up the length of the property to the barn and sauntered right in...all while two of the cats at the time were lounging in the doorway...he stepped over one of them and they didn't even flinch. He'd been doing it for some time, going and stealing cat food. Well...we shot him and he was closer to 40 lbs than 30...that's for sure.
I also have a friend..the one that bought all my Cuckoos at the sale I took them to...and he has a skunk problem, and the cats and the skunks eat right alongside each other from the food dish, like its natural. It still baffles me that my friend hasn't taken care of the problem yet, but then again, not my place, so I don't get to decide, but if it were me, I would not have them anywhere near the place.