Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

those will work great! Do three to 4 per plant if you have enough....also, we use coffee cans and gallon size food cans (from restaurants) and cut off both the top and bottom and when I plant most of my plants (tomatoes, kohrabi, cauliflower, etc) will put one of the cans around the small plant and sink it into the ground a bit. I do this for quite a few reasons...the major one is that it keeps things like cut worms from being able to get to the plants, but also, gives a bit of shade protection to the little guys when they first are growing so their roots can establish, and the best part is when the plants are bigger, they offer a bit of stability for plants...especially around here, from the winds, and you can fill the can up to the top and let it soak in when you move onto the next plant and come back and do it again (makes watering go so much faster)...this way I can keep track of roughly how much water the plant is getting. I still do the soaker bottles as well on the more sensitive plants...like tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and etc.

Yes, I have done the can around the plant in the past, but for some reason it didn't stop the worms and I had mold problems with the ones I had done it to. I was out tying up some plants last night that had toppled over. They were already staked and tied, but had outgrown the ties! These are the tallest tomato plants I have ever had! Still have aphids, but now I see the Lady Bugs coming in, so I won't spray them. They LOVE aphids!! Been battling Japanese Beetles this year too, not something I generally see here. They have taken a real liking to my Basil plants. I dusted them with Sevin to no avail. Think I'll start picking off the sprouts and start drying some just in case. It sure smells good, even when you just barely brush the plant with your finger, it lets off a rush of aroma!

 

[pinkchick]

Those "Bad" genes are from Bill....no doubt.

 

[Debbi]

Those "Bad" genes are from Bill....no doubt.

Speaking of Bill, how is he getting along with the geese and goslings now? I bet those babies are getting big?

 

[gilavina]

Yes, I have done the can around the plant in the past, but for some reason it didn't stop the worms and I had mold problems with the ones I had done it to. I was out tying up some plants last night that had toppled over. They were already staked and tied, but had outgrown the ties! These are the tallest tomato plants I have ever had! Still have aphids, but now I see the Lady Bugs coming in, so I won't spray them. They LOVE aphids!! Been battling Japanese Beetles this year too, not something I generally see here. They have taken a real liking to my Basil plants. I dusted them with Sevin to no avail. Think I'll start picking off the sprouts and start drying some just in case. It sure smells good, even when you just barely brush the plant with your finger, it lets off a rush of aroma!

hmmm...I wonder about the mold...must be the difference of an environmental factor of some kind or two. Never had that problem yet. Also don't know what to tell about the cut worms...this is the only thing I can get to work here for them! I've tried so many other things, but to no avail! haha
I'm seeing some crazy bugs here I've never seen before and am having to look them up to even know what to do with some of them!

 

[pinkchick]

Bill is doing great! He is Bill, still my very co-dependent boy. He is getting along with the geese just fine, if he stays just outside their reach. If he gets too close, they let him know about it, but they do not hurt him. They really are very gentle and friendly geese.
YES, the goslings are getting big. I will be building them a new brooder area this weekend as they have outgrown what they are using right now. They do not live with their parents....I am the parent....THANKS TO BILL. Bad Bill!

Last night as I was sitting with my soon to be new Mamma goat, Loosey, Bill waited for me outside the gates to the kidding stall....get this....whinning. I opened the gate and let him in and he stopped. He just wanted some attention. I picked him up and pet him for a few minutes and he was all good, wanted back out of the stall and went along his merry little way.


No goatie babies yet.

I suspect very very soon as I can barely feel her ligaments as of this morning and her tummy has dropped significantly. Babies are still moving around, but seem to not be as active as they were. Bag is getting more full by the day and I don't know if it can handle much more....poor thing. I feel like I should make her a sling of some sort to help haul those things around.

 

[gilavina]

Yay! I'm starting to get excited about the show here! Meets are coming in and I'm still working on what I can sort out for the Marans, but I do think it will be a fantastic show! I dread the requesting meets part usually, but its kind of fun this year, especially hearing the excitement from some clubs! Makes the process so much more relaxing!!
Debbi, Kim, Donna and everyone else, you better start working on inventing a teleportation device to bring you and your birdes!

 

[Debbi]

hmmm...I wonder about the mold...must be the difference of an environmental factor of some kind or two. Never had that problem yet. Also don't know what to tell about the cut worms...this is the only thing I can get to work here for them! I've tried so many other things, but to no avail! haha
I'm seeing some crazy bugs here I've never seen before and am having to look them up to even know what to do with some of them!

Oh yes, those crazy alien bugs are back here this year! I don't know what they are, but they only come once every 10 years or so. They look and smell like a Stink Bug, but are the size of a June Bug! And what really freaks me out, is they make EYE CONTACT with you!!!

I sure hope the chooks get the majority of them, because they get in the house like they leak through the walls! Heard my first bunch of Cicadas last night. Wonder how many hatched out this year. We had a triple hatch a few years back, and you couldn't walk around here without crunching the bugs!

 

[gilavina]

Bill is doing great! He is Bill, still my very co-dependent boy. He is getting along with the geese just fine, if he stays just outside their reach. If he gets too close, they let him know about it, but they do not hurt him. They really are very gentle and friendly geese.
YES, the goslings are getting big. I will be building them a new brooder area this weekend as they have outgrown what they are using right now. They do not live with their parents....I am the parent....THANKS TO BILL. Bad Bill!

Last night as I was sitting with my soon to be new Mamma goat, Loosey, Bill waited for me outside the gates to the kidding stall....get this....whinning. I opened the gate and let him in and he stopped. He just wanted some attention. I picked him up and pet him for a few minutes and he was all good, wanted back out of the stall and went along his merry little way.


No goatie babies yet.

I suspect very very soon as I can barely feel her ligaments as of this morning and her tummy has dropped significantly. Babies are still moving around, but seem to not be as active as they were. Bag is getting more full by the day and I don't know if it can handle much more....poor thing. I feel like I should make her a sling of some sort to help haul those things around.

haha way too funny! I can just see it....a goat with an udder and belly sling! haha I sure hope she kids soon for you! I'm so excited for you!

 

[gilavina]

Oh yes, those crazy alien bugs are back here this year! I don't know what they are, but they only come once every 10 years or so. They look and smell like a Stink Bug, but are the size of a June Bug! And what really freaks me out, is they make EYE CONTACT with you!!!

I sure hope the chooks get the majority of them, because they get in the house like they leak through the walls! Heard my first bunch of Cicadas last night. Wonder how many hatched out this year. We had a triple hatch a few years back, and you couldn't walk around here without crunching the bugs!

yikes! I don't think I've ever had those bugs here! Sure hope we don't either! I heard my first batch of Locusts at the beginning of this week. There is something strangely soothing to the rhythmic noises they make...especially when falling asleep at night, reminds me of my childhood.

 

[Debbi]

Yay! I'm starting to get excited about the show here! Meets are coming in and I'm still working on what I can sort out for the Marans, but I do think it will be a fantastic show! I dread the requesting meets part usually, but its kind of fun this year, especially hearing the excitement from some clubs! Makes the process so much more relaxing!!
Debbi, Kim, Donna and everyone else, you better start working on inventing a teleportation device to bring you and your birdes!

Aye, aye Captain...beam me to Nebraska Mr. Scott!