Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Good morning all

Vicki, any new Birchen babies??

Besides the one, nothing. I'm so bummed. Today is day 21, but don't know what I should expect because my hatches usually run a day early. I'll keep them in there, but just don't know.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Oh Vicki, I hope they are ok and just waiting till the right time to hatch.

come on babies, come on!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Besides the one, nothing. I'm so bummed. Today is day 21, but don't know what I should expect because my hatches usually run a day early. I'll keep them in there, but just don't know.

Lots of luck and positive hatching vibes coming your way!!!

 

[gilavina]

Thanks ladies. I'm just trying to keep myself busy so I don't stand at the hatcher door all day worrying haha.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Thanks ladies. I'm just trying to keep myself busy so I don't stand at the hatcher door all day worrying haha.

know exactly what you are talking about- hang in there

 

[heath_elisha]

Question for all you experts. What do you use to candle your marans eggs? We had a high powered flashlight with a homemade cone on it for candling eggs. But the darkest egg we have candled was a olive egger. Not sure how it will fair with a marans egg.... any suggestions?

 

[Cadeau]

Besides the one, nothing. I'm so bummed. Today is day 21, but don't know what I should expect because my hatches usually run a day early. I'll keep them in there, but just don't know.

That sucks...so sorry....

 

[masked rider]

thank 3riverschick, I will drop her a note today and see what she has. Thanks for the lead!

 

[masked rider]

Waiting on 11 blue wheaten eggs to hatch this week! Doing it the old fashion way, all under a BCM hen. She has been a trooper up to this point. Cannot WAIT!

 

[Christie Rhae]

I use a light from Brinsea that is made for eggs. It is crazy bright but still the best I hope for when candling marans eggs is to see a dark blob.

So I must tell someone... I butchered 4 cockerels yesterday. I did it totally myself.... I had never killed something like that before.
Last time we butchered cockerels my husband did the actual deed and I processed. This time he literally could not do it. He hated doing it before and got all upset yesterday because he didn't want to kill a chicken, he said it was my project so I should do it. lol.. poor guy. He had nightmares over it last time. You would think by looking at him that he is a big tough guy who could handle it but nope...a softie.

My heart was racing... I had the bird hanging upside down with a bucket under him and holding onto his head kinda stretching his neck to show the skin.... I stood there with the knife...... and stood there....talking to myself "you can do this you can do this" finally I just did it...made that slice and held onto that poor bird while he flapped. Whew....that was very intense.

These 4 boys were a lot harder to pluck than the older birds I did the first time. I guess cuz they had so many new feathers coming it. I had to get small pliers to pull some of the short pin feathers. But they are soaking in salt water in the fridge now. I am going to let them cure for a few days and maybe this time I can actually eat one. We tried to eat one the same day we butchered last time. The carnage was just too fresh in my mind and I had not let the meat cure... I couldn't eat it.

My husband can't understand why I don't just let them loose. I have released some older hens on a piece of property we own a few miles away. I have so many breeding plans I cannot just let all those culls loose. I feel like if I am going to seriously breed chickens I have to be able to process my culls. I do plan to try to sell or give away extras but roosters are not easy to find homes for.

I know you all can understand...thanks for listening. I am afraid to tell most people I know, they will think I have lost my mind totally.