Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[desertmarcy]

Does anybody include the sound of the crowing when you decide which cockerels to keep? As if I need one more thing to worry about---but some of these black copper marans have the most long, drawn out crow. Is the way they crow hereditary? My founding cock has a long drawn out crow, and so do some of his offspring--at least the dominant ones that are crowing. I'd like to keep one whose crow is a bit shorter for the benefit of my neighbor, but I don't have a whole lot left to choose from.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Remember the hen is 102. THe LG fluctuates a bit as it cycles. I picked up human thermometer and tracked the spikes. I was very concerned because the temp was not an even 100 ALL the time. When the chicks hatch just fine I stopped monitoring so closely. I check when I turn the eggs 2-3 times a day.

If you know the days of incubation, you can use candling to check the air cell (if you can see the air cell) and use that to judge if the RH is correct for your area.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Wynette THanks wynette--always something to learn on this thread!!

Does anybody include the sound of the crowing when you decide which cockerels to keep? As if I need one more thing to worry about---but some of these black copper marans have the most long, drawn out crow. Is the way they crow hereditary? My founding cock has a long drawn out crow, and so do some of his offspring--at least the dominant ones that are crowing. I'd like to keep one whose crow is a bit shorter for the benefit of my neighbor, but I don't have a whole lot left to choose from.

In theory . . . I have quackless ducks.

 

[Cadeau]

well....I was all gung ho for getting some update shots today, but got the ill fated "battery low" flashing in red on the screen...

Its charging now and will see if its not too terribly hot later on in the day to try again.

I went a hunting kitties this morning and was successful. I have two fuzzy faced scaredy cats, but don't think it will take long before they are spoiled since the both went to sleep while I was holding them.

ugh - keep cool- we're slated for that heat tomorrow...

aww...fuzzy kittens...pics?

 

[gilavina]

ugh - keep cool- we're slated for that heat tomorrow...

aww...fuzzy kittens...pics?

Hey lady... its been really hot here today...so no photos yet, but can probably get some kitty pics later on as I'll be bringing them up to feed them in a little while. They are cute, but not quite sure about me yet. I think another week and they would have been totally wild, so I'm happy I caught them in time.

Hoping to get some building done tomorrow in the early morning. Its been hot again since the end of last weekend, so things are going so much slower. I suppose I should't complain too much as its allowing me more time to get show prep stuff done in between the trips out to change water for the chickens. Things are coming along!

 

[Cadeau]

how about pics of your ferocious orange orphan? (at least I *think* he was orange - ?? - )

ugh - we started that climb to H-O-T yesterday...it will hopefully get interrupted on Wednesday by a big thunder storm.

I'm hoping to sort through birds tomorrow and get a bunch in the "freezer camp pen" - take the pressure off some.
Those boys are getting so hormonal that they're trying to snag anything that moves!
and the crowing....I have a kitten cry , a tiny goat cry, and a

coming out of that pen right now....argh!

 

[DMRippy]

My turner was out I don't know how long, but my son fixed it yesterday. The humidity was at 39% before we fixed it and kept it open all night. Closed it up and turned it on and the humidity is stuck at 60+% no water. Just RH. It was at 78% before I closed it up LOL. VERY HUMID here. I have my eggs in the hatcher, but the humidity is high in there too. Hoping by running it all night it will SUCK some humidity out. I don't like the Marans eggs being at that humidity for any time, much less after the turner has been off for days.

I ran the AC in that room to try and lower the RH in there, not sure it really worked. If it is not better tomorrow I will get the dehumidifier hooked up. I hope the hatch is not lost. They were nice dark eggs....

 

[gilavina]

how about pics of your ferocious orange orphan? (at least I *think* he was orange - ?? - )

ugh - we started that climb to H-O-T yesterday...it will hopefully get interrupted on Wednesday by a big thunder storm.

I'm hoping to sort through birds tomorrow and get a bunch in the "freezer camp pen" - take the pressure off some.
Those boys are getting so hormonal that they're trying to snag anything that moves!
and the crowing....I have a kitten cry , a tiny goat cry, and a

coming out of that pen right now....argh!

haha too funny and I hear ya on the animal noises and needing to sort birds again. I've decided against taking birds to the sale since its supposed to be boiling again tomorrow.
I can get some pics of Gremmy the tormentor when he comes in for playtime. He's just wild, but I admit I love how ornery he is. He's a giant now, with the coolest orange color and stripes and spots.

 

[gilavina]

My turner was out I don't know how long, but my son fixed it yesterday. The humidity was at 39% before we fixed it and kept it open all night. Closed it up and turned it on and the humidity is stuck at 60+% no water. Just RH. It was at 78% before I closed it up LOL. VERY HUMID here. I have my eggs in the hatcher, but the humidity is high in there too. Hoping by running it all night it will SUCK some humidity out. I don't like the Marans eggs being at that humidity for any time, much less after the turner has been off for days.

I ran the AC in that room to try and lower the RH in there, not sure it really worked. If it is not better tomorrow I will get the dehumidifier hooked up. I hope the hatch is not lost. They were nice dark eggs....

I totally feel your pain Donna....humidity spikes I think had a lot to do with not having a good hatch this last batch.....I'm still bummed about it. Sending good hatching vibes you way lady!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I saw life in the Wheaten Ams eggs, not so much in the Marans. It could be they were not as fertile with the heat too. We will see. I already have a collection started