Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Arielle]

Quote: THat makes sense. THe cociidia are in the gut so maybe as the water travels thru the intestines it kills the microbes. IDK, I'm reaching here. Sigh. Thanks LC.

Anyone else have advice?

 

[BackyardCoop]

 

[JulB]

First time Marans owners, eagerly wanting to share pictures of our babies!




This is our big boy, Windsor. He's about 4 weeks old and bossing everyone around already.




Louie is our youngest, probably about 3 weeks old. We were hoping it was a girl, but pretty sure by now he's not.




Siri, around 4 weeks old. Pretty girl.




Our oldest is Pen. We love her face colors, but were wondering if she's a Black copper marans or a different type. Her chest feathers all came in and most are tipped in white. None of the others had that much white on their faces either. Any ideas?

We love the breed! So nice and friendly.

 

[desertmarcy]

Yeah I was hoping I would have a couple decent birds to take to the October Fowl Fest in Birch Run but I dont think thats going to happen. I wasnt really counting on winning anything, just wanted to go and learn. I went to the one this past spring. There was not one Marans. There was some nice birds there but I went to see some Marans so I could get an Idea of what the judges see. I was bummed to say the least. I would like to have some nice ones to take and get others to start seeing them. Im getting more stubburn as I get older so I think Im in for the long haul. That Is unless I keep getting junk for a couple years or my wife tells me enough. I think she regets telling me to get a hobby lol. I stopped doing a lot of stuff I used to do because of a bad car accident. Chickens has really helped. Thats why I opened a small business and getting into all sorts of stuff. Im just at Marans right now but Im going to do Soaps, Bees, Essential Oils and some other stuff. Hopefully In a couple years I will have a nice farm. I live right in a small town. If it were not for having some really good niehbors I wouldnt be able to do it. I asked them If I could have chickens and they said they didnt mind. 2 of them had chickens back in the day. So God blessed me. I have allready had the city out telling me not to have them. That they were not going to do anything unless they get a complaint. Thank God people like them so far. Everyone has to start off small. I cant afford a 20 acre farm yet. Here is a picture of my recked car. Hit head on by a drunk driver.

Yikes, glad you survived, that is just awful.

 

[Hens and Roos]

THat makes sense. THe cociidia are in the gut so maybe as the water travels thru the intestines it kills the microbes. IDK, I'm reaching here. Sigh. Thanks LC.

Anyone else have advice?

When we delt with this earlier this year we had to check many times to make sure all were getting the medicated water. We used Sulmet, I know there is other medication out there to use- amprolin(sp) is another. How old are they again- the younger they are the harder it is for their body to handle it. If you can, even though it is so warm out, provide them with a lamp- we used a 25 watt red party bulb and they seemed to like to be able to move under or away from it as needed. They may not have much interest in eating but make sure they are drinking. Make sure to keep the bedding clean, we changed ours every other day just to help remove the bloody poop- also would bag this and get rid of separately from the other bedding as it can remain in the soil for a long time. Good Luck

 

[Hens and Roos]

Yeah I was hoping I would have a couple decent birds to take to the October Fowl Fest in Birch Run but I dont think thats going to happen. I wasnt really counting on winning anything, just wanted to go and learn. I went to the one this past spring. There was not one Marans. There was some nice birds there but I went to see some Marans so I could get an Idea of what the judges see. I was bummed to say the least. I would like to have some nice ones to take and get others to start seeing them. Im getting more stubburn as I get older so I think Im in for the long haul. That Is unless I keep getting junk for a couple years or my wife tells me enough. I think she regets telling me to get a hobby lol. I stopped doing a lot of stuff I used to do because of a bad car accident. Chickens has really helped. Thats why I opened a small business and getting into all sorts of stuff. Im just at Marans right now but Im going to do Soaps, Bees, Essential Oils and some other stuff. Hopefully In a couple years I will have a nice farm. I live right in a small town. If it were not for having some really good niehbors I wouldnt be able to do it. I asked them If I could have chickens and they said they didnt mind. 2 of them had chickens back in the day. So God blessed me. I have allready had the city out telling me not to have them. That they were not going to do anything unless they get a complaint. Thank God people like them so far. Everyone has to start off small. I cant afford a 20 acre farm yet. Here is a picture of my recked car. Hit head on by a drunk driver.

Wow, glad to see that you made it! Hang in there with your chickens, especially if you enjoy it!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Lost one of our only TWO Marans pullets yesterday. She was dead in the coop in the morning, I am very close to a poultry lab and took her over for a necropsy (paranoid of contagious bird diseases). Turns out she had a huge tumor, good that she's not contagious, but sucks that she just came in to lay and she is one of my son's birds. Just having the toughest time with this breed.

Barngoddess, your pictures are exquisite. Too bad on the triple cockerel hatch, but they sure look healthy!

Sending good vibes for all who are dealing with the heat. Cleaned and painted the Orpington coop today, dusted the birds while I was at it.

I'm more than happy to say that it looks like Debbi was right! The chicks are now 4 weeks old and only one is looking male, the one Debbi called. I guess my thick legged, kick boxing splash copper girl is just a scrapper!!!

But I couldn't be more pleased.

Very sorry about your loss and glad to hear you took the trouble to find out the cause. I'm like you. Completely paranoid that I'll lose ALL my "junk".

 

[Hens and Roos]

Can anyone confirm this being a girl or a boy? it's a cuckoo maran and was three weeks old yesterday:

looks like a boy, the girls would have less defined white, this one has more defined stripes of white and color. Sure is cute, love the look it is giving you

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Thank you for sharing.

I will set up a light for them, they can use it or not. THey are still all in the house, about 6 weeks old, so they are fairly large at this point.

Yes I was going to ask DH to burn the shavings--he loves to make fires! LOL

I stop by regularly to dip beaks. ANd pray. SOme look terrible but are fisty and fight me while getting the beak dipped. Others seem grateful for the free ride over to the water.

I did add molasses to the water for those not eating. Some are still pigs.

Thank you again.

 

[Debbi]

I'm more than happy to say that it looks like Debbi was right! The chicks are now 4 weeks old and only one is looking male, the one Debbi called. I guess my thick legged, kick boxing splash copper girl is just a scrapper!!!  But I couldn't be more pleased.

 Very sorry about your loss and glad to hear you took the trouble to find out the cause. I'm like you. Completely paranoid that I'll lose ALL my "junk".

Good deal!! Now, if I could just figure out the sexes on mine! I have 2 hens here that will chest bump and spar with each other, and with any roo they don't want romance from; one even has spurs!