Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Christie Rhae]

I've done both Christie, but the best I've found is to brine them whole then cut them into drums, thighs, and etc, then freeze. The quality of the texture and etc is much better.

Thank you !

 

[Hens and Roos]

I have a big 22 week old Freedom Ranger Roo... I am keeping him for breeding stock for meat birds for the next couple of years....(If he doesn't got mean) I got 4 and 2 died. I ended up with 1 roo 1 hen, but the hen doesn't do very well at all and she was scheduled for dinner this weekend, but plans have changed so next weekend.

I have a number of breeds to try him with to see if I can get something more sustainable than the freedom rangers or cornish X.
Next year I will have to see what the Marans culls throw with his blood!

I picked him up yesterday and he has to be a good 20 lbs. He was playing escape artist with me and I put him back 3 times, before I found out what he was doing to get out. He has been named "Cubby"
I'll post a picture tonight... he really is a beast....... still properly afraid of me, so far.

Glad to see there are others trying to get back what was lost. my grandmothers did all the preserving and freezing and gardening... somehow it missed my generation, but I was lucky enough to remember it, so maybe I can remake it in my own way. (I am 40 this year)

thanks
patricia

We did all the preserving and freezing and gardening when I was growing up- all of us kids helped my mom with this and I have been teaching my kids how to do all this as well, they look forward to making the jams, jellies, pickles and better yet eating them! One thing we started doing when we moved to our current place in winter of 2006 was to tap our maple trees and make maple syrup. They enter the items in fair as 4-H projects.

Try feeding him treats so that he looks forward to seeing you- we use bread pieces or veggies from the garden-cut up

my kids are also expected to help with all chores regardless if they show the chickens or not. They will help with the processing of the extras boys but only certain areas. They also are expected to help with the garden with what they can do.

 

[gilavina]

We did all the preserving and freezing and gardening when I was growing up- all of us kids helped my mom with this and I have been teaching my kids how to do all this as well, they look forward to making the jams, jellies, pickles and better yet eating them! One thing we started doing when we moved to our current place in winter of 2006 was to tap our maple trees and make maple syrup. They enter the items in fair as 4-H projects.

Try feeding him treats so that he looks forward to seeing you- we use bread pieces or veggies from the garden-cut up

my kids are also expected to help with all chores regardless if they show the chickens or not. They will help with the processing of the extras boys but only certain areas. They also are expected to help with the garden with what they can do.

that's exactly how I was raised and it is about the biggest gift I could have ever been given. Sustainability and good Stewardship are so incredibly valuable.

 

[Hens and Roos]

that's exactly how I was raised and it is about the biggest gift I could have ever been given. Sustainability and good Stewardship are so incredibly valuable.

it really give you a sence of pride in yourself and the things you do!

with our rental property management business we see alot of wastefulness and poor choices- my kids see this and are very apprecitative for what they have and what they learn.

our birds give us a hobby to come home to so that we can leave most of the work behind us for the day or weekend(atleast we try hard to)

 

[3riverschick]

I helped someone in Canada with Solar and 10 kW panel was $80,000. I am not sure how much power that would give her... but there are smaller options out there... She should check out the wind powered options too.... I have heard you can get windmills for 7-8,000.. again I am in Canada.. but I could get you the contact info of the guy with the wind mills.

That scenario is exactly what I would love to have... Although the DH and Step kids would have a fit... To me that would be ideal... wean them off TV and video games, use renewable resources for heat, think about what you need electricity for and if you are being wasteful.... Let her know it may be a pain, but perhaps a blessing in disguise.

My2 cents, Patricia

Or she could check with the shale and natural gas folk. I don't know where she is at but if she is near or in the "fairway" for Marcellus shale, she might get them to drill on her land. All the free natural gas she wants and a royaty to boot.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA

 

[Flowerbh]

So, my EE started laying last Saturday. Like I said, I was a little disappointed that the eggs weren't blue or green. They are a light pale pink and they are really small....BUT, she has laid an egg every day since! 7 eggs in 7 days! wow! So, i have 4 more chickens who are 23 + weeks old who are still not laying. So today I have to go to the store and when I come back my husband tells me to go check the nesting boxes because he heard the egg song. So I run out there all excited because my 3 hens that are laying had already laid an egg and I was thinking that one of the others had had a first egg. So, I look in the nest and there is this HUGH hugh egg in there half buried under the shavings. So I'm thinking...OMG, this is hugh, it must be a triple yoker! And then I pick it up......and hear laughter as I discover the hugh egg was a large smooth oval shaped potatoe! Yes, DH was standing in the door laughing his head off! How mean can you get!!!! LOL! So check my signature to see where he rates today!

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Sorry to just jump in on your discussion. I lurk this thread because I have a BCM rooster. He has those red "racing stripes on his legs but there was no problem until today when I saw he had a bloody gooey mess on his left foot, especially on the toe the feathers grow from.

The blood is gone but can anyone see a probelem here? I included a full shot, too. At some point I will send some other pics to see if there is any point in breeding him.

NOTE THE TOE

Ok, Ladies. I'm a newbie to chickens and even moreso to Marans. The problem seems to be where the little feathers were growing out.

Thanks for your comments and guidance.

 

[SarniaTricia]

I can't see the photos??

 

[Missa Chickabee]

OK. I will try another way.

 

[Missa Chickabee]