Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I'm hoping to get to both Lucasville and the Ohio Nationals so I'll be taking pictures as well. I'll also try to get some of Don!!!

 

[stoopid]

OOOh, we may just be able to meet! I have a few peeps that want to take a road trip.
I have just been busted by a new neighbor that doesn't like the crowing coming from my back yard.
Let's just say I am allowed 6 hens.

I have a cockerel from Marquisella that I will have to get rid of, will post in BST after I calm down.
To anyone that wants to breed for egg color, this is your boy. He has a little bit too much copper color on his back.
I was holding onto him as a backup for my Clyde, just in case. I wouldn't show him, but will make a fine breeder.
Sue has some of the darkest eggs out there, PM me if you are interested, I am in NY and cannot ship, but am willing to work with you.

 

[snowbird]

I believe I heard there are still issues with egg colour with the whites as well. Probably be very helpful if someone like you was working on them, Don.

Barb, the White female I had I gave to friends in Ohio and they layed a good six on the scale. The Cuckoo I had also layed a minimum six on the scale. The cuckoo just had too many things going in the wrong direction.

 

[Arielle]

Just catching up--CP was off for a clean up . . .

The last really hot day we had, my friend had stopped by, and we were sitting on the deck watching the chooks in the yard. It was probably around 95*, and I heard my hen Flossy, giving off her, "I'm hot!!" honk. She was sitting under the deck and kept honking. My friend asks me, "I didn't think you liked ducks, what's wrong with that one??" I didn't catch the duck part, and just told her Flossy was complaining of the heat. More honking... "Don't you have a pool for her to cool off??" No, she hates the water, wouldn't use it if I did. "???? Duck that doesn't like water??" What duck? "The one under the deck quacking!" With that, I got up and called Flossy, "want to go in the run?" Out she comes just a running, honking her fool head off, and tears into the coop! "THAT'S A CHICKEN!" Yup. The only ducks I like have an orange glaze, What a zoo...

Flossy has made that noise all her life, even as a wee chick she had a funny cheep.

Yes, the store meat scares me too. I haven't been eating much of any meat at all for about the last 6 months. Then there are the prices on it! Pork is going through the roof! Beef has been through the roof for the last year or so. Now the chickens are going up. I'm thinking next spring I will try my hand at some turkeys. Smaller breed, with fast gain, if there is such a thing? Maybe a cross? I love turkey meat, and I can get a week's worth of meals out of one 18# bird, and then there is SOUP!

You can also raise a BBW or BBB and stop at the desired weight. I raised 8 last summer and the Toms dressed at 36#-

THe smaller turkeys you are talking about finish at about 10#-- the beltsville and holland are two different birds. I'm sure they are both delicious though.

The Grocery meat is a subject of discussion in my social group at least 2X a week.
I am still eating it, but hope to get us all off it soon... (next year or so)

I have two young female turkeys that seem to grow at the same rate as the chickens (adult in 22 weeks or so?)... I am told the flavour is a bit different from grocery birds... we will see. I may borrow a friend's tom to produce some hatching eggs, before we "try" them so I have replacements....

I have met some local folks this week that only eat the birds they raise... he uses scratch once a day and they free range the rest of the time.... hens do the hatching and raising and he replaces his head roo every couple of years...
Seems like a good GOAL to me...

The Marans should produce good "table roos" and between them and the turkey we can get a bit of diversity... we are getting a couple of goats this weekend we could breed for "table goats", but we need to see how we like them first. We are looking into smaller breed of pig too,, but that is next year's project.

Still need to figure out the compost and garden thing, but we have started with composting the chicken litter and we planted a garden this year... just mellons, salad stuff and some beans.... hoping to buy local organic (or just local if we can't find organic) tomatoes to can for sauce in the fall...apples, potatoes, squash, should store well downstairs.. seems like alot of work, but if we do one or two things a year, we will get there eventually...The grocery will eventually only be for salt, sugar, flour, milk and paper products.

Someone told me I am going backwards... I think I am going rightwards. Things just can't keep up like they are in the food industry... it isn't sustainable. Soon us Crazy Chicken People (and a small # of organic farmers) may be the only ones in north america with 'fresh/safe' food.... I am already being asked if I process and sell my extra "table roos"??

Thanks Patricia
(my rant & rave did include Marans, so I'm ok...right?)

We, as in our society, still doesnot produce enough food for everyone, so go for it. Gardening, composting . . . my kids turn compost over looking for worms for the free ranging hens!

Remember to learn how to freeze produce and learn how to can, too !! Go for it all !

I like the chickens because they are great at recycling half eaten sandwiches, and old tomatos.

 

[gilavina]

Just thought I'd share for all of those that have been such an encouragement to me and my family and for all the prayers said for my dad over the last several months. Today he came home! He also is able to walk with two prosthetics and a walker, even though he is blind. We are so relieved and happy to have him home after sooooo long!
Thanks again, you guys are wonderful people!

 

[gilavina]

I'm hoping to get to both Lucasville and the Ohio Nationals so I'll be taking pictures as well. I'll also try to get some of Don!!!

Haha awesome! I'd love to puts faces to these people I've been chatting with for so long!

 

[DMRippy]

Just thought I'd share for all of those that have been such an encouragement to me and my family and for all the prayers said for my dad over the last several months. Today he came home! He also is able to walk with two prosthetics and a walker, even though he is blind. We are so relieved and happy to have him home after sooooo long!
Thanks again, you guys are wonderful people!

That is AWESOME! Good for you guys! That is the best thing I have heard in a long time!

 

[gilavina]

That is AWESOME! Good for you guys! That is the best thing I have heard in a long time!

Haha! Me too!

 

[Arielle]

Just thought I'd share for all of those that have been such an encouragement to me and my family and for all the prayers said for my dad over the last several months. Today he came home! He also is able to walk with two prosthetics and a walker, even though he is blind. We are so relieved and happy to have him home after sooooo long!
Thanks again, you guys are wonderful people!

Very exciting news!!! I'm sure he is very happy to be home!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your family continues to be in my prayers.

 

[gilavina]

Very exciting news!!! I'm sure he is very happy to be home!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your family continues to be in my prayers.

Thank you! The best part is that the majority of his healthcare was covered and the remaining total left will be covered thru a small inheritance he received when his uncle passed away several years ago. God has definitely provided. I've seen some of the bills with lots of zeros behind the total yet at the end of the bill there are zeros at the end of the statement saying they are totally covered.